Damar Services receives $250,000 grant from Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation

The Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation has made a $250,000 grant to Damar Services, Inc., an organization dedicated to building better futures for children and adults facing developmental and behavioral challenges. The grant, Damar’s first-ever from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, will assist with construction expenses for Damar’s new $1.2 million Gymnasium, Conference and Performing Arts Center.

The multipurpose center, located in the heart of Damar’s southwest-side campus, will allow Damar to expand arts, sports and recreational programming for children living in its residential facilities and increase the agency’s ability to host community events.

“Damar’s new Gymnasium, Conference and Performing Arts Center is a key part of our effort to expand our capacity and services,” said Damar President and CEO Greg Johnson. “This generous gift will do a lot more than simply help us pay for a building – it will make a difference for people facing some of life’s most difficult challenges.”

Damar is nearing the end of a $24 million expansion project that will allow it to double the total number of children and adults it can serve annually on its campus and in community-based programs.

Each year, some 160 children are turned away from the Damar campus due to a lack of capacity. Because most of the children and adults served by Damar have not found success in other settings – some have experienced as many as 30 failed placements prior to coming to Damar – missing out on placement at Damar means missing out on a life-changing opportunity. Ninety-six percent of all children and adults served by Damar achieve greater independence through Damar programs.

Arts, sports and recreation are key components in Damar’s work. Combined with other counseling and therapy programs, they contribute to dramatic reductions in physical aggression, non-compliance behaviors and verbal aggression.

“All kids need creative expression, play and physical activity, but, for our kids, such activities can be especially important in their success and growth,” Johnson said. “As a result, our new Gymnasium, Conference and Performing Arts Center could be the site of some truly meaningful moments in these children’s lives.”

“We appreciate the opportunity to be a part of a project that harnesses the power of art and play to help children with such great needs,” said William Marshall, president the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation. “We are impressed with Damar’s mission and remarkable results, and delighted to play a role in its work.”

About Damar Services, Inc.

With more than 700 employees across the state of Indiana, Damar Services, Inc. www.damar.org provides residential and community-based treatment, education support and other services to 700 children and adults facing the intellectual, developmental and behavioral challenges associated with mental retardation and autism. Damar's residential campus is located at 6067 Decatur Blvd. in Indianapolis. It also operates the state-accredited Damar Academy school, four group homes, 28 transition homes and a growing number of community-based home sites across central Indiana as well as offering comprehensive outpatient counseling and mental health services.

Damar won the Indiana University Entrepreneurial Award of Distinction for Social Enterprise in 2006 and the BKD Indiana Excellence Award in 2005. Damar's excellence is further evidenced by national distinction and acclaim earned through the success of Damar Best, a best practices research, development and training initiative. Damar is currently ranked the 25th largest Indianapolis-area not-for profit organization, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal.