Washington, D.C.—Congressman Steve Buyer praised Lilly Endowment today after their announcement that they awarded four substantial grants to help address the needs of Hoosier combat veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. 

“The award of these grants are a generous gesture by Lilly Endowment, a great example of Hoosiers reaching out to their neighbors and helping those who have served their country and to the families that support them,” Buyer said.

One of the grants contributes $9.9 million to the Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis.  The funds will be used to help build a 28 room facility that will house family members of injured troops who also act as primary caregivers to their loved ones, a role integral to the rehabilitation process.  Roudebush is one of five Level II Polytrauma Centers in the VA healthcare system that allows wounded soldiers to recover from their injuries closer to home.

Another for $8.9 million will go to Purdue University to support their military family research institute.  The institute, housed at Purdue and funded by the Department of Defense, focuses on improving quality-of-life issues that impact the family members of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines.  

N. Clay Robbins, president of Lilly Endowment and Craig Dykstra, senior vice president for religion at the Endowment announced the grant awards at a news conference at Stout Field in Indianapolis.  Representatives of recipient organizations in attendance included Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, president of the Indiana National Guard Relief Fund; Dr. Michael J. Kussman, undersecretary for health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Susan P. Bowers, director, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center; James Schonberger, director of special projects, Crane Technology Inc; and Dr. France A. Córdova, president, Purdue University. 

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