IUSF Metz fund awarded money to 6 groups

The IU Student Foundation has awarded $25,000 in grant funds from the Arthur R. Metz Philanthropic Opportunity Fund to six IU Bloomington campus student groups, according to a press release.

Senior Kelsie Ackman is an IUSF steering committee member who weighed in on deciding which student groups would receive the funds.

“We looked for groups that helped the most people and needed the most help,” Ackman said. “We also looked at the groups’ prior projects and the success of those projects.”

After going through the grant process, eight groups were selected to present to the IUSF members and judged on their passion and enthusiasm for their activities, Ackman said.

Junior Jenna Graham, the president of the Women’s Student Association, was one of the six recipients.

“We started writing the grant in October,” Graham said. “This money is going to go toward the Vagina Monologues that will be shown on Feb. 11-13 in the Fine Arts Auditorium.”

Since the WSA was awarded $5,000, they plan on using some of the money to fund other programs in April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month,
Graham said.

Delta Phi Omega is a South Asian based sorority that received $2,500. Senior Ashley Narsinghani serves as treasurer for the sorority and said the grant money will go toward their annual Literacy Through Unity event.

“It’s a week of events that promote awareness of literacy,” Narsinghani said. “It kicks off on Feb. 26 with a benefit dinner with smaller events like bowling and game day until March 3.”

Part of the proceeds will also be donated to a local charity such as the Monroe County Public Library children’s section with another portion being sent to the sorority’s national philanthropy.

IUSF awards $25,000 to selected student groups each semester. For the spring 2011 Metz grant fund application, see iusf.indiana.edu/scholarships_grants/metz-grant.html. Applications are due March 4.