Lilly Endowment Awards $7 Million Grant to Establish Orthopedics and Community Initiative in Kosciusko County, IN

WARSAW, Ind., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ — The future of Warsaw, Indiana, the orthopedics capital of the world, received a significant boost today: the single largest private foundation grant ever awarded in the region.

The Kosciusko County Community Foundation (KCCF) and BioCrossroads announced that a $7 million grant, made by Lilly Endowment Inc. to KCCF, will support the establishment of OrthoWorx, a Warsaw-based, industry, community and education initiative to advance and support growth and innovation within the region’s uniquely concentrated, globally significant orthopedics device sector. The initiative will engage and enhance the broader community interests that both serve and depend upon the sector’s continued growth.

“Indiana is indeed fortunate to be home to this extraordinary cluster of orthopedic companies in the Warsaw community,” said N. Clay Robbins, president of the Endowment. “We are pleased that a promising plan and framework have been developed, after many months of deliberation and good effort, to secure and enhance the region’s competitive appeal to the orthopedic industry now and in the future.

“While many have contributed to the development of this plan, we are especially impressed by the leadership and dedication of the president of Grace College, Ron Manahan; the executive director of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Suzie Light; and the leaders of the orthopedic industry and BioCrossroads. Without their tireless efforts we would not be here today,” Robbins added.