SOUTHERN INDIANA — The Being for Others Health and Wellness Foundation has officially announced the distribution of $137,500 in project grants to 11 organizations across Southern Indiana, concluding the highly competitive first round of its 2026 grant cycle.
The selected initiatives heavily target youth mental health, community wellness infrastructure, and outdoor recreation. Foundation officials revealed that the grant cycle generated immense regional interest, drawing 50 distinct applications that requested a combined total of more than $1.2 million in funding.
A significant portion of the first-round funding was directed toward bolstering emotional and mental health resources within local school corporations through partnerships with Youth First, Inc.
- Barr-Reeve Community Schools was awarded $15,000 to directly support its school-based mental health services.
- Washington Catholic Schools received $15,000, allowing the corporation to expand its existing Youth First social worker program into a full-time support system catering to students from preschool all the way through high school.
- Shoals Community School Corporation secured $14,500 to fund the implementation of “Team Peace,” a specialized program introducing yoga, mindfulness, and social-emotional learning into the daily student curriculum.
Community Fitness and Infrastructure Upgrades
In addition to classroom resources, several grants were approved to promote physical activity and localized health infrastructure across the foundation’s service area.
- Daviess County Economic Development Foundation: Awarded $10,000 to spearhead the development of a comprehensive, countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.
- West Boggs Park Foundation: Received $10,000 to construct a new outdoor fitness trail and launch a paired wellness initiative.
- City of Huntingburg: Secured $10,000 to build an ADA-accessible outdoor fitness court, ensuring inclusive exercise options for residents.
- Trinity United Church of Christ: Awarded $10,000 to develop dedicated outdoor recreation and garden spaces at the site of the future Boys & Girls Club of Dubois County.
Four additional organizations spanning the foundation’s multi-county service footprint also received funding during this round to round out the $137,500 total allocation.
Next Funding Round Now Open
With the initial 2026 distribution complete, foundation officials announced that the next round of grant applications is officially open to eligible non-profits, schools, and government entities in Southern Indiana.
Organizations looking to secure funding for health and wellness initiatives must submit their finalized applications before the upcoming deadline on July 17, 2026.
