Project Overview

The Tolson Center for Community Excellence is a local community center located in the neighborhood of South Central Elkhart and is anticipated to serve 300-500 individuals through on-site programming. The programs delivered will focus on inclusive learning, cultural exchange, and recreation that have monthly outputs and outcomes focused on the number of youth programs (output-8/quarter), number of senior programs (output-6 weekly), satisfaction of the users (output-yearly). The expenditures for the READI grant will include fire protection, signage, flooring, roof, landscaping, irrigation, bleachers, and a soccer field. The start date was July 2022 and the anticipated end date is November 2024. The funding contributors include the City of Elkhart with $5M, Community Foundation of Elkhart County with $2M (split between operational support and capital investments), Lily Endowment with $2.2M, and a local philanthropist with $3.2M. Anticipated results will include reaching 80% of users who are satisfied with programming, feel a sense of belonging to the center, and gain new skills at the center. We anticipate the City of Elkhart to report positive feedback in support of Tolson's impact in the city.