{"id":4425,"date":"2023-05-25T16:04:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-25T16:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/?p=4425"},"modified":"2024-08-05T13:51:33","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T17:51:33","slug":"purdue-receives-5-million-lilly-endowment-grant-to-support-military-family-research-institute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2023\/Q2\/purdue-receives-5-million-lilly-endowment-grant-to-support-military-family-research-institute","title":{"rendered":"Purdue receives $5 million Lilly Endowment grant to support Military Family Research Institute"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"purdue-initial-words-wrap\"><p class=\"purdue-initial-words\">WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. &mdash;<\/p> \n<p>A $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. will provide continued support during the next three years for the work Purdue University\u2019s Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) does to improve the lives of military families and veterans.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>This grant, which includes $3.5 million in outright funding and $1.5 million in matching funds, will help MFRI enhance its robust support networks. The grant period is from March 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe at MFRI are honored and humbled by this funding,\u201d said&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/hhs.purdue.edu\/directory\/shelley-macdermid-wadsworth\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth<\/a>, MFRI director and Distinguished Professor in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/hhs.purdue.edu\/hdfs\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Department of Human Development and Family Science<\/a>&nbsp;in Purdue\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/hhs.purdue.edu\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">College of Health and Human Sciences<\/a>. \u201cOver the past 16 years, support from Lilly Endowment has made it possible for MFRI to deeply understand the vulnerabilities \u2013 and the resilience \u2013 of military and veteran families and to quickly develop and test new ways to help them confront the challenges and barriers placed in their way. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to expanding our work with partners at Purdue, across Indiana and around the country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Specifically, the grant will assist military and veteran families by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Supporting their military communities by cultivating continuity between military and civilian organizations, building and sustaining linkages among the systems surrounding military families, and promoting synergy in their efforts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthening the motivation and capacity of their civilian communities to support military and veteran families through improved preparedness and coordination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Generating important new knowledge about their needs and circumstances.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assisting veterans as they transition to civilian life.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Influencing pertinent programs, policies and practices by initiating, building and sustaining productive working relationships with existing and potential partners, while also raising awareness and shaping the thoughts and actions of the broader community.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Growing and sustaining vibrant learning across all focus areas, with the goal of enhancing professional opportunities for veterans and military families.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMFRI has demonstrated scholarly excellence for more than two decades, conducting groundbreaking studies that influence programs, practices and policies,\u201d said Mung Chiang, Purdue University president. \u201cShelley MacDermid Wadsworth has earned an international reputation as a scholar who has led MFRI in developing innovative research and programs that have received numerous awards at Purdue and nationally. We are proud to serve as such an important resource for supporting the quality of life for military and veteran families.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With guidance from MacDermid Wadsworth,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mfri.purdue.edu\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">MFRI<\/a>&nbsp;was created at Purdue in 2000. The organization works to expand opportunities for military members, veterans and their families by providing research to help mental health providers, public policymakers, employers and leaders in higher education better understand the issues affecting the military community. This includes helping civilian leaders see the value of bringing military and veteran families into community leadership roles.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>MFRI uses support from&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lillyendowment.org\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Lilly Endowment<\/a>&nbsp;and other funders to strengthen the capacity of community organizations and systems to promote and build the resilience of military and veteran families. Innovations created by MFRI and its partners are operating across the country in several key areas:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Policy:<\/strong>\u00a0The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/measuringcommunities.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Measuring Communities<\/a>\u00a0program provides stakeholders in cities, towns and rural areas across the U.S. with data that supports good decision-making about how best to support military and veteran families.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Behavioral health:<\/strong>\u00a0The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/starproviders.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Star Behavioral Health Providers<\/a>\u00a0program makes it easier for military and veteran families to connect with well-trained therapists in their local communities. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mfri.purdue.edu\/programs\/outreach\/reaching-rural-veterans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Reaching Rural Veterans<\/a>\u00a0program brings community organizations together to address food and housing insecurity among high-need veterans in rural areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Higher education:<\/strong>\u00a0The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mfri.purdue.edu\/FWDFellows\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Focus Forward Fellowship<\/a>\u00a0program promotes academic and career achievements among female student veterans nationwide. MFRI collaborates with faculty and provides learning opportunities for students in diverse disciplines ranging from computer graphics technology and data science to counseling and human development and family science.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Programming:<\/strong>\u00a0In communities across Indiana, MFRI brings together clinicians, community leaders and legal experts at the annual\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mfri.purdue.edu\/battlemind\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Battlemind to Home Summit<\/a>\u00a0to educate them about the newest scientific evidence, programs and policies that will help them address needs in the military and veteran communities. Through the annual\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mfri.purdue.edu\/research\/mfri-excellence-in-research-on-military-and-veteran-families-award\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Barbara Thompson Excellence Award competition<\/a>, MFRI brings researchers and practitioners together to \u201cnarrow the gap between the laboratory and the living room.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Collaboration:<\/strong>\u00a0MFRI partners extensively with military and government organizations as well as national, state and local nonprofits to help them do their work better through improved preparedness and coordination, with strong attention to relevant scientific evidence and data.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cVeterans and military families have done so much for the benefit of our country,\u201d said N. Clay Robbins, Lilly Endowment\u2019s chairman and CEO. \u201cTheir challenges and aspirations are much better understood because of MFRI\u2019s outstanding research and analysis, which helps government and military leaders and concerned citizens know how to help veterans and their families lead more satisfying lives. Lilly Endowment is pleased that its support will help MFRI continue and enhance its important research efforts as well as the programs it has developed for the benefit of veterans and military families.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Individuals or organizations interested in doubling the impact of their gifts in support of MFRI\u2019s efforts to assist veterans and military families should contact Jim Priest, director of foundation relations at Purdue for Life Foundation, at&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:jcpriest@purdueforlife.org\">jcpriest@purdueforlife.org<\/a>&nbsp;to learn about matching opportunities through Lilly Endowment\u2019s grant.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Purdue University<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today\u2019s toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last five years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News &amp; World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/stories.purdue.edu\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/stories.purdue.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the Military Family Research Institute<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mfri.purdue.edu\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Military Family Research Institute<\/a>&nbsp;was founded in 2000. It is a leading university-based organization in the nation that specializes in research, engagement and outreach with and for military-connected families. MFRI is part of the Center for Families in Purdue\u2019s Department of Human Development and Family Science in the College of Health and Human Sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Lilly Endowment Inc.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lillyendowment.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lilly Endowment Inc.<\/a>\u00a0is an Indianapolis-based private foundation created in 1937 by J. K. Lilly and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with its founders\u2019 wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. Although the Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, it maintains a special commitment to its founders\u2019 hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"note\" class=\"post-content__attribution \">\n    <div class=\"columns\"> \n                    <div class=\"column\"> \n                <p class=\"post-content__source\">\n                    <strong>Writer:\u00a0<\/strong>Aaron Martin<br><strong>Media contact:\u00a0<\/strong>Derek Schultz,\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:dcschultz@purdue.edu\">dcschultz@purdue.edu<\/a>                <\/p>\n            <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. &mdash; A $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. will provide continued support during the next three years for the work Purdue University\u2019s Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) does to improve the lives of military families and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4426,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[],"department":[71,118],"source":[29],"purdue_today_topic":[72],"coauthors":[117],"class_list":["post-4425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","department-health-and-human-sciences","department-purdue-for-life","source-purdue-news","purdue_today_topic-general"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4425","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4425"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4425\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4427,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4425\/revisions\/4427"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4426"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4425"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4425"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4425"},{"taxonomy":"department","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/department?post=4425"},{"taxonomy":"source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/source?post=4425"},{"taxonomy":"purdue_today_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/purdue_today_topic?post=4425"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=4425"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}