Legacy Newsletter, September 2020

VOL. XXX NO.3

SEPTEMBER 2020

L E G A C Y

MITS bus driver, Downtown Muncie

Where neighbors create legacies

LET’S TALK With the forever-model of The Community Foundation in mind, I regularly talk with donors about their end of life plans. Over the last few months, my conversations with donors about their planned giving has doubled.

GIVING TO SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF CAUSES THAT MATTER

During this global pandemic, it seems we have all become more aware of how precious life is. As we examine our lives, it can also cause us to examine our mortality. Many people are taking some time to create or review their estate plans. If now is the time to get your house in order, it may also be the right time to consider the legacy you will leave behind.

Read on to hear the stories of several donors who were able to work with The Community Foundation to achieve their charitable goals and make a lasting impact on the organizations and causes that mattered most during their lifetimes. By letting us know that you plan to include The Community Foundation in your estate plan, you’ll be a part of our Legacy Society.

More than sixty individuals and couples are a part of this group and receive regular updates and information about the happenings at the Foundation.

As you pause to take stock of what is most important to you, know that we are here to help you create your legacy today, tomorrow, and always.

Kelly K. Shrock, President

Love was a common topic of conversation for Steve Robert. Pictured, he shares his message while officiating a wedding of family members.

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he Community Foundation is often recognized for its broad grantmaking and for providing scholarships for students. The Community Foundation also provides donors with options to support the specific causes and organizations that matter most to them during their lifetimes and beyond.

Earlier this year, Steve Robert approached The Community Foundation with a desire to provide support to organizations that he felt were doing important work in the community. Steve had been diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor that would quickly claim his life. He had been an avid community volunteer during his lifetime, looking at this volunteer work as community advocacy. He wanted to ensure this work would continue even after he was gone. continued on page 2

He expressed an interest in supporting eight unique organizations with a gift that would be realized before he passed away. Working closely with Foundation president, Kelly K. Shrock, Steve determined that his gift would add to five existing funds at The Community Foundation – Larry Dollison Food Cooperative Fund, Motivate Our Minds Fund, Red-tail Land Conservancy Fund, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, Inc. Fund, and the YWCA Fund. His gift would also provide the seed money needed to establish three new funds – Martin Luther King Dream Team Fund, Muncie OUTreach Fund, and NAACP Muncie Branch Fund.

Steve understood that giving is more effective when there is long-term sustainable funding, and that structural issues require structural solutions. Through the establishment of these three new funds, he was creating an opportunity for others to support and strengthen causes that mattered to him.

Steve’s reach extended beyond Muncie. From helping people have clean water by raising money for well-drilling in Sudan through Water is Basic, to visiting Poland with Holocaust survivor, Eva Kor, Steve believed we live in a global community. It is the human connections we make as individuals that make things better for everyone.

“He did good things,” said Steve’s sister, Diane Hoffman. “He was driven to help those who were marginalized or down on their luck. He encouraged others, too. By starting these funds, he was nudging others to continue the work that brings people together.”

Steve was quoted as saying, “Well - I don’t guess this world is going to make itself into a better place - so - I guess that is just gonna have to be our job.”

His financial gift near the end of his life was just one of the many ways that Steve was able to make the world better. Steve passed away on April 21, less than a month after his gifts were realized. Each of these designated funds provides distributions to the organizations named either annually or upon request to provide long-term sustainable support. Anyone may contribute to these funds and to help them grow and provide more support to these important community organizations.

“This organization means so much to me and many others in the community,” said Laura Janney, founder and director of Muncie OUTreach. “It’s important that we are here in Muncie. Steve’s gift will keep us going for a long time, especially as other people build upon what he began.”

No matter the amount, the timing, the charitable interest, or the gift vehicle, the Foundation can help you achieve your charitable goals.

Through our more than 300 funds, The Community Foundation can provide donors with the right options that allow them to support the specific causes and organizations that matter most to them during their lifetimes and beyond.

2020 THIRD QUARTER COMPETITIVE GRANTS THE FOUNDATION AWARDS 9 GRANTS TOTALING $87K

We are pleased to announce that $87,746 has been awarded to 9 nonprofit organizations during the third Quarterly Competitive Grant cycle of 2020.

season, including community concerts and scholarships to student participants. Rehearsals and concerts will be modified to protect and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Beneficence Family Scholars received $6,000 to support a program expansion that provides residential options for single parent households working toward post-secondary education attainment.

for the “Brigadoon in Concert” performance for school children and other outreach and educational programming.

College Mentors for Kids, Inc. received

Muncie Action Plan received $11,096

$10,000 to provide mentoring opportunities by matching elementary-aged children from across Muncie and Delaware County with Ball State University student volunteers. This program may utilize virtual or a hybrid model this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Destiny Christian Center International, Inc. received $15,000 for facility updates

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East Central Indiana Chamber Orchestra received $4,000 for the 2020-2021

and improvements including replacement of childcare room furnishings, repairing damaged windows, interior wall repair and painting, playground equipment at the newly acquired Destiny Christian Academy-Central Childcare Center.

Masterworks Chorale, Inc. received $6,900

to provide organizational capacity support including the Neighborhood Coordinator position.

Muncie Land Bank received $10,000 to

acquire and maintain vacant, abandoned, and blighted properties in the City of Muncie for public and private development.

Whitely Community Council received

$10,750 to support general operations.

Youth Opportunity Center, Inc. received

$14,000 to create additional outdoor meeting spaces to allow for maintaining social distancing between youth and family programming.

Third Quarter Competitive Grants have

been awarded from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation and the following funds:

5000th Charitable Fund, Inc. Fund, Gary Addison Fund,

Stefan and Joan Anderson Unrestricted Fund, The Endowment for the Arts Fund, Ball Corporation Community Betterment Fund, Bassett Family Fund, Pat and Jane Botts Fund, Jane Harrell Buckles Fund, Patrick and Marilyn Cleary Fund,

Gordon and Pam Cox Fund, John and Janice Fisher Quality of Place Endowment Fund, Mike and Cathy Galliher Fund, Julian and Suzanne Gresham Fund, Jane E. Hughes Fund,

KAKATU Foundation/David and Joanna Meeks Fund, Laura Stanley Keppler Fund, Francis Lafferty Fund, Jeff and Beth

Lang Fund, John and Katherine Littler Fund, Michael O. and

Nicole T. Lunsford 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, Jeanne and John

Smith Unrestricted Fund, Daniel and Catharine Stewart Fund, Charles and Claudia Sursa Unrestricted Named Endowment

Fund, Gary and Amy Thomas Fund, Wayne E. and Carolyn K.

Thomas Fund, Joseph and Janet Wilson Unrestricted Endowment Fund, and Faye Wingate Fund

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GIFTS IN LIFE; GIFTS AFTER DEATH There are many ways in which the Foundation can assist donors in fulfilling their charitable goals. The Foundation manages more than 120 designated funds, funds that benefit specific organizations, like those Steve Robert made his gift to. Field of interest funds support specific causes, for example, youth, animals, the elderly, or specific geographic areas, like our town endowment funds that benefit Gaston, Selma, and Yorktown. Just as Steve did, donors wishing to support a specific organization or program in an organization can add to an existing fund or consider establishing a new fund.

The Foundation can accept gifts of cash or check, by credit card, gifts of appreciated assets such as stock or property, real estate, life insurance, or crops. The Foundation can even work with you on more complicated gifts such as charitable lead and remainder trusts, gift annuities, or transfers from private foundations.

Some donors even choose to name The Community Foundation in their will. A bequest left to the Foundation can be directed to any fund, or with planning, establish a new fund. When Jim and Betsy Pyle moved to Delaware County, they found the many community organizations here enriched their lives. When Cornerstone Center for the Arts was established, Betsy, who worked with children through the Muncie Public Library, was especially interested in its programs at Cornerstone that enriched arts experiences for children. To extend her support of the organization, she included a bequest to the Cornerstone Center for the Arts Fund at The Community Foundation, which was received this spring. Betsy passed away on January 13.

“The Community Foundation offers us an opportunity to support these groups,” said Jim Pyle about Betsy’s gift. “In particular, endowment funds offer a chance to support them for a long time. For those wishing to leave a legacy to the community, this is a truly fulfilling approach.”

A BEQUEST CAN LAST FOREVER A bequest in a valid will or trust gives you and your spouse full use of your income and assets during life for personal and family needs, leaving what is left to heirs and favored charities.

Most Americans die without a will or trust, even though it is the foundation of every estate plan. We strongly advise that you use an estate planning attorney for your will or trust and other estate planning like a durable power of attorney. Your advisor may advise you that a revocable beneficiary designation on a retirement plan is a better option for charity since those assets are taxed to your heirs, unlike what they inherit under a will or trust (except few subject to estate tax).

The Hillcroft Services Fund held at The Community Foundation of Muncie and

Delaware County provides important annual funding stability to assist with the The language to include our Community Foundation in your continuation and expansion of the programming and services offered to the will or trust is, “I give, devise and bequeath to The Community intellectually and developmentally disabled population of our community.

Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc., a nonprofit with principal offices in Muncie, IN, (the sum of/designated asset/percentage of/residue of my estate), to be used for its general charitable purposes.” This creates an unrestricted and spendable gift, highly prized for flexibility, and for our community’s unanticipated future needs. You can also restrict your gift to endowment or for a beloved local charity. To learn more about how simple it is to include The Community Foundation in your will or trust, contact Kelly K. Shrock, president, at 765-747-7181 or kshrock@cfmdin.org.

JIM WILLIAMS: 2020 DAVID SURSA LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT Jim Williams was awarded the 2020 David Sursa Leadership Award to recognize his dedicated service to Muncie Community Schools.

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Through Jim’s willingness to take charge and lead, our community, school faculty, and the board merge as a united team incorporating strong collaboration and mutual trust.”

- Lee Ann Kwiatkowski, Muncie Community Schools CEO

2020 FINALISTS Jim Williams, the recipient of the 2020 David Sursa Leadership Award, poses with Kelly K. Shrock, president of The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County.

Cindy Davis, Psi Iota Xi Scott McKee, A Better Way Services, Inc. Juli Metzger, Indiana Youth Institute Keith Miller, Urban Light Community Development Corporation Jim Trulock, Muncie Civic Theater

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

MUNCIE, IN PERMIT NO. 807

P.O. Box 807, Muncie, IN 47308 Phone: (765) 747-7181

Confirmed in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.

BEN BUEHLER: 2020 ROBERT P. BELL CREATIVE TEACHING AWARD RECIPIENT Ben Buehler has been awarded the 2020 Robert P. Bell Creative Teaching Award to recognize his innovation and creativity in the classroom. Buehler, a science teacher at Yorktown High School, was nominated by YHS principal Stacey Brewer for his commitment as an educator to push himself, his students, and his colleagues, to continue to learn and grow every day.

“

Mr. Buehler embraces the enormous impact he has on students. He is always seeking outside opportunities for our students to apply their content knowledge and curiosity to real life concerns.”

Legacy is a publication of The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County, Inc.

MEMORIALS AND HONORARIUMS

The following individuals were remembered or honored through gifts to The Community Foundation from June 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020.

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Ben Buehler captures the attention of his science students in his classroom.

- Stacey Brewer, Yorktown High School Principal

Honorariums

Greg Hill

Nancy Galliher

Kathleen Kiefer Keil

Rex Goen

JB Macon

Andrew Stratton

David Middleton

Memorials

Dr. John Reno

Christy Bilby

Steve Robert

Patricia and Franklyn Brinkman

Tom Schnuck

Adam Cline

Kay Snider

George and Martha Fisher

Carolyn Starnes

Muggs Gooden

Jim Warrner

John Haack

Tommie Jo Wright

Ellen Finan

Dr. Lathrop P. Johnson

Linda S. Gregory

Susan Land

Stefanie Onieal

Sudha Mehta Jane Peterson

Tiny Adams

Mary U. Rhorer

Patrick Botts

Elizabeth (Betsy) Roos

Patricia Callard

Dixie Smith

Molly Day

Barbara Sparenberg

George Floyd

Wanda M. Strauch

Zachary Greenwalt

Gary Wooten

The Foundation sincerely appreciates all of its donors and the valuable support they provide. All contributors are recognized in our Annual Report.

GIVE BY MAIL

GIVE ONLINE

Send your donation to P.O. Box 807, Muncie, IN 47308

Visit cfmdin.org to make your donation

WELCOME NEW ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

The Community Foundation is pleased to welcome JoAnna Darda as administrative assistant. JoAnna holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from Herron School of Art & Design in Indianapolis, where she studied fine arts, art history, and sociology. Her favorite thing about Muncie is its robust community of passionate, engaged, and creative citizens, friends, and neighbors.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Carol E. Seals, Chair Trent Dowling, Vice Chair Gary Thomas, Secretary Magi Kirkpatrick Sikora, Treasurer

ADVISORY BOARD Judy Benken Chris Caldwell Chris Day Mark A. Ervin Jaime Faulkner Ronald K. Fauquher Molly Flodder

PAST CHAIRS Stefan S. Anderson Jack E. Buckles Wilbur R. Davis Mark A. Ervin Ronald K. Fauquher Suzanne Gresham Jeffrey R. Lang John D. Littler Steven M. Smith Charles V. Sursa David Sursa, deceased Marianne Vorhees

Ermalene Faulkner Sara Shade Hamilton Dave Heeter Casey Stanley Kathy White

Michael B. Galliher Keith Gary Mark K. Hardwick Tom Heck David W. Heeter Thomas J. Kinghorn Jeffrey R. Lang

STAFF

John D. Littler Chris Miller Jon Moll Daniel Stallings Marianne Vorhees Leland C. Wilhoite Betty Wingrove

Kelly K. Shrock, President Marcy Minton, Senior Program Officer Kallie Sulanke, Community Engagement Officer Carly Acree - King, Program Officer Amy Tuttle, Communications Administrator JoAnna Darda, Administrative Assistant

PROFESSIONAL COUNCIL Catharine P. Stewart, Financial Counsel Steven D. Murphy, Legal Counsel