CANI Calls for Nominations for Award

Upon his death in September, CANI founder William G. William left a legacy in the community rivaled by few others. A true champion of the poor, he helped to establish many of the agency’s programs, several of which are still in existence today in some form.

The award was first created to honor the efforts of the now late William G. Williams, the first executive director of the Allen County Economic Opportunity Council, the former name of CANI.

In addition to Mr. Williams, past winners include current CANI Executive Director Joe Conrad and posthumously John Beeson of New Castle. Beeson was an employee of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority and a champion of the poor.


We’re asking for your help! Maybe you know someone who has made significant efforts in the fight against poverty.

Here’s what we’re looking for specifically:

Nominees for the William G. Williams Award should demonstrate a commitment to helping communities, families, and individuals remove the causes and conditions of poverty. An award winner will be chosen based on the significance of his or her contributions in one or more of the following areas:

1. Helping low-income people become more self-sufficient.
2. Improving the conditions in which low-income people live.
3. Helping low-income people own a stake in their community.
4. Creating partnerships among supporters and providers of service to low-income people.
5. Increasing CANI’s capacity to achieve results.
6. Helping low-income people, especially vulnerable populations, achieve their potential by strengthening family and other supportive systems.

If you know of someone who fits the bill, do not hesitate to nominate him or her. E-mail me, laurencaggiano@canihelp.org, for an application.

Nominations are due April 15. The recipient will be honored at CANI’s annual meeting on May 4.

The Spirit of Giving is Alive in Our Community

What is it about giving that makes us feel so good?

Rowena Smith and her family recently moved to Fort Wayne from Florida and needed a little extra support. Through the CANI Family Development program, Family Support Services Worker Andrea Young has been helping her get settled in to her new home and city.

Andrea learned Rowena had been on medical leave at work for a few months, so money was tight. Andrea told her supervisor John Robb about her situation, and with Rowena’s permission, John shared her story with his daughter Triston, a manager at Flat Top Grille. Tristann and the employees at the restaurant have helped CANI families in the past and wanted to help again. She rallied support at her work place and the servers donated a portion of their tips to buy clothing and other needed items for the Smiths. (Thank you Flat Top Grille employees!)

Recently, Andrea, John and Triston delivered the items to Rowena’s home. (See photos)






She was thrilled by the donation and expressed her gratitude.

This might not seem like a big deal to some people, but it made a world of difference to the Smith family. You never know what effect a small gift will have on someone in need. And the added bonus is that it makes you feel good too!

"The Blind Side": One Man's Fight Against Poverty

If you’re looking for a feel-good movie about overcoming poverty, look no further than “The Blind Side.”

The movie chronicles the real-life story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a homeless and traumatized African-American boy from the “projects” who finds hope in an unexpected place.

The Tuohy family takes the youngster into their posh home, under the impression it will be temporary. At first Michael is treated more or less like a temporary guest, sleeping on a couch.

Although cautious at first, the Tuohys become fond of Michael, and before long consider him an inseparable part of their family. Mrs. Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) takes him under her wing and proves to be a force to be reckoned with.

A few weeks go by and its clear Michael does not have a home to return to. Michael came to the family with literally one outfit, so Mrs. Tuohy takes him shopping for some nice clothes. Later he receives a generous gift from the family in the form a brand new truck.

As the movie progresses, a bit of a conundrum unfolds. The more Mrs. Tuohy does for Michael, the more she realizes that his success does not hinge on material goods, but rather teaching him life skills. Michael struggled in school and needed an extra push to succeed. Mrs. Tuohy hires a tutor and Michael applies himself.

The point is that it’s not enough to give someone a fish; you must teach them how to fish. I have seen how CANI gives hope by being a support system for individuals and families who may not have their own. Through case management in Family Development and Head Start and other programs in the agency – we provide on-going encouragement. We give people the tools and the resources to succeed, as opposed to simply doing things for them.

In “The Blindside,” Mrs. Tuohy could pay for a tutor, but Michael still had to apply himself to pass his classes. It hinged on a conscious effort on his part, but it was helped by the loving support of a family who gave Michael hope.

I will tell you this story has a happy ending, but I won’t spoil it for you with any more details. Michael Oher’s life is a great example of overcoming poverty through strong support systems and a drive to succeed.

While we may not all have the means to adopt a young man like the Tuohys did, there are many ways to help. One way is to mentor a child. There are plenty of agencies who have children waiting to be “adopted” by a positive role model - in fact CANI is one of them! We are expanding our youth program. and looking for more professionals who can donate their time to mentor a child who has interest in their respective fields. For more information, contact Megan Kinney, megankinney@canihelp.org.