Articles by Mike Rhodes

United Way Surpasses 2017 Campaign Goal

By: Allison Gregory— Muncie, IN— United Way of Delaware County’s (UWDC) 2017 campaign raised $1,427,079, surpassing its $1.2 million goal by nearly 19 percent. By engaging a broad spectrum of community support to tackle the organization’s long-term goal to end generational poverty, the campaign exceeded expectations in the following key target areas: Tocqueville Society donors—those giving $10,000 or more—increased by 307 percent in the 2017 campaign. These high-level givers join a national network of philanthropic leaders who are engaged locally…

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John Carlson: For The Love of Groceries

By: John Carlson— Once I heard a story about a Russian visitor to the United States back in the Cold War days, a woman who was sure tales of our country’s abundance were merely government propaganda. Even while casually strolling through an American supermarket, she staunchly maintained her righteous sense of Soviet doubt and denial. It wasn’t until she wandered into the toilet paper aisle and saw 30 varieties of cottony soft two-ply and four-ply rolls – none of them…


Youth Opportunity Center Foundation Executive Director Joins AFP Board of Directors

By: Richard Crist— Muncie, IN—Polly Craig, Executive Director of the Youth Opportunity Center Foundation, has been named to the Board of Directors for the Indiana Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). The Indiana Chapter of AFP’s mission statement is to foster the growth and development of philanthropy, the fundraising profession, the chapter, and its individual members. It moves toward this goal through extensive research, education, ethical principles, and high standards of professional practice. The Indiana chapter seeks to…


BSU Student Hopes Her Image on Side of Teachers College Will Boost Performing Arts

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN—Ciara Borg is 5-foot, 3-inches tall, but at Ball State University, she is the tallest student on campus. Her image graces a 60-foot long statement banner hung on the side of Teachers College, one of the university’s iconic buildings, as part of a new marketing campaign, “We Fly.” Borg—one of several students featured in Ball State’s new branding efforts—also appears on two billboards in Indianapolis. “The first time I saw the banner, I was shocked because…


Scholarship Applications are Now Available

By: Kallie Sulanke, Community Engagement Officer— Muncie, IN—Scholarship applications are now available for the more than 40 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 application. Scholarships for post-secondary education administered by The Community Foundation have been established by donors, who set the criteria. Scholarships are awarded to students participating in a wide variety of activities, with a wide…


Ball Brothers Foundation Announces Funding Opportunities for Local School Districts

By: Jud Fisher— Muncie, IN—Ball Brothers Foundation has invited eight school districts in Delaware County to apply for special funding in 2018 to make school-wide and district-wide improvements and innovations. The funding invitation is an expansion of grants made over the past several years to Muncie Community Schools and Burris Laboratory School. “In considering the factors that contribute to a strong, desirable community, education plays a critical role. Good schools are necessary for helping young adults gain the tools and…


Poor Health Can Make Cold Temperatures More Intense

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN—Temperatures across the northern tier of the United States are bitterly cold, but low body fat levels and thyroid dysfunction may make it feel worse, says Jagdish Khubchandani, associate professor of community health at Ball State University. He noted that people without proper levels of body fat, which serves to insulate the body, may feel colder, he said. “People who eat too little over a long period of time or those who are young and old…


IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Impacted by Damaged Fiber Optic Line

Editor’s Note: 2:24pm— The hospital has indicated all of their systems are back up and running. The hospital still recommends that patients call their provider today before heading out for a scheduled appointment or procedure.   Muncie, IN –Extreme cold temperatures overnight have resulted in an external public fiber optic line freezing and breaking. The power company and its maintenance vendor are working diligently to repair the line and restore full power today. As a result, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital has…


Etiquette Expert’s Tips for New Year’s Toasting

By: Sharon Schweitzer— New Year’s Eve is here and if you’re attending any kind of social gathering to ring in the New Year, chances are someone is going to offer a toast. But just what are the do’s and don’ts of toasting? Etiquette expert Sharon Schweitzer, founder of Access to Culture, offers these toasting tips: First Toast: In light of their planning, and financing, the host or hostess of the dinner or social party offers the first toast. At an informal dinner party…


John Carlson: Old Folks Sleep In The New Year

By: John Carlson— Come Sunday, like millions of other American geezers, Nancy and I will be celebrating a traditional New Year’s Eve for Oldsters. Yeah, I know. We’re pathetic. It wasn’t that long ago we would gather with our wild and crazy friends to ring in the New Year with peels of raucous laughter, spicy meat snacks and booze. Well, okay. Nancy would ring in the New Year with half a glass of white wine and a handful of Chex-Mix….