October 15, 2026 (Brownsburg, IN)- Hendricks County Bank and Trust is proud to announce it will award $38,750 in Community Multiplier grant funds and matching donations combined to Sheltering Wings and Susie’s Place via the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis’ Community Multiplier – Member Match program.

Community Multiplier – Member Match is a matching grant program available to financial institution members of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBank Indianapolis). The program offers grants with a minimum 25% matching commitment from the member financial institution to target specific affordable housing initiatives.

“The partnership between FHLBank Indianapolis and Hendricks County Bank and Trust continues to show what’s possible when local institutions work together for the good of our neighbors, said Jerry Orem, HCBT President. “This combined $38,750 award to Sheltering Wings and Susie’s Place strengthens the housing-related support these organizations provide every day, ensuring safety, stability and hope for families right here in Hendricks County. When we invest in the organizations that lift up our community, we invest in a stronger future for all of us.”

Sheltering Wings will receive funding to preserve housing stability for survivors of domestic abuse by helping them secure and remain in safe, affordable homes. The grant will support housing advocacy, case management, financial education, employment assistance and rental assistance, with an anticipated 160 households served from September 2026 through July 2027.

"These funds come at a critical time when government funding is increasingly uncertain. With the support of HCBT, FHLBank Indianapolis and our caring community, survivors don’t have to carry that uncertainty. They can continue to find safety, build stability and take meaningful steps toward a life free from abuse, for themselves and their children,” stated Cassie Mecklenburg, Executive Director of Sheltering Wings.

Susie’s Place Child Advocacy Centers will receive funding to strengthen long-term housing stability for children and families by addressing childhood abuse and trauma—risk factors linked to future housing instability. The initiative will provide body and online safety education to approximately 30,000 Hendricks County students and support trauma- informed crisis services, referrals and essential assistance that help families remain safe and stable.

"Supporting abuse prevention education in every Hendricks County public school and ensuring there is a safe place for children to be heard, supported and protected when maltreatment occurs, is an investment in kids' life-long well-being.  Every child deserves a safe and happy childhood, the stability of a secure home and the opportunity to grow up to be a healthy and productive adult. This investment helps ensure Susie's Place has the people, tools and resources to be there for Hendricks County's children when they need us most."

The mission statement of Hendricks County Bank and Trust is to promote economic prosperity - improving the quality of life in the community we serve. Founded in 1908, Hendricks County Bank and Trust Company has been locally operated for more than 117 years. With five locations in the county, Hendricks County Bank provides outstanding customer service along with the latest technology and innovative products. The bank’s employees from the President and Board Members to the customer service representatives are engaged in Hendricks County so they understand the local economy and the areas that are served. Visit the bank’s website at HCBT.bank for more details.

For more information about the Community Multiplier award with HCBT, contact Autumn Bucy, Marketing Manager at abucy@hcbt.bank. 

Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis: Building Partnerships. Serving Communities. FHLBank Indianapolis is a regional bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. FHLBanks are government-sponsored enterprises created by Congress to provide access to low-cost funding for their member financial institutions, with particular attention paid to providing solutions that support the housing and small business needs of members’ customers.

For more information about FHLBank Indianapolis, visit www.fhlbi.com and follow the Bank on LinkedIn, and Instagram and X at @FHLBankIndy. (Note: Content the Bank shares on its website and social media is not incorporated by reference into any of its filings with the SEC, unless and only to the extent that a Bank filing with the SEC expressly provides to the contrary.)