Non-Profit

New Credit Score Model Rolling Out Soon

By: The Radio Television Digital News Association— Most people probably have not heard of Fair Isaac Corp., but the company can affect the daily life of anyone who wants to borrow or rent. It’s the company behind the FICO credit score, and it just announced changes to the widely used credit scoring system. Forbes reports that average FICO scores are at an all-time high, but so is consumer debt, one reason for the updated model. According to Fair Isaac, the new FICO Score 10 and FICO Score 10 T could give some 40 million Americans a credit bump of 20…

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Muncie Advocate for Foster Kids Receives Nationwide Award

By: A Voice For Kids— Muncie, IN—Muncie resident and Ball State student Matt Peiffer, a former child in Indiana’s foster system, has received a national award for helping other foster children get the extra support they need. Peiffer’s Muncie-based organization A Voice For Kids is one of 30 winners in T-Mobile’s second annual Changemaker Challenge, a contest that asks young people ages 13 to 23 to submit ideas to improve their communities. Peiffer’s inspiration for A Voice For Kids is his own experience in the foster system. He lived with his adoptive parents and two biological sisters for 13 years…


Muncie Action Plan To Bring ‘Web of Support Initiative’ To Community During Annual Report To Community

By: Jenni Marsh— Muncie, Indiana—In every iteration of Muncie Action Plan (MAP), community members identified developing a “mentoring program” as a priority. Yet, it has been one of the most challenging action items within the plan to address. “People want to be sure kiddos have mentors in order to prevent them engaging in risky behaviors, and they also want mentors for themselves,” said MAP Board President Jenni Marsh. Derek Peterson is an international speaker and founder of the Institute for Community and Adolescent Resiliency who has studied the value of positive adult role models and mentorship. Through his research for…


United Way Tops $1.5 Million; Names Volunteer Award In Honor Of Pat Botts

By: Juli Metzger— Muncie, IN—United Way of Delaware County, for the third consecutive year, surpassed its campaign goal, raising $1,506,070 million. The goal was $1.5 million. And the United Way Board of Directors, signaling its high regard for Pat Botts, a former long-serving board and committee member, who died last fall, named its volunteer of the year award in his honor. “Pat Botts was the kind of board member, volunteer—human being that the rest of us aspire to be more like,” said Jenni Marsh, United Way President and Chief Executive Officer.  Marsh shared at the campaign’s closing event Thursday that…


Community Foundation Granted $3 Million in 2019

By: Kallie Sulanke— Muncie, IN—The Community Foundation is pleased to announce that $3,097,947 was granted to enhance the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County in 2019. 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 $992,055 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…


Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie Raises $39,000 at 2020 Great Futures Dinner

By: Amy Logan— Muncie, IN—The Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie raised more than $39,000 at the 2020 Great Futures dinner held on January 16 at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie. The fundraising event helps fund many programs for Club members throughout the year. Guests were treated to the Club Kids’ favorite meal—breakfast for dinner. Throughout the evening, guests had the opportunity to interact with the talented Club Kids who showed off the programs they worked on during the year. The event kicked off with a pep rally led by the Clubs drumline and performances by the dance team….


Muncie Action Plan Task Force 5: Managing Community Resources

By: Marta Moody— Muncie, IN—The Muncie Action Plan spent 2019 working to address the issues identified by the community during the MAP3 planning process. MAP’s five task forces have focused their efforts on Linking Learning, Health, and Prosperity (TF1), Fostering Collaboration (TF2), Strengthening Muncie’s Pride and Image (TF3), Creating Attractive and Desirable Places (TF4), and Managing Community Resources (TF5). As we start a brand-new year, we would like to share our successes as we approach our Annual Community Meeting on January 28th at Muncie Central High School from 5:30-7:30 PM. This is the final of five reports from our task…


Martin Luther King Jr. Day Activities In Muncie

By: The MLK Planning Committee— Muncie, IN—Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and there are several events scheduled to celebrate him, unity and community in Muncie. MLK Day events are organized by the MLK Planning Committee, a partnership between the Collective Coalition of Concerned Clergy (CCCC), Ball State University, MLK Dream Team, Muncie Human Rights Commission, Muncie Community Schools, and other community leaders and organizations. “Simply put, the CCCC loves to serve the city in this way,” said Pastor Andre Mitchell of Deliverance Temple in Muncie. “We believe in Dr. King’s dream, his passion, his calling from God, and…


Muncie Action Plan Task Force 4: Creating Attractive and Desirable Places

By: Betty Brewer— Muncie, IN—The Muncie Action Plan spent 2019 working to address the issues identified by the community during the MAP3 planning process. MAP’s five task forces have focused their efforts on Linking Learning, Health, and Prosperity (TF1), Fostering Collaboration (TF2), Strengthening Muncie’s Pride and Image (TF3), Creating Attractive and Desirable Places (TF4), and Managing Community Resources (TF5). As we start a brand-new year, we would like to share our successes as we approach our Annual Community Meeting on January 28th at Muncie Central High School from 5:30-7:30 PM. This is the fourth of five reports from our task…


Community Foundation Scholarship Applications are Now Available

By:Kallie Sulanke, Community Engagement Officer—   Muncie, IN—Scholarship applications are now available for scholarships administered by The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County. High school seniors and current college students should visit cfmdin.org/apply-for-scholarships to view available scholarships and access the online scholarship software. The deadline to apply for scholarships is March 1, 2020. Students will be notified about scholarship awards by the end of April. The Community Foundation administers scholarships to support post-secondary education. Community-minded donors established the 51 scholarship funds and set the criteria for the awards. Scholarships are awarded to students participating in a variety of activities,…