The Nina Mason Pulliam Trust is giving $1,872,500 to 21 nonprofits in Indiana, the charity organization announced recently.
The recipients of the grants were organizations that provide healthcare, education, employment programs, food services and other basic human needs.
The Community Economic Relief Fund of central Indiana received $300,000, which will be used to further its work helping households pay for food and utility costs. Grants totaling $274,000 went to environmental programs in the state.
Citing shrinking state education budgets, fund representatives said 50 percent of the funds were focused on education programs for grade school students, like after-school activities, mentoring and children’s advocacy.
Nina Pulliam was a world traveling journalist who wrote several books of articles about post-World War II conditions in Europe. She died as a publisher of the Arizona Republic, the Phoenix Gazette as well as president of Central Newspapers.
Trust representatives stress that they are carrying on Pulliam’s humanitarian mission.
"The trust furthers the causes Nina Pulliam supported during her life, continuing her legacy of helping people in need, protecting animals and nature, and enriching community life in Indianapolis," said Frank E. Russell, trust chairman. "These are challenging times. Our grantees are doing an exceptional job of bringing relief to those in the greatest need."
The trust has been giving back to the community since 1998, when it first started making grants to nonprofits in Indiana. In total, the trust has awarded $86 million in grants.
The Pulliam Trust now has $327 million in funds. It also receives applications for grants in Arizona.
In other Indiana philanthropy news, an Indiana Tech alumnus donated $2 million to underwrite efficient and environmentally friendly LEED certification of one of the college’s administration buildings. The contribution was the second biggest to be made in the college’s history.