Non-Profit

Muncie Community Schools Expands Preschools to all Elementary Buildings, and Project Lead the Way STEM Curriculum at all Muncie Community School Buildings with Support from the George and Frances Ball Foundation By: Thomas J. Kinghorn— Muncie, IN—The George and Frances Ball Foundation awarded the second allocation of a $1 million, 3-year commitment to the Ball State University—Muncie Community Schools partnership. The first year’s grant supported summer professional development for teachers, introduction of Project Lead the Way curriculum in 4 schools,…

By: Muncie Downtown Development Partnership— Muncie, IN—We are excited to announce that with Muncie Downtown Development support and contributions from the community, the “United & Ignited” campaign raised $14,250 for the DWNTWN Small Business Relief Grant. Nineteen businesses qualified and will be able to use the funds to offset loss of revenue due to COVID 19.   We are grateful to all of you who contributed, shared information and went to bat for our DWNTWN businesses. You really are why DWNTWN is a…

By: Eileen Oaks— MUNCIE, IN—After months of putting in sweat equity hours, completing homeowner education classes, saving for down payment, and volunteering around the community, the Lyon’s family is finally moving into their new, built-for-them home. The Greater Muncie Habitat for Humanity partners with local families, like the Lyons, who are interested in working with Habitat for Humanity to purchase a home with a no-profit, no-interest mortgage. Each Habitat home is a collaboration of volunteers contributing hundreds of labor hours,…

By: Sheryl Swingley— Muncie, IN—Solarize Indiana, a grassroots community group, will sponsor a Zoom meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 25, to tell area residents and business owners how they can add solar panels on their houses or businesses before there is no longer a federal tax credit. The Zoom meeting will involve a 30-presentation followed by an hour for questions and answers. There is no charge to attend the Zoom meeting. Prior registration is required. The Zoom link for…

By: Melissa Jones— Muncie, IN— Last month, Ball Brothers Foundation’s Board of Directors approved $1.7 million in its first round of grants for the year. Overall, the funding provides support to local efforts in arts, culture, and humanities; education; environment; human services; and public society benefit. These grants come in addition to the more than $300,000 in emergency grants the foundation has provided in the past three months in response to the coronavirus pandemic. While the most recent round of…

By: Geoff Mearns, Co-Chair & Jeff Bird, Co-Chair, Next Muncie— MUNCIE, IN—For the past two years, Next Muncie has been meeting to champion projects that have transformative potential for downtown Muncie and its adjacent neighborhoods. The group is already seeing a number of big wins for the community.  Next Muncie—a team of leaders representing Muncie’s largest employers, city officials, economic and downtown development representatives, and members of the private philanthropic sector—regularly consults with economic development groups from across the city…

By: Eileen Oaks— MUNCIE, IN—Muncie Habitat for Humanity serves as the convener of the 8twelve Coalition, a neighborhood revitalization initiative serving South Central and a portion of Thomas Park/Avondale neighborhoods on Muncie’s south side. Recently, this coalition received two national awards from Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) for its work. The Coalition received 3rd overall place in the Multi-Neighborhood Partnerships category, which features projects that are jointly produced by at least two neighborhoods or community organizations in a partnership effort, addressing either…

By: Melissa Jones— MUNCIE, IN — Every summer, Muncie & Delaware County BY5 Early Childhood Initiative hosts a series of community events as part of Nature Play Days, a state-wide event put together by Indiana Children and Nature Network. However, due to health and safety concerns, BY5 has announced that this year’s Nature Play Days—which run from June 6 through June 14—will consist of daily activities families can complete at home.  “Due to COVID-19, Nature Play Days look a little…

By: Jason Newman, CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie— For the past three months, our kids have been scared, in some cases, terrified, about a deadly virus, that has changed their lives completely. Over the past two weeks, all of our media are talking about the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and most recently, George Floyd (and there are so many others, too many others). For those of us who are white, we are asking, should I talk about this…