Starfish Initiative has received a grant of $477,880.00 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish resources and training that enhance volunteer mentor engagement for scholar success.
The program is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s initiative, Strengthening Youth Programs in Indiana. The aim of the competitive initiative is to help youth-serving organizations working throughout Indiana improve their abilities to promote the academic, physical, and social well-being of young people, ages five through 18.
Starfish Initiative will use the funding to support its one-on-one mentoring program over the next three years and to further its mission to inspire, encourage, and prepare academically motivated high school students from the most vulnerable populations for college, career, and life success. The Lilly Endowment grant will provide funding for research and development of an on-demand training option for volunteer mentors, as well as a robust mentor recruitment program. This funding will also support professional development for staff, including conferences and workshops. By investing in these resources for volunteer mentors and staff, Starfish Initiative will continue its commitment to scholars’ success and increase the academic and career success of high school students in Marion County.
Starfish Initiative is one of 187 organizations receiving grants through Strengthening Youth Programs in Indiana.
About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. Although the Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, it maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.