Cardinal Services Executive Director Vickie Lootens, left, accepts the 1st Source Foundation donation from Doug Hanes. Doug is city president business relationship manager of the Warsaw Banking Center. Photo provided by Michelle Boxell.

News Release

WARSAW — 1st Source Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to Cardinal Services for programs to enhance employability and independence for students and working-age adults with disabilities.

The project will provide 50 youth and 100 adults with the skills, certifications and hands-on experiences needed to pursue, gain and maintain competitive employment. They will improve soft skills such as time-management, personal responsibility, communication skills and networking. The grant will pay for work-experience stipends and for educational certifications.

The student program, known as Dream Teens, will work with middle and high school students to provide them with training opportunities so that they are prepared when they enter the workforce. Pre-Employment Transition Services, known as Pre-ETS, will be integrated into the program, streamlining services.

Through a partnership with Ivy Tech Community College, Cardinal is developing customized educational certifications that will allow student as well as adult participants to earn certification and licensing, such as various manufacturing certifications or Certified Nursing Assistant certification, in specialized fields.

“We’re tremendously grateful to 1st Source Bank Foundation and our many friends at 1st Source,” said Vickie Lootens, executive director of Cardinal Services. “With this funding, we can offer more meaningful opportunities to people with disabilities, and improve our community as we create more inclusive work places.”