INDIANAPOLIS — Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis, a charitable women’s giving circle, announced Paws and Think, Inc. is one of five Change-Maker finalists that will compete for a $100,000 high-impact grant at the 14th annual Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis celebration. The five nonprofit organizations will each deliver a seven minute presentation followed by a live vote by current Impact 100 members. The remaining four Change-Maker finalists will receive the largest residual grants in the organization’s history, $22,750 each.
Since 2001, Paws & Think works to improve lives through the power of the human-dog connection. Their Pawsitive Impact Program is an expansion of our Youth-Canine Program where we pair up at-risk youth with shelter dogs. The youth train the shelter dogs in basic obedience. Youth learn the value of working together towards a common goal, while dogs become more responsive and therefore more adoptable.
Other finalists include:
• Arts, Culture & Preservation: Kennedy King Cultural Visitor’s Center/Kennedy King Memorial Initiative
• Education: Westside Expansion/Elevate Indianapolis
• Family: Stability Builders Network/Family Promise of Hendricks County
• Health and Wellness: Path to Independence Wellness Program/NeuroHope of Indiana, Inc.
To date, 16 local nonprofits have received $100,000 high-impact grants and 38 have received unrestricted, residual grants as a result of Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis’ collective giving. Previous Change-Makers include: Brookside Community Development Corporation and Trinity Episcopal Church (2018); Volunteers of America of Indiana (2017); The IMPACT Project (a joint project between Ascent 121 and The Lutheran Child and Family Services (2016); Indianapolis Parks Foundation for Indy Urban Acres Flower Farm (2015); LifeSmart Youth (formerly Social Health Association of Indiana) (2014); Tindley Collegiate (2013); Jameson Camp, Inc. (2012); Outside the Box, Inc. (2011); Rock Steady Boxing (2010); Outreach, Inc. (2009); Herron High School and Horizon House (2008); Indy Reads and Craine House/Fairbanks (2007); and Wishard/Eskenazi (2006).