Marine Foundation of Indiana, Inc.

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The Marine Foundation of Indiana is established to promote the interests of the United States Marine Corps by:

• Supporting Marines and their families that are in need! The Marine Family is defined as the community of Marine Corps units, both active and reserve, as well as Marine Veterans groups and associations presented as a whole to present the interest of the Marine Corps.
• Carrying out the dictum of “taking care of our own” by coordinating support for the Marine Corps Community in the Central Indiana area to include the Marines and Marine Families, families of deployed Marines, Marine widows/widowers and orphans, and disabled or needy former Marines.
• Engaging in and promoting social and civic endeavors, singly or in association with other groups, which will effectively enhance the public image, standing, interests and proud traditions of the United States Marine Corps in the Central Indiana area and elsewhere.
• Educating the general public about the needs of the Marines in the State of Indiana. 

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The Marine Foundation of Indiana is a non-profit organization that seeks to enhance the lives and provide support for Marines and their Family Members.  The Foundation will raise community awareness and efforts to provide financial assistance and moral support at home, during activation and/or deployments of Marines.  The foundation will work with other veteran and non-profit organizations to support the Marine Family.

…seek to enhance the lives and provide support for Marines and their Family Members.  This is the Foundation’s primary objective.  Whether activated, deployed, wounded or sick, the morale and welfare of the Marines and Family Members are an utmost concern.  This could be help fixing a car, assistance in getting to love-ones in need or wounded or helping with a deployment or welcome home ceremony. 

…raise community awareness and efforts to provide financial assistance…  
The Foundation is committed to ensuring that the community is aware of the proud traditions of the Marine Corps, the needs of the Marines and their Family Members and raising funds to support the activities that will support the Marines

…work with other veterans and non-profit organizations to support the Marine Family.   The Marine Family is all-encompassing.  This includes any Active-duty, Reserve, Retired and former Marine and their collective family.  Working closely with the Marine Corps League, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and/or other service organizations the Foundation will seek to improve the well-being of the Marine Family. 

In January of 2003, 105 Marines from Detachment Communications Company, Headquarters Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Indianapolis, IN were activated in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  This was the first time this unit had been mobilized as an entire unit since 1990.  In February, they were deployed to Kuwait and then to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Of those 105 Marines, approximately five had any type of deployment experience.  Unlike their active-duty counterparts, deployment and separation for the vast majority of these Marines and their Family Members was a very new and scary experience, not to mention the uncertainty of battle and concerns for the safety and well-being of the Marines and Family Members while the Marines were away.

During the unit’s deployment, the unit’s Peacetime/Wartime Support Group and Family Readiness/Key Volunteer group conducted bi-weekly meetings with the families as a means of disseminating information as well as developing mutual support.  Enlisting the aid of the local detachment of the Marine Corps League (Hiram I. Bearss Detachment) and several VFW and American Legion Post, they conducted several “Mother’s Night-Out” Events, an Easter Egg Hunt for the Children and a Kentucky Kingdom Trip.  All these activities were held with the explicit intent of developing camaraderie and support for the Family Members.  They also conducted a “Package Day” for the Marines.  This involved buying and/or acquiring donations from the community for items to send, packaging those items and mailing the boxes to the Marines.   There were over 175 boxes sent at a cost of $1,900.00.  Financial support for the mailing came from a church group and an American Legion Post.

Being remote from an active-duty Marine Corps Base, Reservists and their family members do not have the resources or support activities that a base offer.  The Key Volunteers had to find alternative resources.  The Marines and Family Members have had an incredible and sometimes overwhelming amount of support from the Indianapolis Community.   A “Coalition” was developed between the Key Volunteer Group, the Peacetime/Wartime Support Team. The Marine Corps League, Young Marines, Veteran’s Groups, Churches and Local Business Leaders to develop an action plan and provide local assistance.  Local businesses stepped up with home repairs, car repairs and appliances.  The mission of our local Marine Corps League Detachment has been enhanced to provide support for the Marines and their Families.   We had local business leaders finance a Welcome Home Ball so incredible that it is still talked about years later.  All in all, Indianapolis is a Marine friendly community.

Since that first activation in 2003, four additional activations have occurred totaling the deployment of over 60 Marine Reserves.  Currently there are approximately 10 Marines of Detachment Communications Company, a second unit located at the Reserve Center, activated and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  In addition, there has been Marines deployed supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in the Horn of Africa.  It is highly likely and anticipated given the operational tempo of the Marine Corps and current world events that activation and deployments of these Marine reserves will continue indefinitely. 

There have been numerous local service organizations and businesspeople in the Indianapolis community who have donated their time, money and efforts in support of the Marines and their Families.  Much of the money needed to conduct the activities in support of the Marines and their Families has been donated by this group.  They are and will continue to be a resource for support.  The major supporters include the following:

• Marine Corps league, Hiram I. Bearss Detachment
• Ernie Pyle Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1120
• Speedway Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 2839
• American Legion, Post 500
• St Luke’s United Methodist Church
• Mr. Tom Godby
• Dr. Jane Cutler

The money given was and continues to be used to conduct support for the Marines and their Family Members. The following is a list of activities, events and occasions:

• Refreshments for Departure and Return Ceremonies
• Refreshments for Deployment and Return/Reunion Briefs for Family Members
• Emergency Services, i.e. car, furnace, home repairs
• Financial or in-kind support for families of injured or wounded Marines

Overall this effort has been and will continue to be a positive effect on the morale and well-being of the Marines and Family Members.  Financial support will provide the resources needed to continue being part of the Marine Family and in keeping with the tradition of “Taking Care of our Own.”

The Marine Foundation of Indiana was incorporated in November of 2005 with the expressed purpose of centralizing the financial and community effort to continue supporting Marines and their Family Members.  As a non-profit organization, the Foundation will be an integral part in insuring that the morale and welfare of all Marines is up most in the concerns of the community.

Semper Fidelis 

GRANTS and SCHOLARSHIPS

Marine Foundation of Indiana is accepting GRANT and SCHOLARSHIP applications. Contact the local Detachment of the MARINE CORPS LEAGUE in your area.

The information on the Grant Request Form will be used to determine eligibility and approval for a grant from the Marine Foundation of Indiana, Inc. The following criteria will be used to determine eligibility for a grant:
 

• Financial Assistance Grants: Support for a Marine, FMF Corpsman, FMF Chaplain and/or their Immediate Family Member who has a financial emergency, such as car, home or appliance repair, funds to cover expenses to or from the bedside of an injured or wounded Marine. “…taking care of our own”.
   
• Scholarship Grants: Providing Scholarship Grant assistance to Marines, FMF Corpsmen, FMF Chaplain and/or their Immediate Family Members in the form of Financial Aid for College or post High School education. This Grant is applied through the CRUMBO SCHOLARSHIP FUND and completed applications must be US Mail postmarked by April 30. Scholarship Grants may be re-applied each year thereafter for up to five total Scholarship Grants.
   
• Community Support / Operations Grants: Provide financial assistance to conduct events that is intended to affect the morale and welfare of Marines and their Family Members. Such events would include, but is not limited to, Departure and Homecoming Ceremonies, Field Breakfast and Dinners and Family Day Events. Provide assistance for civic events that promote or enhance the public image, standing, interest and proud traditions of the United States Marine Corps. Programs that educate the general public about the needs of the Marines in the State of Indiana. Provide support to Other Organizations that promote similar goals of the foundation and the interest of Marines, Family Members and the United States Marine Corps. 

Download the GRANT REQUEST FORM here or scroll to bottom of the page.

Fill out the form and take to your nearest Marine Corps League Detachment or mail to:

Marine Foundation of Indiana, Inc.
Attn: Grant Advisory Chair
550 South Audubon Road
Indianapolis, IN  46219-8110 

ALL DONATIONS are welcome, and all donors receive an official 'Thank You' letter for your tax records.