BBF announces innovative new award
Muncie, Ind. – Muncie and Delaware County nonprofits will have a chance to receive an additional award from Ball Brothers Foundation this fall. The foundation announced that the “John W. & Janice B. Fisher Governance Award” was developed to bring attention to – and celebrate – nonprofits that concentrate on strong board governance. The $10,000 grant, to be presented annually, will go toward a nonprofit organization in the name of a specific board member who displays exceptional merits in solid governance at all levels.
“This is a great way to recognize individuals who go above and beyond for their organizations. High impact board members understand what good governance means for the community. Ball Brothers Foundation wants to show how important we think quality board members are to a well run organization,” said Jud Fisher, president and chief operating officer of the foundation. Fisher added that the application can be found on the foundation’s website,www.ballfdn.org, and that the award will be presented at the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner in October.
“The addition of the John and Janice Fisher Governance Award complements the 85thanniversary of the foundation nicely,” stated Fisher. “Ball Brothers Foundation wants to leverage the strength of its past gifts with solutions for current and future community challenges. This award is one way of carrying out that strategy.”
Ball Brothers Foundation’s announcement includes the most recent grants payout by the foundation.
“We are continuing our pursuit of unique ways to enhance education opportunities in the community, especially efforts to get early childhood education more diverse funding and attention,” said Fisher. He cited examples such as continued grants to Huffer Memorial Children’s Center, theBuley Center, Project Leadership of Grant County and Delaware County, and Motivate Our Minds.
The local, regional and state nonprofit organizations that will benefit from BBF’s first-cycle grant awards are as follows: Community Enhancement Projects, Inc., $75,000; A Better Way Services, Inc., $45,000; Ball State University, $85,000; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware County, $7,200; Boys & Girls Club of Muncie, $15,000; Cardinal Greenway, $100,000; Center for Rural Outreach and Public Service, $35,000; College Mentors for Kids, $15,000; Community Foundation of Grant County, $36,500; Conner Prairie Museum, $25,000; Cornerstone Center for the Arts, $50,000; Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District, $50,000; Huffer Memorial Children’s Center, Inc., $10,000; Indiana Grantmakers Alliance, $5,500; Indiana Natural Resources Foundation, $10,000; Indiana Youth Institute, $75,000; Ivy Tech Foundation, Inc., $50,000; Motivate Our Minds, Inc., $27,000; Muncie Children’s Museum, $19,500; Muncie Delaware Clean and Beautiful, $25,000; Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, $40,000; Muncie YMCA, $250,000; Music For All, Inc., $20,000; Philips Outdoor Center, Inc., $17,000; Reach Out and Read, $20,000; Roy C. Buley Community Center, $83,000; United Way of Delaware County, $85,000; Youth Opportunity Center, Inc., $95,000.
Also: Committee for Integrity Enhancement, $1,000; The Community Foundation of Muncieand Delaware County, $5,000; E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center, $5,000; Indiana Black Expo, MuncieChapter, $2,400; LEAD ECI, Inc., $5,000; Living Lightly, $1,000; Muncie Action Plan, $5,000; Red-Tail Conservancy, Inc., $4,300; Ross Community Center, Inc., $4,700; The Friends of Conley, $1,000.
Celebrating its 85th anniversary this year, Ball Brothers Foundation concentrates its philanthropic efforts on East Central Indiana with a particular focus on Delaware County. BBF offices are located in downtown Muncie. The foundation’s Web address is www.ballfdn.org