NICF awards $1K grant to Guardian Advocates

Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 9:13 AM

By Wes Dehne

Pictured from left: NICF Director of Philanthropy Brian Johnson, Guardian Advocates Case Manager Rene Robbins and Executive Co-Director Alachia Sturgess.

Fulton County Community Foundation Ambassadors recently awarded a $1,000 grant to Guardian Advocates Inc., a local nonprofit organization committed to safeguarding the well-being of senior adults and adults with disabilities.

The foundation shares that grants like this are made possible through Fulton County Community Funds, which are endowed, ensuring their enduring positive influence on Fulton County for generations to come.

The VASIA program, which stands for Volunteer Advocates for Seniors and Incapacitated Adults, began in 2011 as an effort to address the healthcare and social needs of the ever-increasing population of physically and mentally incapacitated adults without family in the community. It was designed to serve adults, much like CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, for children. It was put into law in 2012 and established the Indiana State Guardianship Office under the Indiana Office of Court Services in 2014.

In December 2022, the Area Five Adult VASIA Guardianship Program successfully completed its merger with Guardian Advocates Inc. Its West Division, with an office in Kokomo, continues to serve Fulton, Miami, Cass, Howard and Tipton counties. A sister office in Anderson covers three additional counties – Madison, Delaware and Grant – for the East Division.

Its eight-person staff and 60-plus volunteers serve more than 120 clients, and it looks to raise $200,000 in donations and grants for 2025.

"Thank you again so much for the continued support that allows us to do the work we do in the community to help these precious people we are serving," Guardian Advocates Executive Co-Director Alachia Sturgess shared with the foundation.

Visit guardianadvocates.org to learn more, become a volunteer or make a donation. To learn more about how to make a positive impact in the community through the NICF, visit www.nicf.org.