The Athletic Club Foundation, an all-volunteer non-profit organization that supports youth by investing in amateur athletic programs in Indiana, is pleased to announce it has awarded its annual grants to ten local organizations to help fund youth sports programs. The Foundation has allocated grant funding to the following organizations: Mother Theodore Catholic Academies, Providence Cristo Rey High School, Indy Public Safety Foundation, St. Monica Catholic School, Herron Classical Schools, IMPD Youth Mountain Bike Project, Perry Meridian Lacrosse Club, Wolkoff Foundation, Monarca Academy, Monrovia Soccer.
Monies to cover all or a portion of the following items: indoor bleachers for St. Philip Neri School, participation fees for students, basketballs and volleyballs and uniforms for all schools.
The MTCA includes Holy Cross Central School and the NDAA-Indy schools. These schools provide a Catholic education of the highest quality to as many children as possible in our city’s under-served communities. Their vision is to serve these families in our Catholic Identity, striving for academic excellence, and to be financially sustainable in our PreK-8 schools. Our great desire is to do whatever it takes to educate children to live lives that make God known, loved, and served.
Monies to cover a portion of the costs for wrestling mats for the boys and girls wrestling programs. The wrestling program was the fastest growing athletic program at PCRHS this past year.
PCRHS is a Catholic, coeducational, college and career preparatory high school offering a holistic educational experience to students with economic need. Doors are open for students who otherwise may not have access to life-changing opportunities. A challenging curriculum is integrated with the proven Corporate Work Study Program® to motivate and empower students with the tools they need to succeed in high school, college, career, and life.
Monies to be used to provide healthy snacks and beverages for up to 800 youth participants.
The mission of the Indy Public Safety Foundation (IPSF) is to enhance the quality of life and public safety in Indianapolis. Indy Police Athletic League (PAL) is one of several youth-serving programs powered by the Indy Public Safety Foundation, including the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Explorers, Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) Explorers and IMPD Cadets. Indy PAL’s mission is to involve theat-risk or under-served youth of Marion County in educational, cultural and fitness activities that will deter crime, increase self-esteem and promote a positive relationship with police.
Monies to be used to fund a portion of the cost of a gym divider that will allow the school to provide significantly more gym time for their athletic programs. It is estimated that the divider will provide 10,500 extra hours of activity time for the students, many of whom are from low-income areas.
St. Monica Catholic School Ministry is a community of families united in values who celebrate differences, form lifelong learners in an academically robust environment, and engage all students and families to grow as disciples of Christ. It is the vision of St. Monica Catholic School to support the spiritual, social-emotional, and cultural needs to develop all students in academics, self-discipline, spiritual growth, and service in order to represent visible signs of God's love.
Monies to fund new soccer and volleyball equipment for the new gymnasium at Herron Prep School
Herron Classical Schools has provided nationally recognized, tuition–free, college preparatory education in downtown Indianapolis for nearly 20 years. Herron Classical Schools (HCS) is the network of schools that includes Herron High School (HHS), Herron-Riverside High School (HRHS) and Herron Preparatory Academy (Herron Prep) in Indianapolis, Indiana. Herron schools have been ranked as some of the best public schools in the nation by Newsweek, US News and World Report and The Washington Post. Herron High School is also a 2020 recipient of the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from the US. Department of Education. And we do it all with about 30% less funding than traditional central Indiana public schools.
Monies to be used to provide required uniforms, equipment, referee’s fees and travel expenses for middle school club teams.
The Perry Meridian Lacrosse Club aims to serve the middle and high school students of the Southside of Indianapolis. The organization's goals include providing athletic opportunities to underserved students who due to the cost prohibitive nature of sports are unable to participate This grant opportunity for will reduce the costs to make it accessible to student athletes who otherwise would not have an option and allow us to further serve our refugee student population. 71% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunches.
Monies to cover the majority of the cost of a small riding lawnmower, trailer and generator to be used to maintain the Mountain Bike Skills Park.
IMPDYMBP was established in 2015 bt two IMPD bike patrol officers. The goals of the organization are: 1. To introduce urban youth to mountain biking, 2. Build technical bike skills, 3. Build self-confidence and communication skills. 4. Promote healthly living, 5. Promote respect for and utilization of Indy's vast parks. Future goals for the organization include bringing the program into neighborhoods that are experiencing significant violent crime in order to build community relations and draw people together to build crime prevention efforts. The organization serves approximately 1600 youth annually and has ongoing relationships with the Indy Parks Foundation and Indy Public Safety Foundation.
Monies to be used for uniforms and participation fees for Brookside (IPS) 10th grade basketball league and Lawrence Central track and field.
The mission of the Wolkoff Foundation is to continually strive to enhance local youth sports programs for underprivileged girls and boys. They endeavor to create more accessibility to these programs and at the same time create more opportunities for Indiana youth to experience the joy and value of athletic participation.
Monies to be used to purchase equipment for volleyball, futsal, basketball, and soccer. It will also be used to purchase general uniforms that will be used by future teams. It will also be used to purchase appropriate shoes and other equipment students need and may not be able to afford.
Monarca Academy is a 6-12 College and Career Readiness school located in the Northwest Region of Indianapolis. Monarca Academy eliminates barriers to success for all students. Inspired by the Latin@ and Immigrant Experience, Monarca Academy develops leaders through high academic standards, culturally responsive practices, and community building.
Monies to be used for equipment including soccer balls, cones, bibs, agility poles, ladders and rebounders for a new middle school team.
Goals for Monrovia soccer include growth in numbers and interest surrounding the sport of soccer, development of a middle school team in Monrovia, and to build consistency across seasons in athletic and academic achievement. Many new families have moved to Monrovia from other countries such as Haiti and Tunisia and have expressed interest in playing soccer at younger ages.
"We are honored to award the 2024 Athletic Club Foundation Grants to eight very deserving organizations," said The Athletic Club Foundation President Robert V. Welch, Jr. “Athletics positively impact the lives of young Hoosiers and we are proud to support these programs in their efforts to make youth sports more accessible.”
Each year, The Athletic Club Foundation organizes events for the community including the Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration and Old Oaken Bucket Luncheon.