Thirty agencies showed off their good work as the 860 guests entered the Delaware Room of the Horizon Convention Center, the hosts for the 25th anniversary celebration.
In a maze that was occasionally bottle-necked like I-69 on the north side of Indianapolis, volunteers, board members and community residents checked out the booth displays of area non-profits.
Luncheon guests then voted for the agency they believed should receive a $10,000 endowed grant. The agencies, all of which could use that money, competed for guests' attention by handing out candy, building creative displays such as a miniature version of the Cardinal Greenway and even allowing passersby to pet a puppy born with no eyes.
"This is just a lot of fun," said Nancy Turner, a lifelong Muncie resident who came to the luncheon to vote for the Muncie Pubic Library. "It makes you feel good to be from Muncie, to see all these great organizations that do so much good in the community. When (the Community Foundation) started years ago, I thought it would still be around these days, but this is bigger than I ever thought it would be!"
"The Community Foundation has just been so gracious. And being in the room was winning," said Monique Armstrong, executive director of Motivate Our Minds, the winner of a $7,500 endowed grant. "This endowment means that we believe in our future and the Community Foundation is one of those organizations that has just been a blessing to Muncie."
Winners at the Community Foundation's 25th Anniversary Celebration
A Better Way: $10,000 endowed grant
Motivate our Minds: $7,500 endowed grant
Beyond I Can: $5,000 endowed grant
Youth Opportunity Center: $2,500 endowed grant
Animal Rescue Fund: $1,500 endowed grant
Muncie Civic Theatre: $1,500 endowed grant
Tanya Reed, President of Bridges Community Services: David Sursa Leadership Award
(To view the Star Press Photo Gallery of the luncheon, click here.)
