Non-Profit

By: Molly Flodder— Muncie, IN—Muncie’s Ross Community Center is celebrating the local and global community with an International Festival fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 4-7 p.m., rain or shine. According to Jacqueline Hanoman, Ross Center executive director, guests will “experience the splendor of the world” at the Center at 1110 W. 10thStreet.  “There will be food from 12 countries, a variety of entertainment ranging from African-style drumming to salsa dancers, and a silent auction,” she said.  “This event will help local community members share their history, culture and mouth-watering foods.”  According to Hanoman, the food is being prepared by…

By: Braydee Euliss, Executive Director, Muncie Arts & Culture Council— Muncie, IN—The Muncie Arts and Culture Council (MACC), in conjunction with the City of Muncie, will celebrate the 3rd biennial Mayor’s Arts Awards on Friday, Sept. 13, at Muncie Civic Theatre. The Mayor’s Arts Awards are the most prestigious honors given by the city to individual artists, teachers, non-profit organizations, and patrons of the arts. Awardees will be honored during the Mayor’s Arts Awards Ceremony, beginning at 7 p.m. on Civic’s Main Stage. The Awards Ceremony and following Community Reception are free and open to the public. For complete event…

By: Maria VanVreede, Board President, Project Stepping Stone— Muncie, IN – Project Stepping Stone will hold its 10thAnnual Dessert Auction on Sunday, September 15, 2019.  A free lunch will be served beginning at noon, followed by an auction of homemade desserts and community items beginning around 12:30pm. Project Stepping Stone is a non-profit that manages three homes providing transitional housing rent-and-utility-free for low-income families. The six months families spend in a PSS home allows them to recover, save and move forward after domestic instability, personal loss or economic hardship. Benefits from the fundraiser support the maintenance of the homes, as…

By: Juli Metzger— Yorktown, IN—United Way of Delaware and Henry Counties is helping raise awareness about the growing urgency behind suicides across the state by helping sponsor “You Are Not Alone,” an afternoon event at Morrow’s Meadow in September, which is suicide prevention month. Pam Taylor, whose 35-year-old son died by suicide in 2015, is lead organizer of the event, which will be held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29 under the pavilion in the park.  Todd Taylor was a licensed mental health counselor. “He helped so many people but couldn’t help himself,” said Taylor, who…

By: Michelle Kinsey— Muncie, IN—Robotics Team 1720 PhyXTgears is moving out of Madjax (514 E. Jackson St.) and into a new warehouse location north of Muncie. “PhyXTGears had an opportunity pop up that we had to jump on,” said Shawn VanNess,” robotics team president. “We will be moving soon into a new permanent home in Matthews.” Matthews is located about 16 miles north of Muncie in Grant County. This will also mean a name change for the team. “We will be changing our 501(c)(3) name to East Central Indiana Robotics and remain a community-based team with a more centralized location…

By: Juli Metzger— Muncie, IN—Thousands packed onto Walnut Street in the middle of Muncie’s downtown Thursday to kick off the 2019 fundraising campaign for United Way of Delaware and Henry Counties. This year’s goal: $1.5 million, about 5 percent more than the 2018 goal of $1.43 million. Co-chairs Damon Elmore and Liz Ludwick say the energy in the community is palpable. United Way has met goal each of the last two years. “I could not be more excited with how everything turned out,” Elmore said. “We have a pair of bold goals,” he said. “First, ensuring children in third grade…

By: Jud Fisher— Muncie, IN—Ball Brothers Foundation, one of the state’s oldest and largest private foundations, awarded over $80,000 during the late spring and summer to support a variety of efforts aimed at improving Muncie, Delaware County, and the surrounding region. The grants were made as part of the foundation’s Rapid Grant program which allows the foundation to respond quickly to community needs. In keeping with the foundation’s long-standing interest in supporting children and youth, several grants were awarded to expand opportunities and experiences for preschool and school-age students. A $5,000 grant to Crossroads of America Council will allow the…

By: Kallie Sulanke— Muncie, Ind. – The generous support of the community allowed The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. to capture a $1 million Lilly Endowment Inc. grant. The $2 to $1 match is part of the Lilly Endowment Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) VII initiative. Lilly Endowment invited The Community Foundation to apply for $1 million in matching funds. The funds were to be raised between October 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020. As of August 14, 100 percent of the available matching dollars have been donated or pledged to be fulfilled before the end of…