Press Release
17 Indiana nonprofits receive $1,925,000 Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust grants
March 1, 2008
(Indianapolis) –The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust awarded $1,925,000 to 17 Indianapolis nonprofit organizations March 26, 2008. In keeping with its 10-year tradition, the Trust held a presentation at the
location of a former grant recipient. Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 Michigan Road, hosted the check presentation at 3:30 p.m. Recipients began arriving at 3 p.m. for refreshments and an informal reception
with Trustees, staff and representatives from organizations receiving grants.
“During her lifetime, Nina Mason Pulliam dedicated her assets and business expertise to organizations helping people in need, protecting animals and nature and enriching community life in her hometown of Indianapolis,” said Frank E. Russell, Trustee chairman. “Since the Trust began its grantmaking in 1998, it has awarded more than $72 million to
385 Indiana nonprofit organizations.
“The Trust continues Nina’s legacy and belief that we all have a responsibility to give back to our community. Nina called Phoenix and Indianapolis home, which is the reason her Trust divides its grantmaking evenly between organizations in these cities,” Russell added.
“Today’s grant recipients represent every area of the Trust’s interests and, of special note, five grantees are first-time recipients. The Trust is pleased to continue to build on its legacy of community grantmaking through the wonderful work of the Trust family of grantees,” said Harriet
Ivey, Trust president and CEO.
“In the first 10 years of its 50-year life, Nina’s Trust has evolved into a strong resource for nonprofit groups and has focused on building relationships with organizations that are working to assist those in need, with an emphasis on encouraging self-sufficiency. The Trust serves individuals, including the elderly and disabled, women, children and their families,” Trustee Carol P. Schilling said.
Helping People in Need grant recipients are: Bethlehem House Residence, The Children’s TherAplay Foundation, Dress for Success Indianapolis, Fairbanks Hospital, Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis, La Plaza, Methodist Health Foundation and Neighborhood Self-Employment Initiative.
“Throughout her life, Nina supported efforts to protect animals of all kinds, and was an early conservationist for her beloved lands and habitats of Indiana,” Schilling said.
Protecting Animals and Nature grant recipients are: Butler University,
Central Indiana Land Trust, Environmental Law & Policy Center of the Midwest, Hoosier Environmental Council Foundation, Humane Society of Indianapolis, Indiana Wildlife Federation and Marian College.
“The Trust continues Nina’s legacy of bringing cultural and educational experiences to children and adults who otherwise might not have realized such opportunities,” Schilling explained.
Enriching Community Life grant recipients are: President Benjamin Harrison Foundation and Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art.
“During her life, Nina brought the dream of higher education to many. She created college scholarship programs for newspaper employees’ children and newspaper carriers (during the days of carrier boys and girls who made neighborhood rounds on bicycle, delivering daily subscriptions
of Pulliam newspapers to doorsteps). She also quietly funded college tuition for children whom she had met and whose families could not afford the cost of higher education,” Trustee Nancy M. Russell explained. “The Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars program continues Nina’s desire to bring the experience of a college education to those who are overlooked by traditional scholarship programs.”
Nina Scholars are 25 years or older with dependents, college-age students and adults with physical disabilities, or college-age youth raised in the foster care system and are self-supporting. The seventh cohort of 19 Indiana students began their studies last fall at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis and Ivy Tech Community College ? Central Indiana. Applications for cohort 8 are available with a deadline
of April 1.
Since the Nina Scholars program began in 2001, it has touched the lives of more than 129 men and women in Indiana. “Nina believed in education’s power to transform lives, and our Nina Scholars are testimony to this,” Russell added.
To receive additional Nina Scholars program information, visit the Trust web site or contact: Charles Johnson, nina@iupui.edu at IUPUI, 317-278-7878; or Cheri Bush, ninascholars@lists.ivytech.edu at Ivy Tech Community College, 317-921-4617.
The Trust, which also makes grants in Arizona, had approximately $400 million in assets as of December 31, 2007.
The next preliminary application deadline for nonprofit organizations applying to the Trust for funding is May 5, 2008.
Preliminary applications may be obtained through the Application page on our web site; by writing to the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, 135 N. Pennsylvania Street, Suite 1200, Indianapolis, IN 46204; or by calling 317-231-6075.