Local family-focused initiatives enriching the lives of children each received $5,000 Monday from Riley Children’s Foundation.
Warsaw Riley Leadership Committee Chair and Riley Children’s Foundation Board of Governors member Rebecca Kubacki presented the checks to Joe’s Kids and Boomerang Backpacks – Warsaw Schools Monday afternoon at Warsaw Community High School.
Riley Children’s Foundation is the fundraising organization supporting Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health.
The mission of Riley Children’s Foundation is to secure the health and well-being of children everywhere. In accordance with that mission, the Community Grants Program was established to make a difference in communities throughout Indiana. This year, Riley Children’s Foundation has granted $90,000 statewide to focus on initiatives that benefit children, according to a previously provided press release.
Riley Children’s Foundation worked with the Warsaw Riley Leadership Committee regarding nominations and to select the grant recipients.
On Monday, Kubacki said last year Riley Children’s Foundation raised $30 million from throughout Indiana. It then takes some of that money and gives back to organizations in the state to make a difference.
“It says a lot about your organization that you’re getting some of the money back. You guys are the true leaders. I thank you for what you do,” Kubacki said.
Tracey Akers, Warsaw Community Schools head nurse and organizer of Boomerang Backpacks, responded, “We can’t do it without the support of Riley. It’s great to know you’re partnering with us on this.”
She said personally she also couldn’t do it without the help of the WCHS students.
Boomerang Backpacks provides weekend packs with non-perishable food to low-income students.
Kubacki said, “As a child, I would have been one of those children, and I am grateful to the school for taking care of these children. I thank the high school students who have helped organize the very needed project for their commitment to help others. It makes our school community stronger.”
Over the last four years, Akers estimated Riley gave Boomerang Backpacks over $29,000 because it saw the need.
This year, the program is looking to help hungry children in six of eight WCS elementaries. At Lincoln and Leesburg, students in grades kindergarten to sixth will receive the weekend meals. Students in kindergarten to third grade will be recipients at Harrison, Jefferson, Madison and Claypool.
Eisenhower has its own similar program, and Washington STEM Academy will be considered if it wants to be part of the program, Akers said.
The mission of Boomerang Backpacks is to feed hungry students on weekends during the school year while giving the high school students an opportunity to be involved in the community, Akers said.
For the 2015-16 school year alone, Akers said the program will need $40,000. To sponsor one child for one year, a person can donate $100.
“It normally costs us $3 a week per student and we do this for about 31, 32 weeks,” Akers said.
To donate, contact Akers via email at trakers@warsawschools.org or call her at Edgewood Middle School at 574-371-5096.
Joe’s Kids Director Rebecca Bazzoni estimated the organization currently is serving 125 kids, with about 200 visits per week. Some of the kids come to Joe’s Kids more than once a week. It provides quality, accessible physical, occupational and speech therapy to special needs children in the community, according to its website at www.joes-kids.org.
The organization, at 3540 Commerce Drive, Warsaw, started about three years ago as part of Jacob’s Ladder. After about a year’s time, it became independent and renamed Joe’s Kids because it grew so fast. That was in February 2013.
Bazzoni said 80 percent of the kids they see come from Kosciusko County. The other 20 percent travel from “quite a distance to access our services,” she said. Some families drive about an hour to bring their child to Joe’s Kids.
Kubacki said, “We’re really lucky the area gets the money.”
To Bazzoni, she said, “We appreciate what you’re doing.”
Kubacki added, “Children really are our business. What we’re finding out now is that we can diagnose children much earlier.”
Infants as young as 18 months can be tested and diagnosed so they can get treatment much earlier, she said.
Contact Joe’s Kids at 574-376-2316 for more information.
(Story By The Times Union)
