South Bend Heritage Foundation - 2002 Winner

South Bend Heritage Foundation, one of the nation's leading community development corporations, was recognized for its outstanding vision, achievement, integrity and courage in serving South Bend's inner city neighborhoods. "For twenty-five years, long before community development was popular, South Bend Heritage Foundation has been fighting to reclaim distressed urban neighborhoods from the apathy, disinvestment and decline that can push some neighborhoods beyond hope" says selection committee chairman Daniel Neufelder.

The efforts of Jeff Gibney and his committed staff have had an exceptional impact on South Bend neighborhoods, causing more than $40 million in development projects.  They recently launched a lending program ("LEND") that will cause millions of dollars of additional investment in South Bend's poorest neighborhoods.