Non-Profit

By Chuck Reynolds and Missy Modesitt— 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…

By Melissa Jones— MUNCIE, Ind. — Muncie & Delaware County BY5 Early Childhood Initiative, Inc.—Delaware County’s leading organization for promoting early childhood awareness—recently hired BriAnna Green as assistant director of childcare resources. Green previously spent seven years working at a childcare center, during which time she served as both assistant director and director. “That experience gave me an overarching look into early childhood education, because I got to see what children, educators andparents need to excel. It allowed me to learn…

By Melissa Jones— MUNCIE, INDIANA — Ball Brothers Foundation, one of Indiana’s oldest and largest family foundations, approved over $6.5 million in its second round of funding for 2021. The grants support a variety of efforts, from bolstering local healthcare organizations to supporting schools in the wake of the pandemic. As part of the healthcare support, Ball Brothers Foundation awarded six grants of $40,000 each to partners in Optimus Primary, a strategic, collaborative partnership to strengthen the pipeline of medical professionals training in Muncie….

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, Ind.—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. awarded $75,118 to seven non-profit organizations during the final Quarterly Competitive Grant cycle of 2021. The Community Foundation’s purpose is to improve the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County for this generation and generations to come. Quarterly Competitive Grants fund projects for which there is a demonstrable community benefit in one of the following areas of interest: arts and culture, human services, economic development, education,…

By Amy Leffingwell— MUNCIE, Ind. – Women in Business Unlimited (WIBU) announced the recipients of its prestigious ATHENA Awards at its annual ATHENA Awards Luncheon. The ATHENA Leadership Award, ATHENA Young Professional Award, and WIBU Lifetime Achievement Award were presented. The ATHENA Leadership Awards are internationally recognized awards which WIBU has been pleased to present for twenty-two years. The nominations were submitted to a panel of judges outside of Delaware County to be evaluated and scored with a provided ATHENA recipient…

By Carl Schafer and Erin Williams— MUNCIE, Ind.—The Muncie Arts and Culture Council, in conjunction with the City of Muncie, celebrated the 4th biennial Mayor’s Arts Awards on Friday, Nov. 12, at Sursa Performance Hall on the Ball State University campus. If you missed the ceremony, it will be broadcast on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m. on Ball State PBS. More information at www.ballstatepbs.org. The Mayor’s Arts Awards are the most prestigious honors given by the city to individual…

By Brenda Brumfield— MUNCIE, Ind.— The 67th Class of the Academy for Community Leadership recognized 21 new graduates at a breakfast event on Thursday, November 11, 2021. “Each year the Academy for Community Leadership program is offered by the Chamber, in collaboration with Ball State University, to expose upcoming leaders in the community to various topics and people to help broaden their understanding of our community,” said co-coordinator Brenda Brumfield, Communications Director at the Chamber. This year students learned more about…

By Pamela Terhune— MUNCIE, IN—Grateful Rescue and Sanctuary is asking for donations and assistance from the public after saving 15 dogs from a backyard breeding eviction. “When these precious dogs arrived at our facility, they were scared and unsocialized.   We’re currently spending time with each one, making sure they are getting the proper veterinary care, food and behavior training”, said Pamela Terhune, founder of Grateful Rescue. The dogs include two Huskies, a Chocolate Labrador, two Bernese Mountain Dog mixes and a…