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Community Group to Present to Indiana Gaming Commission

EAST CHICAGO, Indiana – (PRESS RELEASE)-- The East Chicago Community Development Foundation and the Twin City Education Foundation, collectively the Foundations of East Chicago, intend to present a strong case to the Indiana Gaming Commission at a public hearing this Thursday, arguing that the city of East Chicago's attempt to divert these private, charitable funds would effectively end the good work being done by the foundations.

Representatives of the foundations and dozens of supporters are expected to testify at a public hearing scheduled for Thursday, April 21, at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, 350 West Maryland Street, in ballrooms 3-4. The hearing will begin immediately after the Gaming Commission's regular business, which begins at 10:00AM.

"We welcome the opportunity to testify at this public hearing because we have a very positive story to tell," said Russell Taylor, executive director of the foundations. "Unfortunately, we were not allowed to testify before the East Chicago Common Council when it rushed through its ordinance last month. Now the public can hear both sides and we are confident we will prevail once the facts are known," he said.

According to a Performance Review prepared by the foundations and submitted to the Gaming Commission, more than $18 million in direct grant support has been awarded to East Chicago community organizations since 1998. This support enabled hundreds of nonprofits to expand services and improve outcomes in areas as diverse as education, public safety, housing, health care, after school programs, youth sports, family nutrition and more. The report also noted that faith-based groups, which currently receive grant funds from the private foundations, are likely to be denied access to grants if the city controls the revenue due to separation of church and state issues.

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