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A LIFE-LONG PASSION PROTECTED IN PERPETUITY What is important to you? Do you care about a specific organization or have a passion for a cause? Russ Vernon, the founder of the Wheeler Orchid Collection and Species Bank Fund, has a passion for orchids. Russ explains that he didn’t have much choice in the matter when it comes to his love for orchids. Both his parents and grandparents enjoyed gardening and even farmed. Russ used to save his allowance so he could buy cacti at the local Woolworths. And when he was just 12 years old, he began growing his first orchid. After earning a degree in horticulture from The Ohio State University, Russ became the curator for the Wheeler Orchid Collection and Species Bank in 1973, located at Ball State University. During his time there, Russ worked tirelessly to establish an orchid collection for the greenhouse. He explained, “I decided to point in the direction of a conservation project.” The collection is still located at Ball State University. It is housed within the Dr. Joe and Alice Rinard Orchid Greenhouse.
“That’s the goal of doing anything: to give it the support it needs to become better than it is,” Russ continued. The Community Foundation manages designated funds, benefiting specific programs and organizations, and field-of-interest funds, benefiting broad community causes that match donor passions. Let’s talk about what is important to you and if The Community Foundation can be your partner in achieving your charitable goals. To learn more, contact Kelly K. Shrock, president, at 765-747-7181 or kshrock@cfmdin.org.
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The collection proved to be a huge success. During Russ’s time at the greenhouse, he managed to trade orchids with botanical gardens from Philadelphia, Ontario, and even the Kew Gardens in England! And to continue to support this collection, he decided to establish a fund through The Community Foundation.
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And so, because I have a lot of emotional currency in the collection, I decided to set up this fund,” said Russ.
Russ established the Wheeler Orchid Collection and Species Bank Fund, a designated fund that benefits the orchid collection. Russ explains that he created the fund as a way of ensuring the collection’s preservation. Because the fund is endowed, the orchid collection will see benefits now and into the future.
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2021 THIRD QUARTER COMPETITIVE GRANTS THE FOUNDATION AWARDS 11 GRANTS TOTALING $136K We are pleased to announce that $136,400 has been awarded to 11 nonprofit organizations during the third Quarterly Competitive Grants Cycle of 2021. College Mentors for Kids received $7,000
to provide mentoring opportunities by matching elementary-aged children from across Muncie and Delaware County with Ball State University student volunteers.
8twelve Coalition received $13,000 for resident-driven projects from the 8twelve Coalition Action Plan and for coalition management.
Innovation Connector Inc. received $10,000
Masterworks Chorale, Inc. received $4,000 to support organizational capacity. Muncie Action Plan received $5,000 to provide organizational capacity support, including the Neighborhood Coordinator position. Muncie Arts and Culture Council received $17,000 to support organizational capacity and provide matching funds to benefit the PlySpace Residency Program. Ross Community Center received $25,000 to support organizational capacity and supplies for the weekly community market.
United Day Care Center received $15,400 to defray the cost to replace flooring throughout the facility.
for the Women Business Owner Mastermind Group, a pilot program that provides women entrepreneurs with community connections and educational growth.
Whitely Community Council received $15,000 to support organizational capacity.
Inside Out Community Development
Youth Opportunity Center received $10,000
received $15,000 to expand freezer space at their facility.
for an email service migration necessary to meet industry standards for privacy and security.
Third Quarter Competitive Grants have been awarded from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation and the following funds: Stefan and Joan Anderson Unrestricted Fund, Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Fund, Bassett Family Fund, Louisa and Waldo Beebe Unrestricted Endowment Fund, Pat and Jane Botts Fund, Jane Harrell Buckles Fund, Gordon and Pam Cox Fund, Ron and Cheryl Fauquher Fund, Kent Shuff and Steve Fennimore Fund, John and Janice Fisher Quality of Place Endowment Fund, Linda and Connie Gregory Fund, Julian and Suzanne Gresham Fund, Gayle and Jeannine Harrold Fund, Jane E. Hughes Fund, John C. Kelly and Marcia Ressler Kelly Fund, Francis Lafferty Fund, Jeff and Beth Lang Fund, John and Katherine Littler Fund, Michael O. and Nicole T. Lunsford Fund, KAKATU Foundation/ David and Joanna Meeks Fund, Mid-West Metal Products Fund, Jon and Barbara Moll Fund, MutualBank Charitable Foundation Fund, Ontario Systems - Wil Davis and Ron Fauquher Fund, Jim and Mary Rosema Fund, Shafer/ Muncie Power Products Legacy Fund, Jeanne and John Smith Fund, Daniel and Catherine Stewart Fund, Charles and Claudia Sursa Unrestricted Named Endowment Fund, David and Mary Jane Sursa Fund, Gary and Amy Thomas Fund, Wayne E. and Carolyn K. Thomas Fund, and Faye Wingate Fund
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