Articles by Mike Rhodes

Northwest Foundation Assists Urban Light Community Development Corporation With Financial Donation

By Northwest Bank— MUNCIE, IN—The Northwest Foundation recently supported Muncie’s Urban Light Community Development Corporation with a donation of $7,500. In addition to this contribution, Northwest Bank provided its Charles Street office lobby as the location for Urban Light to host their annual fundraising event. This is the second year the bank hosted this event, which raised over $20,000 to support Urban Light. With the help of the in-kind donation of space from Northwest, 100% of the funds raised directly benefit…

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Great Nonprofits Have Great Boards

By Jud Fisher, President/CEO, Ball Brothers Foundation.— MUNCIE, IN—As a foundation that supports many local nonprofit organizations, Ball Brothers Foundation has had a front row seat to see how excellent boards have transformed local organizations over the years. We strongly believe in the importance of outstanding board governance and leadership, as good boards have a profound effect on an organization’s ability to serve its constituents and adapt to meet changing community needs. It is inspiring to see the selflessness of…


Muncie Art Installation Sheds New Light on Dave’s Alley

By Michelle Kinsey— MUNCIE, IN —Dave’s Alley is getting a makeover. Work began last week on a sculptural public art piece that will hang permanently in the downtown Muncie alleyway. This installation was brought to light – literally – by MuncieArts and the City of Muncie. As the designated “Arts Partner” for the city of Muncie, MuncieArts provides innovative arts programming, creative support for the community, and stewardship of public art. “Arts are so important for a healthy community,” commented…


Cornerstone Center for the Arts to Pause Fall Classes

By Cornerstone’s Board of Directors— MUNCIE, IN—The Board of Directors of Cornerstone Center for the Arts (CCA) in downtown Muncie regretfully announces we will pause classes this fall semester. CCA will remain open for rentals, events, and First Thursday exhibits in the Judith Barnes Gallery. Despite long time support from partners and patrons across the city, the cost to maintain our grand 1920s Masonic Temple building often exceeds revenue. This pause in fall classes allows the board the necessary time…


Muncie Habitat Launches Build Season With New Awareness Build

By Juli Metzger— MUNCIE, IN—Summer and fall home builds for Greater Muncie Habitat for Humanity launch this month with the Awareness Build, a five-day effort by community partners and local news, media, and strategic communication professionals. “We have a number of micro-builds,” explained CEO Lindsey Arthur. “These are opportunities for people who work together or have another common interest, to give-back together, often on the same day.” The Awareness Build involves local media outlets including Woof Boom Radio,  The Muncie…


Po’ Ramblin’ Boys to Headline Free Concert in Muncie, IN

By Rick Zeigler— MUNCIE, IN—Grammy nominees The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys will be performing a FREE outdoor concert as part of the 2023 Muncie Three Trails Music Series. The concert will take place at 7:00 PM on Saturday, August 12th at Canan Commons (500 S. Walnut Walnut St.) in the heart of downtown Muncie, IN. Muncie’s own Bashville Boys will open the show. At a time when most people feel constantly distracted by technology and barraged by the news, authenticity and…


Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation Provides Mental Health Grant at Indiana State Fair

By Lauren A. Schregardus — INDIANAPOLIS – Mental Health America of Indiana (MHAI) announced a 3-year, $900,000 grant from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation during “Mental Health Matters Day” at the Indiana State Fair. Representatives from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation presented the grant alongside Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Douglas Huntsinger, Executive Director for Drug Prevention, Treatment, & Enforcement for the State of Indiana and Chairman of the Indiana Commission to Combat Substance Use Disorder, to…


MCS Names Hacker and Horner Primary, Secondary Teachers of the Year

By Andy Klotz— MUNCIE, IN. – Andrew Hacker and Chris Horner have been selected as Muncie Community Schools’ (MCS) primary and secondary Teachers of the Year, respectively, for the 2022-23 school year. MCS Director of Public Education and CEO Lee Ann Kwiatkowski presented each with his award during a staff welcome back event at Muncie Central High School. Hacker is a Fine Arts teacher at North View elementary school who stands out for not only creating engaging lessons that students…


‘Sparrow Aircraft’ on Display at National Model Aviation Museum in Muncie

By Rob Kurek— MUNCIE, IN— The National Model Aviation Museum invites visitors to view an exciting new aircraft, the Sparrow, on loan from Zipline. The Sparrow, developed by Zipline in 2016, was initially operated in Rwanda. It is an autonomous aircraft that flies to remote medical clinics delivering life-saving blood, vaccines, and medications safely to the ground via parachute. Can transport a weight of up to 4 pounds (1.8 kg). With a 60-mile (100km) service radius, the aircraft can fly…


Ball State Cardinal Varsity Club Announces the 2023 Cardinal Golf Classic Silent Auction

By Cardinal Varsity Club— MUNCIE, IN— The Ball State Cardinal Varsity Club (CVC) is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated 2023 Cardinal Golf Classic Silent Auction sponsored by Stoops Automotive. The auction begins Monday, Aug. 7 at 8:00 a.m. ET, providing Cardinal fans with a unique opportunity to bid on exclusive experiences and other merchandise. Interested participants can view the exciting array of auction items by visiting www.cvcgolfauction.com. The auction is scheduled to close at 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday,…