News Release

WARSAW — Cardinal Services has received a $984,000 AWS Foundation Vantage Grant.

It will allow Cardinal to add new services. Cardinal Executive Director Matt Boren said plans include the addition of a behavioral consultant and music therapist, Structured Family Caregiving services and a 24-hour call center, which will give on-duty staff, people served and families the support they need when they need it.

Earlier this year, Cardinal received a $75,000 planning grant from AWS Foundation. This led to a six-month planning period during which Cardinal worked with consultants gathering data and analyzing organizational challenges and opportunities, with the goal to achieve transformational change at Cardinal that positively impacts the community at large.

Cardinal is one of only five organizations to be awarded a Vantage Grant.

Boren added for years, Cardinal has reimagined what day services programs could look like if they had the funding. Vantage funds will allow current classrooms to be recreated as club rooms, helping connect individuals with people in their community who share similar interests and passions. Club room themes will rotate and to-date include culinary arts, technology, performing arts, fitness, gardening, photography and more.

To enhance employment opportunities for people with disabilities, Cardinal will also be adding an Opportunity Lab. Cardinal will partner with area businesses to offer training and certification for jobs in the community. Boren explained that the lab will be a space between sheltered work and community employment and will aid employers in addressing their workforce challenges.

Boren concluded by thanking AWS Foundation and pointing out that the grant comes as Cardinal is working toward renovating its facility at 504 N. Bay Drive in Warsaw, making the timing perfect for re-envisioning and building for the future