Non-Profit

By Sue Whitaker, Assistant Chair Literacy Committee, Muncie Altrusa Club— MUNCIE, Ind.—The Altrusa International Foundation has awarded the Altrusa Club of Muncie, IN, Inc. a $4000 grant for their Literacy Project: Today a Reader—Tomorrow a Leader. The overall goal of this project is to get books into the hands of 3,430 Muncie students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The Muncie Altrusa club will collaborate with Classroom Connections of ECI and the eight elementary schools in Muncie to distribute books to all students. Anne Condran, Muncie Altrusa member and chair of the literacy committee said, “This grant of $4,000 from the…

By Dee McKinsey— MUNCIE, Ind.—Final registration for the Spring Semester at Cornerstone Center for the Arts is Jan.  30. Classes begin Monday, Jan. 31 and continue until April 22. Cornerstone is more than 60 classes both in-person and virtually in the categories of visual arts, dance, movement, literature, martial arts, and wellness arts. Cornerstone also is offering some new classes: Virtual Classes Adult History of Dance I Adult History of Musical Theatre I In-Person Classes Adult Acting I Adult Improv I Adult Illustration I Adult Caricature I Adult Medieval Martial Arts I Teen Rap & Hip Hop I To register…

By Muncie Arts and Culture Council— MUNCIE, Ind.—The Muncie Arts and Culture Council is one of 15 Indiana non-profit arts organizations and cultural programming providers to receive a 2022 Arts Project grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. MuncieArts received a matching $30,000 Arts Project Grant to support its PlySpace Residency Program. The funds will be used to bring 12 visiting artists to Muncie to work collaboratively with non-profit organizations, schools, and community groups on special community-focused projects. “These National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants underscore the resilience of our nation’s artists and arts organizations, will support efforts to provide…

By Gretchen Cheesman— MUNCIE, Ind.– The Muncie Action Plan (MAP) spent much of 2021 in partnership with representatives from the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission and NEXT Muncie surveying Muncie’s citizens and working with the urban planning firm czb in the development of the new Strategic Investment Plan for the City of Muncie. The last large-scale MAP planning took place in 2009 and although two updates have been completed since, we are excited to put into place the newest large-scale engagement effort where Muncie’s residents helped create a new vision for Muncie’s growth and investment. As we close out this year, we would like to…

By Susan Fisher, Muncie Public Library— MUNCIE, Ind.—Muncie Public Library (MPL) has announced the upcoming retirement of two long-time employees: Gary Bartling, Facilities Manager, and Beth Kroehler, Library Assistant Director. Bartling has been at MPL since 1972. He was 16 years-old and working as a newspaper delivery boy when one of his customers, Ermal Johnson, an MPL librarian, suggested  he should apply for a route driver position at the library. He did and was hired. That part-time job became his lifelong career as he moved from part-time to full-time and learned the ins and outs of maintaining the library facilities,…

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, Ind.—The Community Foundation is pleased to announce that $3,763,453 was granted to enhance the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County in 2021. Most grants are awarded through permanently endowed funds that benefit our community today and always. Through the Quarterly Competitive grants program, non-profit organizations were awarded $995,402 in highly competitive grants. Grants address the broad needs of Muncie and Delaware County in the areas of arts and culture, community betterment, economic development, education, and human services. The Community Foundation received more than $1.4 million in requests this year. A committee of 12 volunteers reviews…

By Kelley V Phillips— ECI land trust’s new conservation plan responds to habitat loss, development, climate change; interactive map. MUNCIE, Ind. – Building on two decades of experience and knowledge, Red-tail Land Conservancy has launched a plan that will guide their work to preserve land in east central Indiana for the next 10-15 years. This Strategic Conservation Plan prioritizes ecological biodiversity, natural area connectivity, water quality, carbon trapping, and public accessibility. Red-tail serves Delaware County and is headquartered in Muncie, IN. “There is not unlimited money or time to protect the land that is most vulnerable to urban development, habitat loss, and…

By Susan Volbrecht— MUNCIE, Ind.– The Muncie Action Plan (MAP) spent much of 2021 in partnership with representatives from Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission and NEXT Muncie surveying Muncie’s citizens and working with the urban planning firm czb in the development of the new Strategic Investment Plan for the City of Muncie The last large-scale MAP planning took place in 2009 and although two updates have been completed since, we are excited to put into place the newest large-scale engagement effort where Muncie’s residents helped create a new vision for Muncie’s growth and investment. As we close out this year, we would like to share…

By Kim Williams, Vice President of Donor Relations— EAST CENTRAL INDIANA – Each year, frigid temperatures throughout the Heart of Indiana region produce large utility bills for local residents. Thousands of local families struggle to cover the cost of those bills and face the possibility of utility disconnection and the resulting loss of heat during the coldest months of the year. The Friend to Friend Utility Assistance Fund provides help to struggling local families at risk of losing heat in their homes because they lack resources to afford their utilities. Heart of Indiana United Way is partnering with other community…