BFO Launches New Grant Program Inspired by Daviess County Emergent Need

JASPER, IN – The Being for Others Health and Wellness Foundation (BFO) partnered with PACE Community Action Agency to ensure Head Start services for children and families in Daviess County continued without interruption caused by a delay in federal funding during the November 2025 government shutdown. This government shutdown lasted a total of 43 days, making it the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. In response to this urgent need, BFO provided temporary financial assistance to PACE Head Start operations in Daviess County, IN, that ensured families could continue working, children could keep learning and thriving, and the local economy remained supported.

PACE’s Head Start program was among several nationwide child care programs experiencing a funding delay directly tied to the start of a new federal grant cycle back on November 1, 2025. PACE was providing services to over 295 children and families, and over 80 staff positions inside their six-county service region in Indiana. Without timely federal funding, programs faced short-term operational challenges that could have had direct impact on children, families, and staff.

Recognizing the strong correlation to the nationally-recognized Social Determinants of Health, BFO’s partnership with PACE helped protect that critical support system where access to reliable childcare helps parents maintain employment, supports family stability, and provides children with safe environments, nutrition, and early learning opportunities.

“This collaboration reflected the understanding that community health extends beyond physical well-being,” said Christian Blome, BFO President. “It’s about supporting the conditions that allow families to flourish. When children continue learning, parents remain employed, and families stay stable, the foundation of our region’s collective long-term health and vitality grows stronger.”

PACE CEO Tai Blythe said the partnership helped maintain critical stability for local families. “Our Head Start families depend on reliable access to care, learning, and support. This collaboration helped us maintain that stability during a challenging period, and we were deeply grateful for BFO’s timely partnership.”

Head Start provides education, health screenings, nutrition support, and family services to children from birth through age five. In Daviess County, more than 90 percent of enrolled children live below the federal poverty line, making the program an essential community resource.

BFO Launches Rapid Response Grants Program

What began as an urgent need for one organization inspired the creation of something brand new for BFO: the Rapid Response Grants program. A program designed to quickly support organizations like PACE when unexpected challenges arise.

Rapid Response Grants provide flexible, short-term support for time-sensitive, unexpected needs, or small-scale requests that align with BFO’s mission and pillars. These funds are available year-round, or until designated resources have been fully allocated.

In keeping with all of BFO’s current grant opportunities, applicants must serve residents in at least one of BFO's eight counties, aligned with at least one BFO grant pillar, operate as a nonprofit, governmental entity, or school, and must not compete with services offered by Deaconess Memorial Medical Center.

Information on the BFO Rapid Response Grant program can be found at www.BeingforOthers.org.

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About PACE Community Action Agency

PACE is a regional nonprofit organization providing early childhood education, housing, energy assistance, and health support services to low-income families. Through programs like Head Start, PACE promotes education, stability, and opportunity for children and families across Daviess, Greene, Knox, and Sullivan counties.

About Being for Others Health and Wellness Foundation

The Being for Others (BFO) Health and Wellness Foundation is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to creating a culture of health and wellness for the betterment of communities in Southwest Indiana. Established through a generous $20 million endowment made possible by the affiliation between Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center and Deaconess Health System in 2024, the foundation serves eight counties: Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Martin, Orange, Perry, Pike, and Spencer.

Focused exclusively on grant-making, the foundation collaborates with local organizations, agencies, and other funders to promote health and wellness initiatives that inspire our communities to Be Well. Be Healthy. Be for Others.

For more information contact us at 812-556-0400, info@beingforothers.org or visit www.beingforothers.org