Interest in The Community Foundation soared in the weeks leading up to the 25th anniversary celebration, touching off a wave of inquiries from potential donors. The results of this interest are as tangible as they are gratifying. The Foundation's family of funds has expanded, bringing the total number to more than 180. New funds-established shortly before or after the celebration-will provide scholarships for college-bound students, support the work of local nonprofit agencies, and pay tribute to the memory of community volunteers.
"I'm sure the publicity the Foundation received for the 25th anniversary helped, but more than that I think people want to leave their legacies with an organization they trust," says Jean Crosby, development officer. "The celebration reminded donors that the Foundation has been around for a quarter century and is rock-solid. Its size and impact will continue to grow in years to come."
YWCA turns 100
Few organizations better understand
the benefits of starting an endowment fund than the Muncie YWCA, which recently
established an Acorn Fund at the Foundation. When the YW suffered a series of financial
setbacks two years ago, "one of the things that kept us going was an endowment begun
in the 1920s by our founders," says Linda Barb, board president since 2009. "We
had a good model for how such a fund works."
Under the leadership of Barb and interim executive director Sandy Markert, the YW has reorganized, updated its strategic plan, strengthened its program, and is actively pursuing new sources of revenue. Starting an Acorn Fund was part of an effort to move the historic agency forward and make a public statement that the YW is as much a part of Muncie's future as it was a part of its past. The board of directors hopes to recruit a permanent executive director by the end of December, just in time to oversee the YW's 100th anniversary celebration in 2011.
"The Acorn Fund is a way to say that we're here for the long haul," explains Barb. "If people in the community are looking for a planned-giving opportunity, the YW is something to consider."
Honoring scholars
Murray's Jewelers, another Muncie
tradition, is marking its 125th anniversary by establishing a scholarship
fund that annually will benefit a Delaware
County high school
senior. "We decided we wanted to give something back to the community for
supporting us all these years," explains Todd Murray. "My brother [Steve] and I
are the fourth generation in the business; my sons [Ryan and James] are the
fifth generation, and they're committed to continuing the scholarship
throughout their careers."
Family members are proud that their store has always been part of Muncie's downtown retail district. The benches where their great-grandfather and grandfather repaired watches are still in place, and employees still ring up sales on a 1911 cash register. Occasionally customers come in with vintage jewelry purchased from the store in its early years. "They enjoy the fact that they're handing over an heirloom to be repaired or sized by the great grandson of the man who sold them the jewelry," says Todd. "That's pretty special." He's confident that customers also will like the fact that "a portion of every dollar spent here will go toward scholarships that will help students continue their educations."
Another
scholarship new to the Foundation is an Acorn Fund established by Charles and
Jane Thomas. The Thomases
have watched their two children and three
grandchildren progress through college and are well aware of the high cost of post-secondary
education. "Our grandchildren were greatly helped by the scholarships they
received," says Jane. The opportunity to build a fund over a period of up to
five years was appealing. "We talked about it and felt the time was right."
The couple is finalizing the criteria for recipients of the Charles and Jane (Klipsch) Thomas scholarship. They have decided to limit it to high school graduates from Delaware County who have maintained a B or better average and have displayed good citizenship and community service. "Motivation is important to us," says Jane. "We want our scholarship to go to a highly motivated student who may not have received other financial assistance."
Her memory endures
Volunteers
at July's Muncie Endurathon wore special ribbons in memory of Lenette Freeman,
one of the event's most passionate supporters, who had died of cancer 10 months
earlier. "This was the first Endurathon she missed," explains Ryan Tolle,
president of the Endurathon's board of directors. In her honor the board recently
established the Muncie Endurathon/Lenette Freeman Fund at The Community
Foundation. "We thought this would be a wonderful way to remind people of
Lenette's huge contribution to the Endurathon and the community."
As executive director of Cardinal Greenway, Freeman was instrumental in incorporating the Greenway into the Endurathon course. "She was a great organizer who rallied volunteers and helped us write several grants," says Tolle. Because the Endurathon has a tradition of supporting area nonprofit groups, the Foundation fund that bears Freeman's name is earmarked to perpetuate that tradition. "This is a vehicle that will allow us to set aside funds to continue to make a difference in the community for years and years to come," says Tolle.
Funds for the future
Other funds established during The Community Foundation's anniversary celebration include two Acorn Funds, one that will support the East Central Indiana Therapeutic Riding Center and another that will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank; a fund started by Richard Hughes for education in memory of his wife, Jane Hughes; the Special Olympics of Delaware County Fund, established by Jean Blake; the Robert and Wanda McKibben Scholarship Fund benefiting Yorktown High School graduates; and the Gary W. Addison Scholarship Fund benefiting students from Delaware County.
The Community Foundation also welcomes new Legacy Society* members; Earl and Marilyn Williams, Norm and Joyce Beck, Robert McKibben and Chris French.
*The Community Foundation's Legacy Society recognizes individuals who demonstrate community commitment by including the Foundation in their estate planning.
