Ed and Darlene Lowe established the Edward Lowe Foundation in 1985 to leverage entrepreneurship as a strategy for economic growth and community development. In contrast to most U.S. foundations, which are grant-giving entities, we are an operating foundation that funds its own programs. Our entrepreneurship initiatives are focused on second-stage companies — growth-oriented firms that have moved beyond startup but haven’t yet reached maturity. Our peer learning, leadership education and strategic information programs are geared to help these companies continue growing. We also educate communities about the unique challenges second-stagers face, how to work with them — and how to develop the kind of culture they need to flourish. To scale our impact, the foundation delivers its programs to second-stagers through other entrepreneur support organizations, which includes chambers of commerce, small business development centers, technology councils and economic development agencies. Although many programs are conducted on our partners’ turf, such as PeerSpectives CEO roundtables and Economic Gardening, we host leader retreats and facilitator training at Big Rock Valley (BRV), our headquarters in southwest Michigan. BRV is also integral in our land stewardship initiatives. A 2,000-acre property comprised of woodlands, wetlands and prairies, BRV’s diverse habitats support a wide variety of species, many of which are endangered or threatened. To preserve BRV’s environmental integrity, the foundation employs a number of innovative land management practices. In addition, we allow researchers to use the property for studies that can expand the knowledge base of conservation science.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers is an educational and scientific organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food, and biological systems. ASABE comprises members in more than 100 countries. Agricultural, food, and biological engineers develop efficient and environmentally sensitive methods of producing food, fiber, timber, and renewable energy sources for an ever-increasing world population. The image above provides a profile of ASABE's membership and their contributions to society. ASABE membership is open to all—engineers as well as non-engineers—who are interested in engineering and technology for agricultural, food, and biological systems.

For more than fifty years, The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes (TMA), a private Montessori school, has been offering students—from toddler to 8th grade—a unique educational experience. Our goal is to bring out the unique potential of each child and prepare our students for a lifetime of success. We are proud to be the only dually accredited Montessori school in Indiana--a distinction that reflects our commitment to the teaching philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori, our rigorous academic standards, and the dedication of our highly accomplished faculty. The community at TMA is rich in ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity. We strive to prepare our students to become assets to the global community

In the spring of 2019, The Indiana State Board of Education approved the creation of the South Bend Empowerment Zone due to persistent and chronic low levels of student achievement and growth. The South Bend Empowerment Zone is comprised of Wilson, Warren, Harrison, and Coquillard Elementary schools, and Navarre Middle school. Our charge from the SBOE is to dramatically transform student achievement and growth at our schools over the course of the five-year intervention. The South Bend Empowerment Zone and its Zone Chief are directly accountable to a non-profit Board. The Board consists of both local independent and district members, allowing community voice a critical role in the process of transforming our neighborhood schools. Our Vision We are a system of schools that eliminates academic and social-emotional opportunity gaps and cultivates the greatness that exists within each child to confidently pursue their dreams in our city, nation, and world. Our Mission The Empowerment Zone nurtures the mind, body, and spirit of each child by embracing equity, learning, and change for students, staff, and families. We harness the power of community and relationships to ignite transformation.