Investments support grantees’ projects

KENDALLVILLE, IN — The Dekko Foundation, a private family foundation located in Kendallville, IN, with a mission of fostering economic freedom through education, awarded more than $350,000 in grants and pledges to 10 youth-serving organizations during its most recent round of grantmaking.

The foundation, started in 1981 by the late businessman and philanthropist Chester E. Dekko, invests in projects and programs that help build knowledge, skills, and character in children and young people from birth through age 18 so they can be self-sufficient and grow up to be economically free.

Its grantmaking is concentrated within 13 counties in four states — Indiana, Iowa, Alabama, and Minnesota — where Mr. Dekko had business or personal interests.

Organizations receiving grants and pledges were:

• City of Kendallville (Kendallville, IN): $15,000 over three years to support the annual KidCity event where families can learn about local organizations, nonprofits, and businesses so they feel more connected to the community.
• Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra, Inc. (Fort Wayne, IN): $65,000 to support the organization’s programs in the Dekko Foundation’s Northeast Indiana grantmaking area so that elementary students have a greater appreciation for music and music-related careers.
• Indiana Youth Institute, Inc. (Indianapolis, IN): $60,000 to support the organization’s professional-development and educational offerings for youth-serving workers in the foundation’s Northeast Indiana grantmaking area.
• Operation Read (Warsaw, IN): $15,000 to support the organization’s literacy programs for young people and families in Kosciusko County and its financial sustainability.
• Athens City Schools (Athens, AL): $10,000 to support creating a piano lab so middle and high school students can develop and build music skills.
• Clarke Community Schools (Osceola, IA): $120,000 to support extending preschool from half day to full day and offering a dual-language program for kindergarten and first-grade students so they’re supported in their learning.
• Freedom Academy, Inc. (Kendallville, IN): $30,000 to support the academy’s ability to serve homeschooled students, private and parochial school students, and alternative school students through its workforce skills training classes.
• Funshine Learning Center (Lamoni, IA): $6,321 to support improvements at the center so staff have more time to meet the needs of young people.
• Whitko Community School Corporation (South Whitley, IN): $7,450 to support middle school students using ukuleles to build skills and grow their appreciation and knowledge of music.
• Bill of Rights Institute (Arlington, VA): $25,000 to support the institute’s development of civics curriculum and programs for students in Indiana.

If you’d like to learn more about how investments such as these support children and young people so they can achieve economic freedom later in life, contact a Dekko Foundation program officer at 260-347-1278. Or visit dekkofoundation.org to explore the foundation’s mission and funding priorities, review its grantmaking process, or send a grant proposal.