PERMANENT HOME GIFTED TO BLUE JACKET

(link to the original http://www.journalgazette.net article)

Published: April 3, 2014 3:00 a.m.

An organization known primarily for helping ex-cons get jobs now has a permanent home.

The Anthony Wayne Services Foundation announced Wednesday it has donated a 1 1/4 -acre campus, a 19,000-square-foot building and gardens to Blue Jacket Inc.

Blue Jacket, a Fort Wayne nonprofit, had been leasing the building for the past two years, but the donation and ownership transaction were finalized last week.

The donation of the campus at 2826 S. Calhoun St. is the largest to the nonprofit in the company’s eight-year history, according to the news release.

“We are thankful for this gift that affirms our mission and makes the best possible use of this community asset,” Blue Jacket Executive Director Tony Hudson said in the news release.

Blue Jacket, which was created to provide tools and opportunities to adult ex-offenders and other disadvantaged candidates to find employment, moved to the campus in March 2012.

The building, which formerly housed Anthony Wayne Services corporate offices, will provide Blue Jacket with the chance to augment its job training and placement services by renting some of the space to private partners.

The site will also host satellite offices for nonprofit partners who are experts in counseling, case management, adult education and other services, according to a news release.

A value for the total donation was not available Wednesday.