Driven to Give
Explore All of the Ways We Give Back to Our Communities
Gurley Leep Automotive is well known as one of the top car dealers in Michiana. With over forty years in the automotive industry and over 1,200 employees, Gurley Leep Automotive is proud to be a leader in Mishawaka, South Bend, Elkhart, and the surrounding areas. Gurley Leep has helped establish their role as a communal leader by doing more than just engraining themselves as an upstanding business. Giving back to the community we serve is one of the foundational pillars on which we have built our company and which we continue to grow.
Driven to Give was designed for this reason; to help encompass all of the ways we give back to our communities. We are ‘driven’ to give; from our Red Carpet Events to sponsorships and charitable donations, it all comes back to doing the right thing. This generosity through philanthropy has touched countless lives and we look forward to continuing this year after year.
Red Carpet Events
Throughout the year, select fundraisers are designated as Red Carpet events, where we roll out the red carpet and capture the night's special moments.
Learn More
Organizations We Support
Camp Millhouse
As a camp for children and adults with disabilities, Camp Millhouse values and nurtures diversity, equity, and inclusion in all activities in and outside of camp. We want to create the same environment for staff where employees are empowered to be themselves and share their unique individuality with other staff and campers. Camp Millhouse – where you are free to be yourself. Empowerment. Independence. Compassion.
Center for the Homeless
The Center for the Homeless is the South Bend area's largest residential facility for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The Center serves men, women, children, and Veterans each day. The Center opened in 1988 and has served more than 65,000 individuals in our community. Programming and resources are provided to help guests at the Center to break the cycle of homelessness.
Human Society of St. Joseph County
Incorporated in 1886, the Humane Society of St. Joseph County is one of Indiana’s oldest service organizations and the area’s largest animal care facility. The Humane Society sees over 3,350 animals each year. Providing a vast array of community services and educational programs, the Humane Society of St. Joseph County truly looks to embody it’s motto of “WE CARE” on many levels. Their mission is to instill reverence for all life and to enhance the human/animal bond through the compassionate care of animals and community education.
Dismas House of Indiana
Dismas House of Indiana is a nonprofit organization that provides housing and services to men and women returning from incarceration. The residents live and work together to develop a supportive community. Through the programs and services provided, former offenders can gain communication and social skills, a new respect for education, and secure employment.
Cultivate Food Rescue
As a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, Cultivate is devoted to ending the cycle of hunger in the local communities of northern Indiana by providing a food rescue service. Cultivate’s mission is to build a local network of food suppliers with the goal of providing wholesome meals so no one in our community goes hungry..
Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County
The Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County believes that success is within reach of every child. They believe every girl and boy deserves a safe place to learn and grow; life-enhancing programs, character development experiences, and hope and opportunity for the future. In such an environment, kids can discover how to see beyond the walls of their current situation and realize they can succeed. The Club's mission is to serve the youth of our community by providing social, physical, academic, cultural and family experiences in a safe environment and to help develop a value system that will improve the quality of their lives and lead them to become productive, responsible citizens.
Hello Gorgeous
Hello Gorgeous! is a non-profit organization that provides services and support to women battling cancer to help these women smile when they look in the mirror. Their goal is to help the women appear much less affected by their cancer treatments, strengthen confidence, empower them to feel more acceptable to their family and friends, and most importantly, more acceptable to themselves. Hello Gorgeous is restoring the beauty that cancer steals by coaching & training women with cancer to help them smile when they look in the mirror.
REAL Services
REAL Services provides programs that promote nutrition, self-sufficiency, education, and protection for 30,000 people in northern Indiana each year. Without REAL Services, more than 5,000 older adults each year would have to move to nursing homes to receive the care they need, and 2,000 people in the community would not have access to food each day. The staff and volunteers at REAL Services work tirelessly to help people of all ages, races, nationalities, and income levels to maintain their integrity and independence, and to achieve satisfaction in their lives.
South Bend Symphony Orchestra
As Michiana’s premiere professional orchestra, the South Bend Symphony engages the community in the exploration of orchestral music in all its forms. They aim to deliver performances of the highest caliber that inspire, educate, entertain, and engage diverse audiences in the concert hall and in our community.
Logan Center
LOGAN Community Resources, Inc. serves adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities including autism services, residential services, day programs, and employment services. LOGAN’s mission is to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they and their families may achieve their desired quality of life. Their vision is for a community where kindness and dignity enrich the lives of everyone.
American Heart Association
American Heart Association has grown into the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. A shared focus on cardiovascular health unites more than 40 million volunteers and supporters as well as more than 2,800 employees. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, and stroke ranks second globally. Even when those conditions don’t result in death, they cause disability and diminish quality of life. The AHA wants to see a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The AHA has invested more than $4.8 billion in research, making them the largest not-for-profit funding source for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease research next to the federal government.
The Music Village
The Music Village is a community musical arts center and school that celebrates music and cultural expressions rooted in the traditions of diverse local and global communities in the heart of downtown South Bend, Indiana. The Music Village is a place that provides intimate opportunities for hands-on learning in a relaxed and informal setting, both in its classrooms and in its performance halls. It is a place where residents and visitors can discover their own creativity and unite to share the diverse cultural heritage of the greater South Bend area via the musical arts. Together, the Music Village creates a thriving, vibrant community of thoughtful individuals with a unifying, positive connection to music.
Potawatomi Zoo
South Bend’s first zoo, the South Bend Zoo, began as a modest duck pond in Leeper Park in 1902. In 1921, the Potawatomi Zoo was established in Potawatomi Park, where it continues to exist today as one of the oldest zoos in Indiana. The mission of the Potawatomi Zoo is to inspire excellence in education, conservation, and improved animal quality of life.
Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County
Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating sub-standard housing. Since 1987, Habitat has served over 500 families with housing solutions programs and built over 220 affordable, quality-built homes for families in our community. People in our community and all over the world partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. With Habitat’s help, the homeowners achieve the strength, stability, and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families.
St. Margaret's House
St. Margaret’s House is a day center that welcomes women and children who live in economic poverty. They provide meals, address immediate needs, and offer assistance through programs. Together, St. Margaret’s and the community work to break down barriers of isolation while discovering the unique talents and gifts of everyone who walk through the center’s doors.
Ronald McDonald House Charities Michiana
Their mission is to provide a cost-free haven of safety for families with sick and injured children ages 21 and younger, in partnership with community supporters, volunteers, and donors.
A Rosie Place for Children
A Rosie Place for Children is the first (and only) specialty hospital in the state of Indiana exclusively for children who are medically fragile. Although it is a highly equipped hospital, capable of caring for the most complex pediatric conditions, they like to emphasize their home-away-from-home environment. The hospital serves all 92 counties in the state of Indiana by providing respite care. A Rosie Place for Children is situated on five beautiful acres in South Bend, Indiana.
Junior League of South Bend
The Junior League is an organization of women committed to advancing women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.
March of Dimes
March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. They support research, lead programs, and provide education and advocacy so that every family can have the best possible start. For 80 years, March of Dimes has helped millions of babies survive and thrive. Now they’re building on that legacy to level the playing field for all moms and babies, no matter their age, socio-economic background, or demographics. Today they educate medical professionals and the public about best practices; support lifesaving research; provide comfort and support to families in NICUs; and advocate for mothers and babies. March of Dimes is fighting for the smallest among us and advocating for their health each and every day.
Family Justice Center of St. Joseph County
The Family Justice Center of St. Joseph County serves as a help center for victims of domestic/family violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The FJC is a non-profit agency that works collaboratively with other non-profit and governmental agencies to help victims and their families quickly and confidentially seek information, and easily access resources to help them escape the cycle of violence and move toward healing. By having these services in one building in downtown South Bend, victims and their families can more easily access services and receive the help they need.
Food Bank of Northern Indiana
The Food Bank of Northern Indiana works in partnership with the community to feed the hungry, increase awareness of the effects of hunger and lead programs designed to alleviate hunger. The Food Bank of Northern Indiana serves Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaPorte, Marshall, Starke and St. Joseph Counties and is a member of Feeding America, Feeding Indiana’s Hungry (FIsH) and United Way.
Goodwill
Young Life
Young Life is a Christian ministry that reaches out to middle school, high school, and college students in all 50 of the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world.
Family & Children's Center
Family & Children’s Center is a non-profit human services agency that has been building strong families and healthy children in St. Joseph County since its founding in 1882. The Family & Children’s Center is dedicated to strengthening the holistic health of young families through Healthy Families, Brain Train, and parenting programs. Its mission is to build strong families and healthy children.
AIDS Ministries - AIDS Assist of Northern Indiana
Founded in 1989, AIDS Ministries/AIDS Assist has emerged as one of the state's leading AIDS Service Organizations. Recognizing the link between people's health and quality of life, the first staff and volunteers set out to assist those facing HIV/AIDS. As the initial belief that a cure was coming soon passed quickly, education about HIV and its prevention came to the forefront of the agency's goals while it remains committed to those facing HIV. AM/AA provides the tools to help concerned individuals practice prevention in everything they do. AM/AA educates the community and works with them to find effective, common sense solutions to preventing HIV and assisting those who have HIV.
YMCA of Greater Michiana
For more than 100 years, the YMCA of Greater Michiana has been working hard to tackle important needs in the community to benefit thousands of people. The Y is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
100 Black Men of Greater South Bend
The mission of the 100 Black Men of Greater South Bend, Inc. is to improve the quality of life within the community and enhance educational and economic opportunities for all African Americans. They are committed to the intellectual development of youth and the economic empowerment of the African American community based on the following precepts: respect for family, spirituality, justice, and integrity.
Studebaker National Museum
The Studebaker National Museum is devoted to sharing the story of the automotive and industrial history of South Bend and the greater region through the display and interpretation of Studebaker vehicles along with related industrial artifacts. The Museum’s mission is to be the center for education, preservation, and interpretation of design and innovation. This is accomplished through programming, active collecting, and the display of vehicles, archives, and artifacts that showcase the local and global influence of Studebaker and related industrial innovators.
American Cancer Society
Women's Care Center
Women's Care Center provides free, confidential counseling, support and education for pregnant women. They serve 30,000 women annually from 34 centers in 12 states.
Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement's purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. Junior Achievement has over a hundred local JA areas across the nation, and together they are the nation's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA's programs—in the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy—ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century.
Foundation of St. Joseph Hospital
The Foundation of Saint Joseph Health System provides resources that help fund care across their health system: acute care in hospitals, patient care in community clinics and community health initiatives such as diabetes prevention and health screenings.
United Way
United Way of St. Joseph County is a nonprofit that is dedicated to reducing poverty in the community. In order to assist at every level and work as a whole-community solution, United Way of St. Joseph County focuses on four impact areas: Early Learning, Youth Success, Stable Families, and Critical Needs. Because they believe that reducing poverty requires the efforts of more than one single agency, United Way collaborates with and invests its funds into over 20 local nonprofits. In taking this approach, they have the unique ability to convene, collaborate, and direct resources where needed most.
Youth Service Bureauety
YSB's ultimate goal is to ensure all youth have access to safety, shelter and the opportunity to succeed. They work to help youth repair foundations which have been damaged by abuse, neglect, homelessness and lack of resources by teaching them how to overcome the complex barriers to self-sufficiency. YSB reaches more than 10,000 at-risk youth each year, helping them to transform their lives and become heroes and heroines of their own stories.
Forever Learning Institute
Forever Learning Institute has been in existence for over 45 years and provides a unique opportunity to engage seniors by continuing to expand their knowledge and serve their community. The courses are taught by an all-volunteer faculty and cover numerous topics from dance and music to foreign languages and history and so much more. As our society ages, programs such as Forever Learning fill a much-needed void in senior adult life, providing intellectual stimulation, social interaction, spiritual reflection, and physical activities for a largely ignored population. Education and participation in intellectual pursuits should not end at high school or college, but continue throughout our lives. Forever Learning offers our aging community members an opportunity to pursue intellectual challenges with other seniors throughout the community.
Pink Ribbon Girls
Pink Ribbon Girls provides meals, transportation, housecleaning and peer support FREE of charge to breast cancer or gynecological cancer patients at their time of greatest need.
Oaklawn
Oaklawn provides mental health and addiction treatment for children, adolescents and adults in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties. Their specialized services range from skills training and case management to outpatient therapy and inpatient care. Oaklawn walks hand-in-hand with clients on their journey — facing the complexity of mental illness together. As a faith-based organization, Oaklawn believes in treating the whole person — mind, body and spirit. They do this by employing highly trained professionals who provide all levels of services to our clients and advocate within the community on their behalf.
The Morris
The Morris Performing Arts Center, was built in 1922. It was the most modern theater in the country. Broadway troupes traveling from New York to Chicago would often stop in South Bend and perform on the Palace Theatre stage.
Make A Wish
Wishes are more than just a nice thing. And they are far more than gifts, or singular events in time. Wishes impact everyone involved—wish kids, volunteers, donors, sponsors, medical professionals and communities. For wish kids, just the act of making their wish come true can give them the courage to comply with their medical treatments.
Big Brothers Big Sister of Southern Lake Michigan Region
Currently, hundreds of children are supported each year in our one-to-one Community and School Mentoring Programs.
Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center
The South Bend Kroc Center is more than just a gym or a pool. It’s a place where families become whole again, where the hungry are fed, where children find opportunities to grow, and where people find bridges out of poverty. Every week at the Kroc Center, there are opportunities for you to get involved and to be a part of changing someone’s life for the better.
Alzheimers Association
The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.
Foundation For Hospice
Put simply, our mission is “to improve the quality of living” for those in our community through our support of Center for Hospice Care, an organization that helps patients and their loved ones experience the best possible quality of living even as they face end of life.
Hannah's House
Hannah’s House is a faith-based agency offering a continuum of stable housing, home life, staff support, and programming. Hannah’s House mission is to empower disadvantaged pregnant women to being a process of life transformation. All are aligned for the development and growth of the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of participants.
American Association for Respitory Care
The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is a professional organization dedicated to advancing the science and practice of respiratory care. It supports respiratory therapists through advocacy, education, and research initiatives.
United Health Services Suicide Prevention Center
Our mission is to prevent suicide through education, training, and community-wide awareness and to offer compassionate grief support and resources to those who have lost a loved one to suicide. We aim to reduce the stigma associated with suicide and to achieve zero suicides in Indiana.
South Bend Civic Theatre
The South Bend Civic Theatre aims to enrich and create community through live theater.
525 Foundation
Here at 525 Foundation, we see value in everyone and think it is so important that everyone hears our message of prevention. "Everybody is somebody's Somebody!" We want to save lives by being the catalyst for positive change in our schools, families, and communities.