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White Castle awards $100K to senior care organization

Provided

December 7, 2021

The Ingram White Castle Foundation has awarded a $100,000 grant to LifeCare Alliance, a Columbus-Ohio nonprofit organization that provide a variety of services to help older adults and medically challenged individuals live independently in their own homes, according to a press release.

LifeCare Alliance is the eighth Columbus-area nonprofit to receive the "Giving Renews Our World" (GROW) grant since the foundation introduced it in 2001. The foundation usually awards the grant in increments of $33,000 each year for three years. In honor of White Castle's 100th birthday, however, the foundation awarded the full unrestricted $100,000 grant in one lump sum.

"The Ingram family and their foundation have been incredible supporters of LifeCare Alliance and our work," Charles Gehring, president and CEO of LifeCare Alliance, said in the release. "We're so honored to receive this grant, which will make a big difference in our ability to serve our communities."

LifeCare Alliance serves older residents and medically challenged individuals in Franklin County and numerous other counties in Ohio. It provides programs and services that help people remain in their homes as they age or deal with medical issues. These services and programs include Meals-on-Wheels, no-cost dining centers for seniors, free or low-cost cancer screenings, pet care and help with cleaning, cooking and running errands.

"LifeCare Alliance is a wonderful organization that's so deserving of this award," Erin Shannon, corporate relations manager at White Castle and a fourth-generation member of the Ingram family, said in the release. "We have long admired LifeCare Alliance, so we're very happy to be able to support them in such a significant way."

Although the Ingram White Castle Foundation primarily supports projects in the field of education, the foundation's mission is much broader. It awards grants that help disadvantaged students achieve academic success, prepare students for careers, strengthen educational institutions and address critical human service needs.

The foundation is part of Castle Shares, White Castle's overarching giving program that encompasses both the foundation's grantmaking and the family-owned business' corporate philanthropy initiatives. Every year, the two entities combined donate more than $2 million to charitable causes, community groups and nonprofit organizations.

White Castle owns and operates more than 350 restaurants.