By Jud Fisher—
MUNCIE IN – Ball Brothers Foundation, a family foundation committed to place-based grantmaking in Indiana for nearly a century, has awarded over $5 million in its fall round of grants for 2024, supporting 36 organizations across East Central Indiana. Among the recipients is United Day Care Center, which was awarded $125,000 to add on to its existing facility on the east side of downtown Muncie.
As families continue to face challenges in accessing affordable childcare, the need for quality early childhood education has never been more pressing. Currently, nearly 60% of families in the region struggle to find suitable childcare, which can hinder children’s development and restrict parents’ ability to work. COVID-19 exacerbated these issues, with many children experiencing developmental delays due to disruptions in their early education.
With support from Ball Brothers Foundation and other local/statewide funders, three new classrooms will be constructed at United, increasing the center’s capacity to serve 28 additional infants and toddlers. The project is also set to create more room for gross motor activities and indoor learning spaces.
“As we continue to address the shortage of quality, affordable childcare, this expansion is a critical step in serving the growing needs of families in our community,” said Carol Johnson, Executive Director of United Day Care Center. “Our team of highly qualified educators focuses on bringing enriching, play-based, and creative learning into the classroom to ensure that every child is developmentally prepared for kindergarten and beyond.”
Quality early education is critical, with 30% of brain development occurring by age one and 90% by age five. Children who participate in quality early learning programs have higher rates of high school and college graduation, as well as increased lifetime earnings, compared to peers who don’t have the same opportunities. United Day Care Center aims to provide accessible childcare as one of only 15 centers in Indiana with a direct Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) contract that allows families to access affordable care, regardless of family income.
The center is nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and provides high-quality education led by educators with degrees in early childhood development.
United Day Care Center has become a crucial resource for addressing early childhood development through its nationally recognized Creative Curriculum. Each infant receives an individualized lesson plan created by teachers that goes beyond just following directions, encouraging decision-making, creativity, and hands-on learning experiences. The center also offers additional services to connect families to community resources like Second Harvest Food Bank and the YWCA, developmental assessments, counseling, and social support for their children.
Jud Fisher, President and CEO of Ball Brothers Foundation, highlighted the importance of this grant, “Early childhood education and childcare are essential for laying the foundation for lifelong learning and success. Investing in efforts like this helps ensure that all children, regardless of income, have better access to high-quality care that prepares them for a bright future. We know that all across the state of Indiana, waiting lists for infant/toddler childcare spots are exceptionally long with parents often waiting many months for spaces to open up, so we’re pleased to support this expansion as a step toward addressing shortages locally.”
Construction is underway and the project is scheduled for completion in 2025, with the center remaining fully operational throughout the duration.
In addition to United Day Care Center, Ball Brothers Foundation’s second round of funding supports a wide range of initiatives, from education and healthcare to human services, public/society benefit, environment, and arts and culture:
Arts & Culture
- Cornerstone Center for the Arts, Inc. – $100,000 for general operations and consultant support.
- Minnetrista Museum & Gardens – $2,775,000 for general operating and capital support.
- Muncie Arts and Culture Council – $20,000 for general operating support and staffing.
- Muncie Civic Theatre – $30,000 to support 2024/2025 productions and general operations.
- Orchestra Indiana – $40,000 in general operating support for 2024/2025 season.
Education
- Ball State University – $60,000 to support Longfellow Elementary School Family/School/Community Coordinator position.
- Burris Laboratory School – $175,000 for K-12 innovation and improvements.
- ecoREHAB – $85,000 for general operations support & launch of new panelized construction program.
- Independent Colleges of Indiana – $100,000 for Ball Venture Fund seed funding supporting innovative projects at private colleges/universities across Indiana.
- Motivate Our Minds – $40,000 for out-of-school programming support.
- Muncie BY5 – $50,000 for general operating support and expansion of the Professional Learning Institute for childcare workers.
- Muncie Community Schools – $450,000 to support PreK-12 innovations and academic/extracurricular enhancements.
- Precious Hearts Development Center – $25,000 for a new vehicle to provide transportation for school/field trips.
- TeenWorks – $50,000 to support 2025 summer employment program for Delaware County teens.
- The Arc of Indiana Foundation – $50,000 for general operating support, marketing outreach, and curriculum development for manufacturing training program at Erskine Green Training Institute.
Environment
- Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District – $15,000 to support White River branding and recreation promotion.
- Muncie Sanitary District – $50,000 for technology and equipment for the White River Education and Research and Freshwater Mussel Propagation Facilities.
- The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County – $75,000 to support seed funding for new Environmental Impact Fund.
- The Nature Conservancy – $50,000 for water quality monitoring, soil/water management education, and support for mussel partnerships.
- The White River Alliance (WRA) – $10,000 to support continued work to implement recommendations outlined in the White River Report Card.
Health
- Ball State University – $20,000 to support Healthy Lifestyle Center and Live-Learn Housing Program for IU School of Medicine-Muncie students.
- Indiana University Health Foundation – $15,000 to support Virtual Reality Training to improve cultural humility and build cultural competencies.
- Indiana University Health Foundation – $20,000 for the expansion of Congregational Care Network in Delaware County.
- Indiana University School of Medicine – Muncie – $70,000 for enhancing physician training and improving community health through mentoring program for future physicians, expansion of summer internship program, and new field trauma course.
- Ivy Tech Foundation – $20,000 to support development of new Emergency Medical Technician certificate.
- Open Door Health Services – $10,000 for Medical Assistant training program to build healthcare workforce pipeline.
- Taylor University – $20,000 for equipment for new nursing program launching in January 2025.
Human Services
- 8twelve Coalition – $35,000 in general operations support for resident led neighborhood revitalization.
- Open Door Health Services – $20,000 to embed community health workers in under-resourced Muncie neighborhoods.
- Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana – $20,000 for general operating support to bolster food resources.
- Urban Light Community Church – $20,000 to support construction of new social service hub in Industry neighborhood.
- Urban Light Community Development – $10,000 for general operating support, including marketing costs, operation of the Lighthouse Recovery Home, and staffing.
Public Society Benefit
- East Central Indiana Regional Partnership, Inc. – $110,000 for general operations support, including READI project management and marketing.
- Muncie Action Plan – $15,000 for general operating support, neighborhood mini-grants, and IDEA conference.
- Muncie Innovation Connector – $20,000 to support strategic planning initiative for 2025 and beyond.
- Muncie Land Bank, Inc. – $45,000 for general operating support and ongoing redevelopment efforts in the Old West End, Industry, and Whitely neighborhoods.
- Nonprofit Support Network – $75,000 for general operating support and 2025 programming.
- Whitely Community Council – $250,000 to support construction of Centennial Avenue resource center.
About Ball Brothers Foundation
Ball Brothers Foundation is one of the state’s oldest and largest family foundations. Annually, the foundation awards over $8 million in grants to support place-based initiatives related to arts and culture, education, the environment, health, human services, and public affairs. The Muncie-based private foundation gives priority to projects and programs that improve the quality of life in the foundation’s home city, county, and state.
