Giving+Sum Awards Starfish its 2009 Grant!

November 23, 2009 – Starfish Initiative received a $50,000 grant for a leadership camp for our Scholars, who attend more than 30 different high schools in greater Indianapolis. Giving+Sum not only generously chose Starfish to receive the grant, but its members will support the grant by assisting with the curriculum for the camp, serving as counselors, trainers and facilitators and providing job shadowing and community service opportunities for Starfish participants. It’s a grant that is accompanied by human capital. Incredible.

“According to the 2009 Cities in Crisis report from America’s Promise Alliance, only 30 percent of urban high school students in Indianapolis graduate,” stated Marty Posch, Giving+Sum president and co-founder. “Many of our members are the beneficiaries of opportunities afforded to us through education so it’s an issue of real interest to our members and one that we hope will have a lasting, sustainable impact on our community.”

“We couldn’t be more excited,” said Joyce Johnson, Starfish Executive Director.

“We are honored to have been selected as the 2009 Giving+Sum grant recipient. And because ‘giving back’ is a value we work to instill in our Starfish Scholars, we are just as thrilled that Giving+Sum is the kind of organization that is willing and able to get in the trenches and help their recipients do good work.”

The pool of 90 grant applicants was narrowed to five finalists: Starfish Initiative, Noble of Indiana, Outreach, Inc, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and DonorsChoose.org. Each finalist made a presentation to Giving+Sum’s members to describe their proposed program. Giving+Sum members then voted to select the recipient. Giving+Sum will work with each of these organizations to determine ways to engage members and provide opportunities to support their efforts.