Editor’s note: Due to the forecasted cold weather on April 1, United Way of Delaware, Henry and Randolph Counties has decided to postpone their Celebration event. The concert has been rescheduled and will now take place on Saturday, May 15th at 3:30pm at Canan Commons.
By Juli Metzger—
Muncie, IN—United Way of Delaware, Henry and Randolph Counties invites its donors, partners, and other community stakeholders to join them in celebrating a remarkable fundraising campaign on April 1 – in conjunction with Muncie’s First Thursday – at Canan Commons.
“The generosity of our communities is astounding,” said United Way President & CEO Jenni Marsh. “I’ve never seen the kind of persistent collaboration among the nonprofit community as I did this past year and it’s meant so much for so many,” she said.
The celebration will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. with an in-person concert downtown. To keep everyone safe, masks and social distancing will be required following CDC and local health department guidelines.
Brief remarks will be followed by awards, including the Pat Botts Servant Leader Award. Entertainment by musical guests Cool Beanz Band, The Bashville Boys and Destiny Donati will follow. Food trucks and libations will be on-site, including Payne’s Restaurant, Speedy Dogs, Three Bears Concessions and The Guardian Brewing Co. Presenting sponsors of the event are Northwest Bank and the City of Muncie. Other sponsors include Magna Powertrain, Ivy Tech, DeFur Voran and Sight & Sound Music Center.
“The campaign success is a testament to the perseverance of the community,” said Marsh.
Nearly half of Delaware County households are resource-limited, and complex community challenges continue to limit opportunities for these children and their families.
The programming and services provided by United Way and their community partners aim to conquer these complex community challenges by tackling third grade reading levels – the single greatest indicator of a child’s success in school and life.
This year’s campaign co-chairs were Jeffrey Scott, Chancellor of Ivy Tech, Jeannie Hamblin-Fox, Site Director of Ivy Tech’s Henry County Campus, and Alisa Wells, Director of Community Engagement and Wraparound Support for Ivy Tech.
“This unique wrap-up event is a chance to celebrate the work that’s been done and the progress that’s been made,” said Scott. “This could not have been accomplished without the continuous help of community volunteers, United Way staff and the board.”
About United Way of Delaware, Henry and Randolph Counties
United Way of Delaware and Henry Counties focusing resources on education, health, and financial stability. The nonprofit fights to create lasting change in community conditions. With its bold goal to reach grade-level reading by 2024, United Way works to help children read at or above grade level by the end of their third-grade year. Learn more at invitedtoliveunited.org.
