Jefferson County – Bethany Legacy Foundation has awarded two rapid response grants to meet critical needs in Jefferson County.

The first grant went to The Freedom Center, a brand-new community resource equipped with licensed therapists to serve individuals of all ages. The center will be a dynamic solution to the mental health disparity that currently exists in Jefferson County. The Center needed funding before the end of the year to meet its construction timeline and break ground by June 2023.

The second grant was awarded to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southeastern Indiana (CAC). The CAC is striving to move to a new facility to provide a safe space to support children experiencing trauma from physical and sexual abuse. The grant commitment enables the CAC to apply for a Community Development Block Grant, which supports community development activities to build stronger and more resilient communities.

The two grants address some of the top critical issues in the county and align with priority areas from the research and listening tour data. In our long-term work, Bethany Legacy will have a broad and diverse portfolio, but these first two were time-sensitive and spoke right to the heart of what this foundation is all about, said Dora Anim, CEO of the Foundation.

The grant funds received from the Bethany Legacy Foundation have allowed The Freedom Center to begin and complete necessary renovations to its facility, bringing it one step closer to opening full time in 2023 and offering more than 50 therapy sessions a week for anyone in need, stated Liz Cooper, Executive Director of The Freedom Center. No one will be turned away from therapy services based on their ability to pay.

Regarding the second grant to the Children’s Advocacy Center, Executive Director Kelli Jetti explained that adverse childhood trauma has serious health and wellness impacts when children become adults. The impact of Bethany Legacy Foundation’s contribution is monumental and life-changing for many people. The CAC will provide a safe space for children and families during times of trauma and offer the community access to valuable resources that benefit the health and wellness of children, families, and the broader community.

Bethany Legacy Foundation is a new nonprofit private foundation founded in 2022 and focused on designing solutions that remove economic and social obstacles to create the healthiest community possible. The Foundation began with an in-depth listening tour and community research that informed its strategic plan. As the foundation moves into the action phase in 2023, it is important to deliver on its promise to move swiftly and be a true partner in Jefferson County, said Dora Anim.

For Bethany Legacy Foundation, the action phase in 2023 involves working alongside the community to drive results. With smart grant-making, research, education, and people power, Jefferson County can become a place where future generations can work, live, and thrive.

To learn more about Bethany Legacy Foundation and the grants mentioned above, the public is invited to attend the Legacy in Action event on February 23, 2023, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Fairfield Inn & Suites Madison Historic Eagle Cotton Mill.