This year, CANI (Community Action of Northeast Indiana) is celebrating 45 years of helping people in the communities where we live and work.
In 1965, William G. Williams helped start the Allen County Economic Opportunity Council, the predecessor of CANI. During his administration, the ACEOC operated 11 varied programs, including Head Start, Legal Services, Neighborhood Youth Corps, Economic Development, Emergency Food and Medical Services, Youth Development, Neighborhood Services System, Foster Grandparents, and Planning and Research. Several of these programs are still in existence in some form.
Today, CANI is a private, non-profit agency that promotes economic and community development by providing resources, helping people gain access to opportunities, and teaching them the skills they need to become self-sufficient.
CANI provides one or more programs and services in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Elkhart, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Wells, Steuben and Whitley counties. CANI is involved in economic development, family development, mentoring, adult education, and job training. We provide families access to quality child care, preschool education, emergency food and utility assistance, affordable and livable housing, and medical and dental care. This is how CANI Fights Poverty and Builds Hope.
Chances are you know someone who has been helped by CANI at some point in their lives. Maybe it’s the single mom next door who received vouchers to help with childcare expenses, or possibly the elderly couple across the street on a fixed income who received help paying their heating bills.
If you look around, it’s easy to see how CANI is an active force in your community. CANI helped 32,581 people in northeast Indiana in 2009.
The bleak Census figures recently reported in the news certainly justify CANI’s work. Last year's 43.6 million low-income people, including 15.5 million children, comprise the highest number of Americans living in poverty in the past 50 years. Overall, the number of Americans living in poverty increased by 3.7 million to 14.3 percent, a nearly 1 percent increase from 2008. That translates to more than one in five children living in poverty!
So how does CANI respond to such news?
By providing a wide-range of services, in the most efficient and effective way possible in order to maximize the use of available resources. We listen to the needs of the community and respond by developing ways to address these needs. CANI is the only agency of its kind in our region and we have the ability to reach the most people with the greatest needs.
To that end, CANI increasingly relies on gifts from local individuals, companies and foundations to continue AND expand our work.
What is the return on investment for helping people out of poverty?
If each of the families CANI helps who are below the poverty level moved to exactly 100 percent of the poverty level there would be a total increase in income of $375,471 per month. Projecting that out to the entire CANI service population would mean an increase in income of $6,736,778 per month, or $80,841,339 per year – over $80 million dollars being spent in your community! And this is just moving people to the federal definition of poverty. The impact of moving people to a level where they can meet all their basic needs (roughly double the federal poverty level) increases exponentially.
For more information about CANI or how to make an investment in your community, contact Jennifer Renner at (260) 399-4103 or jenniferrenner@canihelp.org, or visit www.canihelp.org.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Feet on the Street: All I want for Christmas
By Teresa Royer, Member Relations Specialist
One of the things I love about serving our members are the relationships that form. Members can become friends.
I met Brent Minnick, owner of Indiana Benefits Recovery in 2008, and have watched his business evolve and grow.
Brent’s company finds lost money due back to residents and businesses.
He recently shared a success story about funds for a client he and his staff, Chuck Kaduk and Deanna Charcalla, had been working very hard to secure — which ties in nicely with the season. Allow me to share it with you:
The client is a small Catholic church in Brazil, Indiana. Over ten years ago, spinster sisters died within 12 months of each other. Their life savings was left to the church, but got stuck in probate court. After more than sixty hours of research, IBR contacted the priest and began the recovery process.
Their diligence paid off, as the church received more than $76,000 bequeathed from the sisters! With a parish of only 150 families, the 150-year-old church will benefit tremendously from the windfall.
A press release on this story quotes Father Rightor as saying:
"We never would have known about this generous donation. I have only been here for a little over a year, and did not know the sisters personally."
And may I quote Tiny Tim from the classic movie, A Christmas Carol: "And God bless us, everyone!"
If you would like to read the complete press release on this story or learn more abut Indiana Benefits Recovery, check out the web site at www.itsyourmoneyindiana.com. Or you can contact Brent directly at (260) 241-3991 or bminnick@itsyourmoneyindiana.com.
One of the things I love about serving our members are the relationships that form. Members can become friends.
I met Brent Minnick, owner of Indiana Benefits Recovery in 2008, and have watched his business evolve and grow.
Brent’s company finds lost money due back to residents and businesses.
He recently shared a success story about funds for a client he and his staff, Chuck Kaduk and Deanna Charcalla, had been working very hard to secure — which ties in nicely with the season. Allow me to share it with you:
The client is a small Catholic church in Brazil, Indiana. Over ten years ago, spinster sisters died within 12 months of each other. Their life savings was left to the church, but got stuck in probate court. After more than sixty hours of research, IBR contacted the priest and began the recovery process.
Their diligence paid off, as the church received more than $76,000 bequeathed from the sisters! With a parish of only 150 families, the 150-year-old church will benefit tremendously from the windfall.
A press release on this story quotes Father Rightor as saying:
"We never would have known about this generous donation. I have only been here for a little over a year, and did not know the sisters personally."
And may I quote Tiny Tim from the classic movie, A Christmas Carol: "And God bless us, everyone!"
If you would like to read the complete press release on this story or learn more abut Indiana Benefits Recovery, check out the web site at www.itsyourmoneyindiana.com. Or you can contact Brent directly at (260) 241-3991 or bminnick@itsyourmoneyindiana.com.
Chamber names Stafford as Director of Government Affairs
The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Kathryn "Katy" Stafford has been named Director of Government Affairs. The Chamber is excited to welcome Ms. Stafford, a dynamic professional who will help continue the Chamber’s advocacy on behalf of its members.
"We are thrilled to welcome Katy," said Mike Landram, President of The Chamber. "Her experience at the state house and enthusiasm in working with local government will be a great asset for our organization. Her extensive business knowledge, passion for excellence and superior reputation as a lobbyist will help elevate our offerings to the next level."
As Director of Government Affairs, Stafford is charged with all facets of the Government advocacy on behalf of our members. She brings many years of experience in lobbying and operation management to the Chamber.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Stafford was an associate at the Corydon Group where she was responsible for lobbying before the Indiana General Assembly, grassroots coordination and support, management of a professional education association, and various other operations roles.
Ms. Stafford is excited to become an active member of the Fort Wayne community and is looking forward to being closer to family in the area.
"We are thrilled to welcome Katy," said Mike Landram, President of The Chamber. "Her experience at the state house and enthusiasm in working with local government will be a great asset for our organization. Her extensive business knowledge, passion for excellence and superior reputation as a lobbyist will help elevate our offerings to the next level."
As Director of Government Affairs, Stafford is charged with all facets of the Government advocacy on behalf of our members. She brings many years of experience in lobbying and operation management to the Chamber.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Stafford was an associate at the Corydon Group where she was responsible for lobbying before the Indiana General Assembly, grassroots coordination and support, management of a professional education association, and various other operations roles.
Ms. Stafford is excited to become an active member of the Fort Wayne community and is looking forward to being closer to family in the area.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Chamber seeks nominations for 7th annual Athena Awards
The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce it is seeking nominations for the seventh annual Athena Awards which will be presented at a luncheon March 23, 2011, in The Diamond Room at Ceruti’s Summit Park.
The Athena Award program celebrates exceptional individuals who have achieved excellence in their profession, have served the community in a meaningful way and have assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills.
Nomination forms and criteria are available at the event page at www.fwchamber.org and are due January 14, 2011.
Irene Walters, executive director of university relations and communications at IPFW, was honored as last year’s recipient.
"The import and significance of Athena is in showcasing the importance of the work each of the nominees do, both professionally and in a volunteer capacity, that helps to improve the community," Walters said. "That’s what it’s all about: Making a better community."
Past nominees include Dr. Wendy Robinson of Fort Wayne Community Schools, Sister Elise Kriss of the University of Saint Francis, Chief Deputy Dottie Davis of the Fort Wayne Police Department, Sandi Kemmish of Lincoln Financial Foundation, and Kathleen Randolph of WorkOne Northeast.
The Athena Award includes presentations to more than 5,000 individuals in hundreds of cities across the world. The Fort Wayne recipient will be invited to join the thousands of Athena Award Recipients worldwide at the annual Athena Leadership Conference.
The Chamber’s Athena Award ceremony includes a presentation of $1,000 scholarships to female high school students for use in continuing education. In 2006, the Athena Scholarship was founded with a generous contribution from Dr. Michelle Helfgott of Northeast OB/GYN. Dr. Helfgott has continued to donate and will present the scholarships to this year’s recipients.
The Athena Award program celebrates exceptional individuals who have achieved excellence in their profession, have served the community in a meaningful way and have assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills.
Nomination forms and criteria are available at the event page at www.fwchamber.org and are due January 14, 2011.
Irene Walters, executive director of university relations and communications at IPFW, was honored as last year’s recipient.
"The import and significance of Athena is in showcasing the importance of the work each of the nominees do, both professionally and in a volunteer capacity, that helps to improve the community," Walters said. "That’s what it’s all about: Making a better community."
Past nominees include Dr. Wendy Robinson of Fort Wayne Community Schools, Sister Elise Kriss of the University of Saint Francis, Chief Deputy Dottie Davis of the Fort Wayne Police Department, Sandi Kemmish of Lincoln Financial Foundation, and Kathleen Randolph of WorkOne Northeast.
The Athena Award includes presentations to more than 5,000 individuals in hundreds of cities across the world. The Fort Wayne recipient will be invited to join the thousands of Athena Award Recipients worldwide at the annual Athena Leadership Conference.
The Chamber’s Athena Award ceremony includes a presentation of $1,000 scholarships to female high school students for use in continuing education. In 2006, the Athena Scholarship was founded with a generous contribution from Dr. Michelle Helfgott of Northeast OB/GYN. Dr. Helfgott has continued to donate and will present the scholarships to this year’s recipients.
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