INDIANAPOLIS – Today, the Center for Leadership Development (CLD) announced the second-largest gift in the organization’s history. Indiana University Health gave a $2 million gift, which will allow the Center for Leadership Development to extend its reach to more Black youth across Central Indiana.
The gift was announced Monday morning during an event featuring IU Health President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Murphy, Citizens Energy Group President and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Harrison, Indiana Chief Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity Officer, Karrah Herring, Congressman Andre Carson, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and City-County Council President Vop Osili with Indianapolis civic, business and philanthropic leaders in attendance.
Dennis Bland, President of the Center for Leadership Development said, “We are profoundly grateful to IU Health for its tremendous gift in support of the Center for Leadership Development’s RISE Campaign. What a remarkable gift and vote of confidence in the CLD mission. We look forward to leveraging this investment to inspire and equip thousands more Black youth across Indianapolis to discover their immense potential and thrive at the highest levels in character, academics, college, career and life. We understand that with this gift comes great opportunity and responsibility. We will do our level best to provide a high degree of return to IU Health, to the city of Indianapolis, and to the students and families we strive to help excel. To Dennis Murphy, Kevin Armstrong and to the entire leadership team at IU Health, we extend our deepest gratitude.”
“The Center for Leadership Development plays a vital role in our community by providing leadership experiences for Black youth,” said IU Health President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Murphy. “IU Health is pleased to assist the CLD in its key mission to help minority youth overcome social and economic obstacles and strengthen educational attainment and workforce development in Indianapolis.”
As a result of this gift and others, CLD is pleased to announce the public phase of its RISE campaign. Through the RISE campaign, CLD seeks to serve more youth than ever before by establishing satellite locations and in-school programs in high crime, low income areas, adding 20,000 sq. ft. to its current headquarters and establishing an endowment for future sustainability. To date, CLD has raised $22.7 million, 68 percent of its $33 million campaign goal.
In 2019, CLD announced an $11.6 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. in support of the RISE campaign. Lilly Endowment Inc.’s gift includes a 2-to-1 matching commitment, up to $2 million, for CLD’s endowment as well. CLD is currently fundraising to achieve that goal and encourages the public to continue contributing to the endowment campaign, which has a $1 million goal and ends Sept. 30, 2021.
Relevant Facts & Statistics
- In a 2017 Measure of America survey conducted by the Social Science Research Council, 19.3% of the African American youth in Central Indiana, ages 16-24, were found to be not engaged in school or work pursuits compared to 10.4% of their white peers.
- In third through eighth grades in Indianapolis Public Schools, the overall ISTEP+ pass rate in English/language arts is 33% for African American students compared to 59% for their white peers. In math, the divergence is greater – 20.3% for African Americans versus 48.9% for white students. Similar achievement gaps exist in other school districts throughout Marion County.
- 44% of CLD students come from single-parent households; 47% receive free or reduced lunches and 35% come from one of seven “hot spot” high-crime ZIP codes. CLD has intentionally developed programming and services to address the achievement gap and reaches students and families in challenging circumstances.
- In 2017, CLD served 4,200 youth and adults and provided 10,200 service touches to these individuals.
- The high school graduation rate for CLD Alumni is 94% compared to an average high school graduation rate of 80% for African American students statewide.
- CLD’s overall program participant retention is greater than 80%.
- Tens of thousands of students and parents have gone through programming and/or received services from CLD, and more than 12,000 students have completed Self-Discovery/Career Exploration Project and become CLD Alumni.
- CLD serves students in fourth through 12th grades and their families, then follows and supports CLD alumni to college to increase college completion.
- By strategically connecting with schools, communities, businesses and industries, higher education, funders and youth and their families, CLD inspires a higher level of academic and career achievement in African American youth.
- CLD and participating colleges have offered more than $30 million in scholarships for CLD Alumni to attend colleges and universities in Indiana and beyond.
Since 1977, CLD has provided enriching programs to supplement and reinforce tens of thousands of African American youths’ learning and developmental experiences. The organization’s dynamic program model is committed to teaching five cornerstone values: Character. Education. Leadership. Service. Career. CLD refers to these values as the Principles for Success, all driving toward one result: Achievement.
