January Newsletter

The International Center is a catalyst to inform, convene and connect public, private and civic global objectives in Indiana.

Season of Giving

Last month, The International Center staff volunteered with The Sharing Place to staff their annual Christmas Store. The Sharing Place is an outreach program of The Foundation for Lutheran Child and Family Services and helped provide a holiday experience for nearly 200 local families.

Each year the Foundation collects new, unwrapped toys, games, books, household items and more to stock a "store" at Gethsemane Lutheran Church. Families in need are referred by social workers in Marion and surrounding counties to "shop" for Christmas presents at no cost. Each family receives a certain number of "points" per child to spend at the store.

Susan Ryan, the Event Coordinator for The Christmas Store, noted how the experience of holiday shopping is often overlooked, but for the families participating, the ability to pick and choose gifts for their family is a luxury.

Additional to each child receiving presents, each family receives a board game, a household appliance and a gift card for groceries.

"The Christmas Store is one of the only holiday outreach program in Marion county which focuses on the entire family," said Ryan, "It is a truly unique, one-stop shop for Christmas."

As a staff, The International Center collected items for distribution at The Christmas Store, and helped check clients in, assist shoppers, and stock shelves.

International Center office manager Tyler Smoot recalled, "The Christmas Store was a very rewarding and heart-warming experience...I was glad to be part of the process."

Festival Fund Grant Open House

The International Center’s Festival Fund Committee invites Central Indiana’s international organizations to an annual Open House to learn more about grant guidelines and the application process.

The Festival Fund is administered by The International Center and supported by the Indianapolis Foundation (an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Foundation), as well as the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation. The grant program serves internationally focused organizations that showcase and celebrate cultural diversity in Central Indiana, namely Marion and surrounding counties, through festivals that attract a broad segment of the general public. Preference of sponsorship will go to organizations promoting education about the nations that represent the residents of Central Indiana and highlight the arts, cultures, food and traditions of those nations.

The Open House will take place at The International Center, One Indiana Square in downtown Indianapolis, on January 31, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Click the button below to register!

THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER RECEIVES GRANT FROM LILLY ENDOWMENT INC.

The International Center has been awarded a $500,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support The Center’s programming and general operations in 2019.

The Endowment grant is given in two phases: a single installment of $300,000 followed by a challenge grant of $200,000. The challenge grant is designed to inspire other donors to support The International Center and will match the gift dollar-for-dollar.

Now in its fifth decade, The International Center remains committed to its mission of serving as a catalyst to inform, convene and connect public, private and civic global objectives in Indiana.

According to Martin Baier, president and CEO of The International Center, “We are grateful for the continued vote of confidence displayed by Lilly Endowment in the work of The Center as we strive to engage Indiana businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, civic organizations and citizens to think and act globally.”