- Foundation receives Mother Teresa Award for Philanthropy from Catholic Charities
- Resources to legally navigate new U.S. Immigration Policies
- Grantee spotlight: Super Shot
- Medical Interpreter Training Scholarships available
- PIC Luncheon March 20 - Navigating Childcare Resources
- Latino Leadership Pipeline Initiative
| | | - Celebrating quality, caring service - | | St. Joe Foundation receives Mother Teresa Award for Philanthropy from Catholic Charities | St. Joe Foundation board members Kevin Noll and Maria Krach, and staff members Mark Burkholder and Meg Distler, were honored to accept the inaugural Mother Teresa Award of Philanthropy from Dan Florin, CEO of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend and Bishop Kevin Rhodes on March 15. Since 2000, this Foundation has supported a variety of programs aimed at providing compassionate, quality care to vulnerable Allen County residents. Grants have supported a wide range of identified community needs including but not limited to prenatal services, medical case management, access to trained interpreters, eye exams and eyeglasses, a community Hispanic health advocate, the Burmese Health Collaborative, and support for paralegals and immigration specialists to assist immigrants in applying for legal status in the U.S. |
| | - Standing in solidarity with immigrant neighbors - | | |
Resources available to assist immigrants
and to legally navigate new U.S. Immigration Policies
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The St. Joe Foundation is committed to “Welcoming the stranger.” Immigrants are our sisters and brothers in Christ—created in the image of our loving Creator, just like the rest of us. They enrich our society through their presence, diverse cultures, work, and vitality, while contributing essential work and tax revenue that helps sustain Social Security and other services that benefit everyone.
Here are selected resources to assist immigrants, refugees, asylees, and those who want to walk in solidarity with them in navigating new U.S. immigration policies legally.
Community Agencies – Support Services
Immigration Legal Services
Knowing Your Rights
Language Resources: Interpreters, English Language Lessons
Stay Updated
This list will be maintained and updated on sjchf.org
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| | - Access to quality medical care for everyone in our community - | | |
Grantee spotlight:
Super Shot - Affordable Vaccine Experts
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Super Shot was established in 1992 by Sr. Mary Conrad Kirchhoff, a Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ stationed at St. Joseph Medical Center, and Dr. Jane Irmscher, Health Commissioner of the Allen County Health Department, to address the area’s low immunization rates. Together, they rallied key community stakeholders to confront our community's alarming low immunization rates, giving rise to Super Shot, an initiative committed to promoting vaccination and ensuring access to immunization for all. Super Shot's primary goal is to promote vaccination and provide local children and adults with access to immunization.
At the core of Super Shot's mission is a powerful vision: to...
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| | - Overcoming language barriers - | | |
Grant opportunities:
Interpreter Training Scholarships for Spring Courses
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The Foundation is offering scholarships of up to $650 per individual to enhance the capacity of trained interpreters within the local community. These scholarships are available to staff members and volunteers affiliated with the Foundation’s grantees and community partners who seek to advance their interpreter training.
Two notable programs for which scholarships may be used include the Community Interpreter Course®, offered by The Language Access Lab, and the Bridging the Gap medical interpreter course provided by Language Services Network (LSN). Both courses are recognized nationally for their adherence to rigorous standards in interpreter training, and each will take place this spring. The Language Access Lab is a new non-profit launched in the community by Irene Paxia and is still accepting applications for its May classes.
Eligible grantees and community partners may...
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Learn More about scholarships
Learn More About Language Access Lab Spring Course
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| | - Supporting new moms and their babies - | | |
Educational event:
Prenatal and Infant Care Luncheon:
Navigating Childcare Resources
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On March 20, the Prenatal and Infant Care Network hosted a luncheon at the University of Saint Francis, featuring community experts discussing childcare resources, challenges, and opportunities in Allen County. Community professionals gathered to learn, network, and explore solutions for enhancing childcare access.
Allie Sutherland, Executive Director of the Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition, highlighted Indiana's severe childcare shortage, particularly for infants and toddlers. The financial impact on families is significant, with annual costs averaging $12,000 for infant care and $9,000 for preschool care, often exceeding mortgage payments. Providers face...
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| | - Strengthening our community with many informed voices - | | |
Grantee spotlight:
Latino Leadership Pipeline initiative
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The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation is thrilled to announce the successful launch of the Latino Leadership Pipeline (LLP) initiative, a collaborative effort between the Hispanic Leadership Coalition of Northeast Indiana, Inc., Latinos Count, and the Greater Fort Wayne Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. This groundbreaking project aims to prepare Hispanic and Latino professionals for non-profit board service, fostering a stronger, more diverse community leadership landscape.
On March 15, 2025, over 30 Hispanic and Latino professionals gathered for a full-day training session facilitated by Mike Stone. The energy in the room was...
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