Non-Profit

By Dan Wolfert— MUNCIE, IN– On April 16, 2024, the Interurban Room at the Horizon Convention Center was filled with gratitude and admiration as the community came together to celebrate the exemplary individuals and organizations dedicated to making a difference in Delaware County. The annual V!VA (Very Important Volunteer Award) luncheon, a cherished tradition since its inception in 1993 by the Muncie Noon Rotary Club, in partnership with the Muncie Sunrise Rotary Club, once again shone a spotlight on the selfless efforts of volunteers who embody the spirit of service. The V!VA Awards serve as a beacon of appreciation for…

By Michelle Kinsey— MUNCIE, IN – It was a full house at the first ever Delaware County Housing Summit on Friday, April 5, at the Ivy Tech Fisher Building in downtown Muncie. More than 100 people attended the event to learn more about the county’s current housing situation and best practices for housing development. “I was excited to see so many different faces from across our community – developers, landlords, elected officials, and neighbors,” said Heather Williams, Associate Director in the Office of Community Engagement at Ball State University and Program Manager for Building Better Neighborhoods. “I count this as…

By Kourtney McCauliff— MUNCIE, IN—One of the great amenities of Kenmore Neighborhood in northwest Muncie is our beautiful canopy of trees. If you walk through our quarter of the Magic City, you’ll notice several tree lined streets and thickly wooded lawns. Trees are a defining characteristic of Kenmore. In 2021 we had the opportunity to work with Studio 165+ for a new neighborhood logo. In a brainstorming session, the designers asked us what best defines us: “what comes to mind when you think of Kenmore?” The answer from everyone was trees! Many of our trees have stood for over a…

By Impact X— MUNCIE, IN—After two years, and four community classes, the Impact X Community Class collaboration between the City of Muncie and Ball State University is making a real impact in the Muncie community. There have been nine businesses launched after completing the class, and the Ball State University Miller College of Business is looking to possibly expand the program to the student entrepreneurship program. The program was started at The College of Charleston School of Business in Charleston, SC, and has become the number one major in that college. Over one hundred Muncie residents have taken the class,…

By Robby Tompkins, Director of Resource Development, BGC Muncie— MUNCE, IN— The Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie has announced the launch of its Eli Lilly Match Campaign, running through May 31st. The Eli Lilly Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs Indiana Alliance have partnered together to create a lasting impact on the state of Indiana. This partnership includes a $30 million statewide grant to all 31 Boys & Girls Clubs. The campaign is an opportunity for donors to double the impact of their contributions. In Muncie and Delaware County, Eli Lilly will match donations to the Boys &…

By Chris Allen— INDIANAPOLIS – Today, April 15th, marks the 159th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. To commemorate Lincoln’s life and his impact on American history, Westfield-based The Lincoln Special will visit Muncie this Saturday to observe Lincoln’s 1865 funeral train that visited Indiana in 1865. Partnering with the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, a total of 30 Indiana cities are included in these roadshows where Executive Director Chris Allen will be staging a free, hour- long symposium that highlights Lincoln’s life and legacy after his assassination at Ford’s Theater. “It’s imperative to remind people that his story didn’t just end…

By Jud Fisher— MUNCIE, IN—Located on the southeast side of Muncie, the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) stands on over 1,000 acres of land and is home to the largest model aviation field in the world. Having moved to Muncie in the 1990s, the AMA’s international headquarters and museum are now home to dozens of events each year from model aviation flying days that draw hobbyists from across the country to rocket launches, kite festivals, drone competitions, remote control helicopter events, and more. As the world’s largest model aviation association, the AMA brings together over 160,000 members nationwide who have…

By Molly Flodder— MUNCIE, IN—The 50th anniversary year of the Ross Community Center is underway and events are rolling out for neighborhood and widespread celebration. The center, located at 1110 W. 10th Street in the Thomas Park/Avondale neighborhood, is focused on advancing education and lifelong learning, health, and wellness. The kick off event of the anniversary year will be “Collecting Memories/Community Call Out,” on Saturday, April 20 at 3:00 p.m. at the center. This community curating event will be a time for anyone in the area to share historical information, photographs, and testimonials about the Ross Community Center.  “We wanted…

By Kelsey Harrington— MUNCIE—In the first quarter, George and Frances Ball Foundation awarded nearly $550,000 to support a variety of community organizations and initiatives across Muncie and Delaware County. The Foundation’s board, which meets four times per year, reviewed eleven grant applications for consideration of funding. In addition to serving as a grantmaker in the greater Muncie-Delaware County area, George and Frances Ball Foundation also serves in a convening role as the backbone organization for the collective impact initiative Cradle to Career Muncie. Through this focused effort, the Foundation brings together more than 70 community partners to collaboratively work on…