Press Release: 1st Source Foundation Presents Catholic Charities with a Grant to Begin New Life-Skills Class
February 26, 2024 – Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (CCFWSB) is pleased to announce a $10,000 grant from the 1st Source Foundation. The grant will be used to help CCFWSB begin a faith-based life-skills course, as part of the agency’s new strategic plan.
“1st Source Foundation is happy to support this life-skills course which will provide opportunities for lifelong success for community members,” said Luke Squires, Fort Wayne Regional President at 1st Source Bank. “We appreciate Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend’s commitment to serving those in need in our community.”
The 12-week course will cover 11 topics focusing on the whole person to aid them in overcoming common barriers to self-sufficiency.
Topics will include:
Creating a positive mindset and resiliency
Goal setting and action planning
Healthy relationships
Financial literacy
Faith and family
Career planning
Built on a culmination of studied best practices with a proven correlation to higher rates of self-sufficiency and overall wellness, the goal of the class is to educate and equip our neighbors with the skills needed to move beyond their immediate needs and build a foundation for long-term stability. Enrollees will be referred to the course from CCFWSB clients or from partner organizations. Qualifications will include whether the client is either currently employed or looking for employment, is self-motivated, and is committed to attendance for the full 12 weeks.
“Having served those in need for over 100 years, Catholic Charities understands many of our neighbors were never taught how to balance their household finances or how to develop and cultivate healthy relationships,” said Tiffany Goble, East and North Region Director at CCFWSB. “Through no fault of their own, many families are struggling due to a lack of education around basic skills, not a lack of motivation. Going beyond temporary relief through the development of healthy habits, relationships, and a growth mindset aligns with our mission.”
The classes will be piloted beginning this spring, and we expect to open enrollment this summer. CCFWSB is grateful to the 1st Source Foundation for its community support.
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About Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend:
Catholic Charities is a private 501 (c) 3 incorporated in the state of Indiana to act as the coordinating and administrative agency for the charitable activities assigned to it by the Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend; to plan for, initiate, direct, support and coordinate Catholic social-services programs for the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical welfare of persons in need; to seek and determine the causes of social problems in order to better promote preventative social-action programs; to participate in community planning and organization, and work cooperatively with other individuals and groups in the field of social work. The service area for Catholic Charities includes the 14 counties of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, encompassing 2,236 square miles, with a population of 1,247,850. Currently, Catholic Charities has offices in Fort Wayne (Allen County), Auburn (DeKalb County), and South Bend (St. Joseph County), Indiana. In Fiscal Year 2022-2023, CCFWSB served over 21,000 individuals at a fiscally responsible rate of 88 cents of every dollar dedicated to client services. The agency’s mission is to serve all those in need as Christ calls us to do.
1st Source Corporation:
1st Source Corporation, parent company of 1st Source Bank, has assets of $8.7 billion and is the largest locally controlled financial institution headquartered in the northern Indiana-southwestern Michigan area. The Corporation includes 78 banking centers, 18 1st Source Bank Specialty Finance Group locations nationwide, nine Trust and Wealth Advisory Services locations and 10 1st Source Insurance offices. For over 160 years, 1st Source has been committed to our mission of helping our clients achieve security, build wealth and realize their dreams. For more information, visit https://www.1stsource.com/.