Crown Point Community Foundation

06/16/2026

On June 12, more than 130 nonprofit professionals came together at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center for a day filled with meaningful conversations, new connections, and practical strategies at the Vision & Goal Setting in a Collaborative Context — the first workshop in the Power of Partnership Series as part of the Crown Point Community Foundation’s Million Dollar Challenge initiative.

This highly interactive workshop, led by the team at Hedges, focused on helping participants build the core foundation of strong, collaborative initiatives. Together, attendees worked to define a shared vision that clarifies purpose and direction, translate that vision into focused problem statements and actionable goals, and establish practical frameworks for how partners can work together effectively.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and embraced the spirit of collaboration throughout the day. We look forward to continuing to bring nonprofit leaders together to build stronger partnerships, share ideas, and create lasting change in our communities!

05/27/2026

⏰ There’s still time to apply for the June 2026 Grant Cycle! Eligible organizations may apply for grants on the CPCF online grant platform: cpcfgrants.communityforce.com. Grant applications will be accepted through June 1, 2026.

The Crown Point Community Foundation is accepting grant applications online. Grants from the CPCF Community Grantmaking Fund will be made to nonprofit organizations and community projects which serve residents in South Lake County. Fields of interest which will be considered for funding include Animal Welfare, Arts and Culture, Community Improvement, Economic Development, Education, Environmental, Food/Nutrition/Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Housing and Shelter, Public Safety, Recreation, Religion Related, and Youth Development.

The Crown Point Community Foundation (CPCF) awards grants from the CPCF Community Grantmaking Fund three times a year. The three application deadlines are February 1st, June 1st and September 1st. Only one grant application per organization or agency will be eligible within a 12-month period. The CPCF Grant Committee reviews all applications.

Deadline: June 1, 2026
Apply online: cpcfgrants.communityforce.com
Let’s work together to strengthen our community! ✨

05/22/2026

In honor of Memorial Day, our office will be closed on Monday, May 25, as we pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. We are grateful for their courage and dedication. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, May 26. We wish you and your loved ones a safe and meaningful holiday weekend.

05/21/2026

What an incredible day of learning, collaboration, and connection at Tuesday’s Nonprofit Academy Workshop!

On May 19, the CPCF Nonprofit Academy welcomed more than 230 passionate nonprofit professionals from across Northwest Indiana to the Dean and Barbara White Community Center for our “Collaboration & Partnership Development Workshop,” led by Kara Harrison, Director of Capacity Building Services at Hedges.

This interactive workshop focused on helping nonprofit leaders strengthen strategic partnerships, explore collaboration models, and build meaningful relationships that can expand impact across our communities. In today’s nonprofit landscape, collaboration is more important than ever — and strong partnerships can help organizations amplify their mission and serve their communities in even greater ways.

Throughout the day, participants explored how to identify and assess partnership opportunities, examined different collaboration models and partnership structures, and became familiar with tools used to build and formalize partnerships. Attendees also heard from an inspiring panel of community leaders who shared experiences, insights, and practical tips on partnership development and collaboration.

By the end of the session, participants walked away with practical strategies, new connections, and ideas to help move their missions forward.

A huge thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation, our Platinum Sponsor, the NiSource Charitable Foundation and NIPSCO, with additional support from the John & Ann Barney Family Foundation. Your generosity makes programs like this possible and ensures nonprofits throughout Northwest Indiana have the tools they need to thrive!

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this workshop such a success. We are proud to continue offering Nonprofit Academy programming to support nonprofits throughout our region!

05/15/2026

🎉 Congratulations to our 2026 Scholarship Recipients!

On May 7th, we had the honor of celebrating 104 incredible students at our annual CPCF Scholarship Awards Night. From future engineers to educators, nurses to entrepreneurs—these students are ready to make their mark, and we’re so proud to be part of their journey.

This year, we awarded 114 scholarships totaling $505,790 to high school seniors, current college/trade school students, and non-traditional/adult learners. It’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together to invest in education at every stage of life.

We extend our gratitude to our Community Partner, the Halls Of St George, for generously hosting the special evening; our Visionary Sponsors, Puntillo & Crane Orthodontics and Crown Point Coworking; our Catalyst Sponsors, AmeriClean, LGS Plumbing, Inc., Commercial In-Sites, Alex Nickla and The Nickla Group, Party People Audio Video, and Barbara Jenkins Tyler Speech Scholarship; and our Contributing Sponsors, Party Lane NWI Party, Steamwhistle Coffee Roasters, Tavern on Main, and Strack & Van Til. Their support, along with that Shane Lawrence Photography, was instrumental in making this event a success!

Additionally, we would like to thank our CPCF Board of Directors, whose dedication to community betterment through education is inspiring, and our donors, whose generosity not only fund these scholarships but demonstrates a remarkable commitment to enhancing the futures of our local students.

05/15/2026

04/22/2026

The Crown Point Community Foundation has the pleasure of hanging out with the remarkable Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana team and their volunteers today! 💌

04/15/2026

Have you tried Cardio Drumming at the Y?

Add it to your summer Bucket List!

04/15/2026

The Crossroads YMCA 2026 Bus Tour has been a great experience!

Stops 3 and 4 took us to Schererville and Hammond!

The Schererville YMCA expansion is taking place at the former Jak’s Warehouse location at 221 US-41, and represents the next phase of growth for their Schererville Family YMCA. This multi-phase project is expected to be completed in various phases. The new building addition (Jak’s) will be completed in October 2026 with the balance of the (current) building completed in Summer 2027.

The new Hammond Y opened in 2024 and has 36,000 members! The last phase will be the water park, so stay tuned for that news in the future . For today, touring the 126,000 square foot facility was as amazing as it was overwhelmingly COOL!

Swimming, crafts, pickleball, gymnastics, spin (check out Mary on her bike!) dance, cheer, basketball, cardio drumming (see the video) and of course, childcare AND family locker rooms! And they are just getting started!!!

One last stop on the tour…

The YMCA Sportscenter at Crown Point!!! The Sportscenter is designed to be the hub of community sports and family connection across Northwest Indiana. Members and guests of Crossroads YMCA will have the opportunity to participate in Basketball, Flag Football, Pickleball, Soccer, Volleyball and numerous other recreational activities and sports!!

As we end the tour today…

Two final words for you to know about the YMCA…
Corporate
Wellness! 🏆🤯🥳

Bottom Line? Time to give the YMCA a look in your neighborhood! They truly are Driving Impact Across NWI!

04/15/2026

Second stop on the Southlake YMCA of Crossroads YMCA Association Bus Tour….

The Gary YMCA at Tolleston Opportunity Campus!!!

🚨Transformational!! Coming in September 2026!! 🤯

While we weren’t allowed to take any pics of the 92,000 sq foot collaboration between the Crossroads YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana…

What we can share is

this IS…

A Vision for Long-Term Impact!!

And it’s just not a short-term project—it is a long-term investment in the future of Gary, Indiana.

The Campus will help reduce crime rates by providing safe, productive activities for youth, improve health outcomes by increasing access to�wellness programs, and strengthen families by offering resources that address their unique needs.
�In the next five to ten years, we envision a Gary where children graduate at higher rates, families live healthier lives, and the community�flourishes economically and socially. The Tolleston Opportunity Campus will be a central part of this transformation, providing a place where hope turns into action and dreams become reality.

Project Details
The Tolleston Opportunity Campus will be a state-of-the-art facility that addresses the community’s most pressing needs through a wide range of programs and services. Designed with input from local residents, community leaders, and strategic partners, the Campus will be a cornerstone of positive change in Gary, Indiana.

Facility Features:
* A multi-purpose gymnasium for sports, fitness classes, and community events
* Classrooms and meeting spaces for educational workshops, job training, and youth programs
* A dedicated wellness center offering fitness equipment, group exercise classes, and wellness coaching
* A child development center providing high-quality early childhood education and after school care
* A teaching kitchen for nutrition education and healthy cooking classes
* Outdoor recreational spaces, including playgrounds and sports fields
* Community gathering spaces to foster social connections

And words can’t even express what’s in store for the deserving Gary community … so check out the renderings to see it for yourself!! (Link will be in the comments!)