Tolleston Opportunity Campus Fund

Purpose

In partnership with Boys and Girls Club, Methodist Hospital, City of Gary, State of Indiana, and Crossroads YMCA, this transformational project will feature programs and services from each of the major partners: The Boys and Girls Club will offer high quality before and after school programming and educational support. Methodist Hospital will have a clinic to provide critical healthcare services, and the Crossroads YMCA will provide high quality childcare, health and wellness, chronic disease programs, family programs, youth classes, and a community hub to help support kids, adults, and families. Funds raised, along with matching funds, will go to the Crossroads YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club. This initiative will create spaces and deliver programs that focus on talent development, entrepreneurship, economic advancement, education, and overall health/wellness.

All donations made to this fund will be eligible for a $1 – for – $1 match!

Contact

Legacy Foundation, Inc.
370 E. 84th Drive, Suite 100
Merrillville, Indiana 46410
Tel 219-736-1880
https://legacyfdn.org 

Cicco Family Memorial Endowment Fund

Purpose

The Cicco Family Memorial Endowment Fund supports charitable organizations and causes that serve Lake County, Indiana.

About Theresa Ann Cicco

Theresa Ann Cicco, age 72, passed away on March 23, 2024 after an 18-month battle with stage IV ovarian cancer. She fought with extraordinary courage and resilience, her determination inspired all who knew her.

Theresa was a beloved mother to her only child, Gloria Ann (Simpson) Morris, who she affectionately referred to as GoGo. Theresa loved her son-in-law, Robert David Morris deeply and doted proudly and lovingly on her three grandchildren, Gina Isabella Irwin, John Thomas Irwin III, and Gavin J Allen Reinbold-Morris. Theresa cherished her relationship with her brother-in-law, Brian Popp. They were “nothing bundt” buddies, sharing texts about trying all the different flavors with vanilla always the favorite. The love she shared with her sister, Tina (Cicco) Popp was unequivocal and unconditional as was her incredible relationship with her cousin, Maria (Lia) Corea. Theresa was known for her kind heart, sweet smile and unbelievable talent in finding a great deal in her shopping adventures around the Region. She had a special way of connecting with her customers as she helped them find the right style and fit while shopping at the family business, John Cicco’s Menswear. Theresa enjoyed ballroom dance lessons and bus trips to the area casinos with her friends and neighbors. Her warmth and generosity touched countless lives in a remarkable way.

Through the generosity of this fund, Legacy Foundation can support organizations providing vital services to Lake County families and individuals in the areas of arts and culture, education, environment and animal welfare, health and human services. Because donations are endowed, your gift in memory of the Cicco Family will continue to support the community for years to come. Currently, gifts to this fund will be matched $2 for every $1 donated.

Contact

Legacy Foundation, Inc.
370 E. 84th Drive, Suite 100
Merrillville, Indiana 46410
Tel 219-736-1880
https://legacyfdn.org 

Friends of Marquette Greenway NWI Fund

Purpose

The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) is committed to finishing the Marquette Greenway, a regional, non-motorized trail facility spanning 60-miles in length along the south shore region of Lake Michigan from Calumet Park in Chicago, Illinois, eastward through the heart of Northwest Indiana, and into downtown New Buffalo, Michigan.

Donate Today to Support the Marquette Trail!

Contact

Legacy Foundation, Inc.
370 E. 84th Drive, Suite 100
Merrillville, Indiana 46410
Tel 219-736-1880
https://legacyfdn.org 

Lake County Local Food Fund

When You Donate to the Lake County Food Fund Your Gift Will be Matched $1-for-$1!

Support the Lake County Local Food Fund and your donation will be matched by Legacy Foundation $1-for-$1, up to $30,000.

Double Your Impact, Donate Today!

Purpose

Food insecurity and residents’ access to healthy and affordable food is directly linked to the health of our community. Legacy Foundation established the Lake County Food Fund as an endowment to show our long-term commitment to creating a better food and farming system in Lake County. The Lake County Food Fund is a step in our journey to end hunger and promote local food access in Lake County. Legacy Foundation will partner with the NWI Food Council to help carry out the mission of the fund.

The Lake County Food Fund will focus on addressing root causes of food insecurity, sustaining local farms, and lowering barriers to access healthy food. Legacy Foundation will work with community-based organizations and growers whose requests encompass at least one of the following elements of a resilient food system:

  • Build agricultural knowledge and skills.
  • Increase access to healthy foods.
  • Improve facilities or productivity of a farm.
  • Incentivize support of locally grown food.
  • Provide technical assistance and training to farmers and growers.
  • Address root causes of food insecurity

Share Your Harvest, Support Your Community

Farmers and landowners now have the opportunity to build a better Lake County by making a gift of grain to Legacy Foundation! Visit our Gift of Grain webpage to learn more about this unique giving opportunity. 

Contact

Legacy Foundation, Inc.
370 E. 84th Drive, Suite 100
Merrillville, Indiana 46410
Tel 219-736-1880
https://legacyfdn.org 

Books, Brushes, and Bands for Education Fund

Donate to the Books, Brushes, & Bands for Education Fund

Purpose

The Fund provides support to the charitable organization Books, Brushes, & Bands for Education (BBB4E). Your  financial commitment will increase awareness for the arts, collaborations with community members, and bring hope for a brighter future for families served by BBB4E.

Books, Brushes & Bands for Education was founded by a mother seeking a high-quality community band experience for her sons. As a practicing artist herself, Michelle believes exploration and knowledge in the literary, visual and musical arts are essential to the development of every child. This commitment has resulted in over 23 years of community art for students and families from any zip code.  

Over the years, BBB4E has created several innovative arts education programs including Midwest Youth Music and the Book Brigade. Through the Midwest Youth Choir, Band and Orchestra thousands of students ages 5-18 throughout NWI have engaged in a variety of unique performance opportunities. The Book Brigade has distributed over 23,000 free books to families in and around Hammond. BBB4E is committed to creating opportunities for students to experience the mental and social benefits of art. 

The impact we strive for is to create caring and creative communities. Art is a way to develop relationships with families and help families create healthy relationships with each other. It is important to BBB4E that our youth, particularly the underserved, have access to fine arts education experiences. For many, these opportunities are not generally accessible to them and for others, BBB4E offers additional programming beyond their schools.   

Contact

Legacy Foundation, Inc.
370 E. 84th Drive, Suite 100
Merrillville, Indiana 46410
Tel 219-736-1880
https://legacyfdn.org 

Dr. William and Margaret Morris Scholarship

Donate Today

Dr. William and Margaret Morris Academic, Athletic, & Service Scholarship

Dr. William (Bill) and Margaret Morris were married for 58 years and leave behind a legacy of service. Among many accomplishments, Bill established the Pediatrics Department at the Hammond Clinic. Margaret helped initiate the Gifted and Talented Program within the Munster School Corporation, was a long-time member of the Service League of Northwest Indiana, and volunteered extensively.

The couple hailed from North Carolina and spent time in Baltimore, while Bill completed his residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital. After residency, Bill entered the Army Medical Corps at Fort Rucker, where he established the pediatrics department at the base hospital. While at Fort Rucker, Margaret and Bill’s first two children were born: Ann Elizabeth (“Beth”) and William Harold (“Hal”) Morris III. In 1965, Margaret and Bill left Fort Rucker for Munster, Indiana, where they welcomed their third child, Robert David (“Bobby”) Morris and lived the remainder of their long, impactful lives.

The Morris’s were their children’s biggest cheerleaders through baseball games, swim meets and music recitals. Their unflinching encouragement reflected their values and made indelible impressions on the lives of their children and grandchildren. Hal and Bobby became professional baseball players, with Hal winning a World Series with the Cincinnati Reds in 1990, and daughter, Beth, was a competitive swimmer.

The Dr. William and Margaret Morris Academic, Athletic, & Service Scholarship will continue to encourage the values they espoused by recognizing high achieving students who are active in sports and community service.

Donate Today

Contact

Legacy Foundation, Inc.
370 E. 84th Drive, Suite 100
Merrillville, Indiana 46410
Tel 219-736-1880
https://legacyfdn.org 

Building the Future Vocational Scholarship

Donate Today

Purpose

The Building the Future Vocational Scholarship supports scholarships for Lake County residents to attend a public or private institution to earn a certificate or vocational/trade school degree with the intent to gain local employment.

Contact

Legacy Foundation, Inc.
370 E. 84th Drive, Suite 100
Merrillville, Indiana 46410
Tel 219-736-1880
https://legacyfdn.org