AARP Indiana celebrates YMCA Vincennes Community Challenge grants with check presentation

AARP Indiana presented a Community Challenge grant award to YMCA Vincennes during a special check presentation ceremony.

Pictured, left to right: Addison Pollock, (AARP Indiana Director of Community Engagement), Emily Gorman (AARP Indiana Director of Community Engagement), Vicki Small (AARP Indiana Volunteer and Evansville Team Leader, Joe Yochum (Mayor of Vincennes), Edward Yochum (Assistant Director - YMCA VanGo), Rebecca Pinnick (Director of YMCA VanGo Public Transportation), Daniel Collins (Dispatcher), Marty Blake (INDOT Multimodal Director), Michael Myers (Field Representative - Rep. Messmer IN-08), and Dennis Kordes (CEO YMCA of Vincennes)

The two 2026 Community Challenge grants, totaling $30,000, will improve an existing transportation booking portal so community agencies can schedule rides for older adults more easily and add sheltered covers over benches at key public transit stops, making waiting safer and more comfortable for older riders.

One of the grants is an existing transportation booking portal will be improved to allow community agencies to schedule rides for older adults. Easier coordination will reduce missed appointments.

Also, the second grant is for sheltered benches will be added at key public transit stops. Protection from the weather will make waiting safer and more comfortable for older riders.

AARP Indiana Directors of Community Engagement, Addison Pollock and Emily Gorman, gave opening remarks, followed by comments from Vincennes Mayor Joe Yochum, Director of YMCA VanGo Public Transportation Rebecca Pinnick, and INDOT Multimodal Director Marty Blake. 

Following the event, the AARP Indiana team was invited to take a ride on the Vincennes trolley. They got to experience firsthand how the grant funding will help improve the lives of older adults in the Vincennes community. See below for a photo from the ceremonial check presentation.