Non-Profit

WIBU Announces Finalists for Leadership Awards

By Jessica Shrout, Board of Directors, WIBU— MUNCIE, IN—Women In Business Unlimited, WIBU, has announced finalists in three categories for the 2022 ATHENALeadership Awards. Nominees for the ATHENA Leadership Award include Allison Robbins, Brenda Williamson, Dr. Melissa Gentry, Jennifer Gibson, Katie Lehman, Kourtney McCauliff, Krista Wise, Dr. Lee AnnKwiatkowski, Ren’a Wagner, and Traci Lutton. Nominees for the ATHENA Young Professional include Dr. Jean Marie Place, Brittany Pickett, Dr. Dominyse Carey, Jessica Rosales, and Kylee Eller. Shafer Leadership Academy is the recipient for the ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award. Peggy Cenova will also be recognized as the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for 2022. Nominees…

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Katie Lehman Named Indiana Youth Institute’s 2022 D. Susan Wisely Youth Worker of the Year

By Ashley Haynes, Indiana Youth Institute— INDIANAPOLIS, IN  – Katie Lehman, Ready Readers Supervisor at the Muncie Public Library, has been awarded the 2022 D. Susan Wisely Youth Worker of the Year Award by Indiana Youth Institute (IYI). Lehman has served as the Ready Readers Supervisor for Muncie Public Library (MPL) since 2016, when she developed the free, one-to-one literacy program. “I am humbled to receive the IYI’s 2022 D. Susan Wisely Youth Worker of the Year Award,” said Lehman. “It is an absolute honor and privilege to help students not only build their literacy skills but build their confidence…


Registration for the EMPOWER Program Now Open 

By Arrick Garringer— MUNCIE, IN—Shafer Leadership Academy invites young professionals to invest in their success during an interactive virtual program to equip them with the skills, confidence, and connections to maximize their potential. Space is limited to 20 individuals, and the application deadline is Monday, Dec. 12. EMPOWER: Career Investment for Young Professionals involves 75-minute sessions each Wednesday for 10 weeks, from January 11-March 15, 2023. SLA Executive Director Mitch Isaacs said participants will focus on five key area of career investment, including their career strengths and values, confident communication, financial future, and self-care and advocacy. ”You will learn alongside…


Muncie Dam Altered for Fish and Kayaking

By Phil Tevis, David Heilman, and Toria Callow— DELAWARE COUNTY, IN—The Delaware County Soil and Water Conversation District received grant funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Ed and Virginia Ball Foundation to modify the water intake dam at the Indiana American Water Company filtration facility located on Burlington Avenue in Muncie. “The Muncie dams have been identified in many studies since the 1990’s as an opportunity to make these types of modifications to improve our local water quality, fisheries and public safety for recreational uses,” stated Erik Fisher Chairman of the…


Marta Moody Recognized with 2022 Fisher Governance Award

By Melissa Narlock— MUNCIE, IN — Ball Brothers Foundation presented its annual Fisher Governance Award this year to Marta Moody, board president of Cardinal Greenways. Moody was recognized with the award at the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce’s 128th Annual Meeting Celebration on October 27. The John W. and Janice B. Fisher Governance Award annually honors a nonprofit board member in Delaware County for exemplary leadership, integrity, responsibility, and accountability. “I can attest to the strong, passionate leader Marta Moody has been and continues to be for our organization,” Angie Pool, CEO of Cardinal Greenways, wrote in Moody’s nomination. “She…


8twelve Coalition Receives ‘Advancing Racial Equity Collection Development’ Grant from Indiana Humanities

By Jena Ashby, Director 8twelve Coalition— MUNCIE, IN—The 8twelve Coalition was recently awarded an Advancing Racial Equity Collection Development Grant from Indiana Humanities with funds from Lilly Endowment, Inc.  The goal of this grant is to help Hoosiers think, read, and talk about racial injustice and systemic racism. The books purchased with this grant allow for a lending library to be available at the new 8twelve Coalition office at 1424 S. Hoyt Ave Several of the selected books were bought in multiple copies so are available for neighbors and organizations working together to host reading groups for both adults and children….


Local Executive Director Recognized at ILA Annual Meeting

By Arrick Garringer— Shafer Leadership Academy’s Mitch Isaacs presented the 2022 Marjorie Klink Outstanding Leadership Award NOBLESVILLE, IN —Mitch Isaacs, Executive Director for Shafer Leadership Academy, was presented the 2022 Marjorie Klink Outstanding Leadership award at the Indiana Leadership Association’s Annual Meeting on October 14th. Marjorie Klinck Outstanding Leadership Award is given to an individual who has significantly furthered the development of community leadership in and for Indiana communities. In 1994, the Indiana Leadership Association established The Marjorie Klinck Award to recognize and honor outstanding leadership in and for Indiana communities. Marjorie Woodruff Klinck was the director of Leadership Jackson County…


Rotary Club of Muncie Awards Grants to Eight Organizations

By Matt Howell— MUNCIE, IN — Matt Howell, President of The Muncie Rotary Club, announced eight organizations will receive grants from the Rotary Fund Endowment held at The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County for 2022. “Our board and executive committee were astonished by the amount of interest we garnered this year for our grant opportunity.” Mr. Howell stated. “We had so many amazing applications from many different deserving organizations, which made our job of selecting winners that much more difficult.” The Muncie Rotary Club had a record number of organizations (22) submit applications requesting funding of almost $55,000…


YWCA Hosts ‘Put Yourself In Her H.E.E.L.S.’ Open House

By Juli Metzger— MUNCIE, IN – YWCA Central Indiana will host its 10th annual Put Yourself In Her H.E.E.L.S. (Help. Encourage. Empower. Lift. Support) event on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the YWCA of Central Indiana, 310 E. Charles St. in Muncie. Put Yourself in Her H.E.E.L.S. is the YWCA’s premiere event targeted at raising awareness of YWCA’s mission driven work and fundraising for the residential programs. Services such as C.O.T.S. Stay (complimentary, overnight, temporary, shelter stay), YWCA Emergency Shelter, Second Phase Housing, and Permanent Housing Support provide the comfort and assurance a woman needs to get…


Community Foundation Awards $380K to Community Organizations in September and October

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, IN—Grants totaling $380,809 were awarded from The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County to benefit the community between September and October 2022. Most grants are awarded through permanently endowed funds that benefit our community today and always. Robert P. Bell Education Grants are awarded to teachers with innovative ideas, programs, or projects related to a classroom unit or lesson. Grants range from $50 to $600 and support projects designed to stimulate students’ learning. The following grants were awarded through the Robert P. Bell Education Grants Program: Ben Buehler, Yorktown High School, received $532 for Seeing…