News Release

KENDALLVILLE — The Dekko Foundation, a private family foundation located in Kendallville, with a mission of fostering economic freedom through education, awarded more than $566,000 in grants and pledges to eight youth-serving organizations during its most recent round of grant making.

The foundation, started in 1981 by the late businessman and philanthropist Chester E. Dekko, invests in projects and programs that help build knowledge, skills and character in children and young people from birth through age 18 so they can be self-sufficient and grow up to be economically free.

Its grant making is concentrated within 13 counties in four states — Indiana, Iowa, Alabama, and Minnesota — where Mr. Dekko had business or personal interests.

If you’d like to learn more about how investments such as these support children and young people, contact a Dekko Foundation program officer at (260) 347-1278 or visit dekkofoundation.org.

Among area organizations receiving grants and pledges were:

• Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana: $15,000 to support the organization’s in-school programs for students in Noble County.
• Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana: $45,000 over three years to support the organization’s in-school programs for students in Kosciusko County.
• Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana: $10,000 to support the organization’s in-school programs for students in Whitley County.
• Lakeland Christian Academy, Winona Lake: $250,000 to support construction of a new facility for early learning and elementary school students that will also help the organization build its capacity.
• Kosciusko County Teen Court Inc., Warsaw: $10,000 to support the organization’s Teen Court program in which young people learn about the judicial process and community resources.
• East Noble School Corp., Kendallville: $33,000 to support the high school’s ability to provide instruments for students in its jazz bands so that they can build music and performance skills.