Brownsburg Magazine May 2023

WHEEL MAN

TONY STEWART SHOWS NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN

DRIVING CHANGE Meals on Wheels of Hendricks County Turns 50

NOT YOUR USUAL SUMMER BUCKET LIST

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THE HEALING POWER OF YOGA

LOCAL WOMAN BRINGS YOGA TO TEENS TO INSPIRE SELF-CONFIDENCE, RESILIENCY & PEACE

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

The first thing people say to Alli Louthain when they hear she teaches yoga is, “I’m not flexible enough to do yoga!” The truth is that anyone can practice yoga—and will invariably improve over time.

“If your coach tells you to lift weights, you wouldn’t say, ‘I’m not strong enough to lift weights,’” Louthain says. “Strength comes from lifting the weight. Flexibility comes from doing the yoga.”

Louthain has been a yoga teacher for more than two decades, having taught all over Hendricks County and the Indianapolis area. She has also lead family yoga at Monumental Yoga, the largest annual yoga event held every June on Monument Circle.

In September 2021, Louthain felt a tug in her heart to pray about who, specifically, she should be impacting with her yoga prowess. Soon thereafter, she experienced an a-ha moment.

“I’ve been working with teens for years and have done yoga in schools, so when God made it clear that I’m supposed to be targeting this specific niche, that made sense,” Louthain says.

When a friend’s 18-year-old son, Jesse, died by suicide, Louthain’s mission came into sharper focus.

“My friend told me that her son had recently gotten into yoga and mindful meditation, both of which brought him so much peace,” Louthain says. “She said that it was where he felt confident, but she felt like he found it a little too late.”

That’s when Louthain vowed to introduce yoga to teens in hopes of helping them work on their mental health and wellness by feeling grounded, peaceful and hopeful. In February of 2022, she launched Isha Warriors. Isha is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘ruling god or goddess; one who protects.’ Louthain wanted everyone who practices yoga to own their story and feel protected in their space.

When it comes to life, there is no quick fix. Just as you can’t take one pill to forever repair an ailment, a session of yoga will not magically correct your problems. However, Louthain encourages people to give yoga at least five chances before writing it off. For one thing, there are so many kinds of yoga (vinyasa, slow flow, chair and yin, to name a few). The type you choose may depend on your fitness level or goal. The key to seeing change (physically, mentally

and emotionally) is to practice yoga consistently.

“If you don’t love yoga, you’ve not met the right yoga yet!” Louthain says. She has done a whole yoga series for teen athletes, most of whom had never practiced before. Afterwards, the consensus was that they felt much better.

“There’s a release with yoga that’s like taking a heavy backpack off your shoulders,” Louthain says. “Yoga shows teens what it feels like to be relaxed, to be unplugged,

and to be focused on one’s own body and mind rather than on a teacher, coach, friend, or social media person. Practicing listening to your own self is huge.”

Louthain has friends who have lost children, siblings, spouses and other family members to suicide.

“I think people feel so alone, and I want people to know that they are not alone,” Louthain says. This is why she started an annual event, which takes place in September during National

Suicide Prevention Week. The two-hour evening event, which is called Not Alone, incorporates a beginner yoga class, teen speakers who have lost a loved one to suicide and a lantern lighting ceremony in which attendees float their lanterns out onto the pond at Washington Township Park.

“I wanted to do it locally right here in Hendricks County so that people could make those human connections in person,” Louthain says.

Almost 40 people came to the 2022 event— all survivors of a suicide loss. One of Jesse’s friends attended and brought along some of his buddies. A grandmother came and lit a lantern for her son, who died in the 1980s. She told Louthain that she was grateful for this event because 40 years ago suicide was a taboo subject that no one discussed. She told Louthain that she hopes to see this event and more like it in the future. Louthain promises that she will host the Not Alone event every September. The event this year will take place on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. It will be held at the Washington Township Park outdoor pavilion.

Louthain also hosts a worldwide weekly podcast called Monday Mindset with Isha Warriors. It’s all about creating a positive mental mindset for the week. In one of her podcasts, Louthain discusses ways yoga helps teens with anxiety and depression (though the tips apply to all ages).

“Yoga helps us feel and process emotions,” Louthain says. “It’s a safe space to be vulnerable.”

In an interview she did about suicide awareness, she spoke to a teen whose brother had taken his life three years ago. She was real about how hard it was to heal from that loss, but she shared that one can be both shattered and beautiful—like a mosaic.

“If you’re a survivor, your dreams are shattered, but through the brokenness, you learn to see life in a different way,” Louthain says. “Following heartbreak, one can still go on to live an awe-inspiring life.”

Every yoga session focuses on breathing because breathing is the fastest way to connect with your emotions. This is why yoga is a great activity for anyone who is struggling to regulate their feelings. Last year, Louthain began practicing yoga with a 13-year-old with a great heart but a short fuse.

“His parents came to me because he

kept getting into fights and got expelled from school,” Louthain says. “He’s on the spectrum. He’s very high ability, but he feels kind of broken. He doesn’t know how to connect with other people because he feels threatened so we do breathing exercises. He feels he can be completely himself when he’s in this space with me. It’s a place of acceptance and confidence.”

After several weeks of yoga, his parents began to see a difference in their son. Not only had his anger diminished but his self-confidence had grown. The incorporation of yoga is the only thing that changed in his life.

“This is why I want to shout from the rooftops, telling principals and athletic directors, that if you want to see less fighting in your school, bring more yoga into your school,” Louthain says. “When kids feel like they have worth and are loved for exactly who they are, inner confidence and inner peace follow.”

If you’d like to sponsor a teenager to become a member of Isha Warriors so that they can work to develop compassion, self-confidence, and resiliency, visit ishawarriors.com.

Alli Louthain

WHEEL MAN

TONY STEWART SHOWS NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN

Writer / Melissa Gibson

Photographer / SRX/Wayne Riegle, Mark Rebilas, Scott Hunter & Jason Zindroski

He retired from NASCAR in 2016, but Tony Stewart hasn’t slowed down.

What began with racing go-karts 44 years ago led to a record-breaking career, with 12 driving championships including four United States Auto Club wins, a win in the IndyCar Series and three wins in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Stewart is the first and only driver to win championships in stock cars, Indy cars, and open-wheel midget, sprint and Silver Crown cars. His three NASCAR Cup Series wins make him one of 16 drivers who have taken home multiple titles.

“I’m in a unique scenario compared to most because of all the different types of cars I’ve driven,” Stewart says. “Literally, when we’re in town it doesn’t matter who I meet - if they’re talking about motorsports, I know at least a little bit about what they’re talking about.”

When asked about his shining moment, what memory sticks out the most, Stewart struggles with an answer.

“There are go-kart races that meant everything to me to this day, and I’ve ran everything in between,” Stewart says. “It’s almost easier to pick a moment in every type of car I’ve driven. When I think about it though, the trophy’s meant a lot, but the big picture is all the cool people I’ve met along the way.”

In 2000, Stewart formed Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) and moved into a stateof-the-art, 25,000-square-foot facility in Brownsburg. Since its inaugural season, TSR has won 27 owner championships. In 2004, Stewart purchased Eldora Speedway, a half-mile dirt oval, hosting 2013’s first-ever stop by the NASCAR Truck Series.

He’s hands-on every step of the way, and finds himself enjoying Brownsburg in a way many haven’t experienced.

“I’m good friends with Bill Simpson of Simpson Performance Products, and he worked with Brownsburg to get racers off of Gasoline Alley in Speedway and make the move to Brownsburg,” Stewart says. “I

love it out there. On our street, we’ve got six different organizations with [National Hot Rod Association] teams. There’s sports car programs, parts builders and more on one street. A lot of times we can walk a couple of blocks and pick up parts. It’s great for your business and makes it easier to operate. Brownsburg has really embraced our community.”

In 2021, Stewart announced he would tackle the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) world with two full-time entries. The team includes Matt Hagan in Funny Car and Stewart’s wife, Leah Pruett, in Top Fuel.

While Stewart had some experience with the NHRA, it wasn’t until he began dating Pruett that he truly took notice.

“I started going to her events and I enjoyed learning about it,” he says. “I always tell people that all of the other forms of motorsports are related, but NHRA are kind of off on their own island.”

Stewart says the differences are so vast, he found it rejuvenating and exciting. “It was different than what I was used to, and a totally different atmosphere,” he says.

For the man who raced the Indianapolis 500, jumped on a plane, and raced the Charlotte Coca-Cola 600 in the same day (Stewart’s 2001 attempt stands as the best combined result, finishing sixth at Indianapolis and third at Charlotte), watching NHRA drivers go home five minutes into the event was a drastic change.

“You can be the first pair of cars and drivers to go out, and in five minutes pack up your stuff and go home,” Stewart says. “In drag racing, you can be out on the first run and your weekend is over. In Daytona or Indy 500, this is going to be a three-and-a-halfhour race.”

With only one NHRA season under his belt, the process has been a whirlwind, but the team is beginning to catch their stride.

“Two years ago, Leah and I got married, we spent two days on a honeymoon, and then headed to Brownsburg to live in a motor home for 58 days at the shop,” Stewart says. “We bought the Funny Car from Don Schumacher and had enough pieces to build

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There were a lot of growing pains that first year, a lot of learning and growing, but we were in the playoffs till the end.” Stewart was impressed by the commitment and dedication from his team.

“With only 58 days to prepare, there were a lot of long hours,” he says. “The team was there from 7 a.m. till after midnight most of those 58 days. The wives and girlfriends were bringing dinner to the guys and the community just rallied.”

Ultimately, Hagan finished in third place and Pruett finished 11th in the 2022 season, and they are gearing up to do it again.

“It’s remarkable how dedicated the fans are,” Stewart says. “They are so dedicated to what we do and they’re following our race teams. There’s been a lot of crossover.

I’ve seen fans that were with me in NASCAR and are now watching NHRA races.”

Leah’s car from scratch.

You may think he’s watching from the sidelines in the NHRA, but don’t count Stewart out of the driver’s seat just yet. He’s continued to compete in the SRX series and has been running sprint cars for the past two years. In addition, Stewart made his debut driving for McPhillips Racing in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series in Las Vegas last October.

He won the first two elimination rounds in his Mobil 1 Top Alcohol Dragster, qualifying as the two seed, ultimately finishing second by two ten-thousandths of a second - just one inch short of the win.

The debut proved to be so exhilarating that Stewart announced in mid-February that he would be joining McPhillips Racing for the entire 2023 NHRA season.

He’s been a lifelong member of the motorsports family and doesn’t expect to leave any time soon.

“I’m proud to be a part of it,” he says. “I’ve been involved in motorsports since I was 8 and I think I’ll be here till the day I die. This community is a huge family and it’s great to work among your peers, with our shops next door to each other. We race hard, but in the end we all get along. I’m proud of our roots in Brownsburg and what the town has done for the motorsports industry.”

In 2003, Stewart formed the Tony Stewart Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, raising funds to support chronically ill and physically disabled children, animals that are endangered or at risk, and drivers injured in the sport of motor racing. To date, they’ve donated over $7 million to organizations serving these missions. Visit tonystewart.com to follow TSR and their entire racing schedule.

DON’T LET HIP OR KNEE PAIN HOLD YOU BACK THIS SUMMER

Writer / Dr. Michael Gabbard, Orthopedic Surgeon at IU Health West Hospital Photography Provided

By May, most of us are ready to shake off the winter blues and enjoy outdoor activities. Don’t let hip or knee pain slow you down this summer. Here are some common hip and knee conditions, ways to alleviate pain and maintain joint health, as well as signs that you may want to consult your doctor.

COMMON HIP AND KNEE CONDITIONS, AND TREATMENT

Common hip and knee conditions include tendonitis, bursitis and osteoarthritis. Tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons, the thick bands of tissue that attach bones to muscles. This often results from overuse of a tendon during activities. Bursitis is inflammation of the small, fluid-filled sacs, called bursae, that cushion and protect muscles and tendons. This can be caused by repetitive activities that overwork or irritate the joint. Osteoarthritis is when cartilage, the smooth lining of the joint, wears down over time from activity and aging.

Each of these conditions can result in pain, swelling and/or stiffness about the joints. These symptoms can cause difficulty with many

activities people enjoy and can even start to cause problems with regular, everyday activities.

Common ways to alleviate the pain from these conditions are rest, ice, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercise programs. You can also take over-the-counter arthritis and anti-inflammatory medications, or apply topical pain creams and gels. If these are not working, your doctor may recommend physical therapy or injections as a next step. These treatments, alone or in combination, often provide very good pain relief for many patients.

WHEN YOU SHOULD SEE YOUR DOCTOR

If you are feeling hip or knee pain that is not improving and is interfering with your activity, it is time to consult your doctor for evaluation and to discuss options. They will work with you to identify the condition you are dealing with, and to discuss what additional options might be best for you. Most tendonitis and bursitis can be improved with the above treatments, and rarely require surgery.

In the case of osteoarthritis, if it is severe and symptoms are not improving with nonsurgical treatments, some patients may elect to have a joint replacement surgery. Your doctor will help you decide if this may be the right choice for you.

Writer / KJ McGlinn Photography Provided

It was more than 10 years ago when PopCon co-owner Carl Doninger and a few close friends had the idea to create not just another convention, but an experience unlike any other. This experience would immerse attendees in familiar pop culture while introducing them to new, exciting experiences.

Doninger had a passion for tabletop gaming while some of his friends loved comic books and another with a passion for the show “My Little Pony.” A few just loved popular TV shows and creators on YouTube. What the group realized was every person in their life had a passion that fell under the pop culture category, but not everyone had a place to gather and celebrate that passion.

Soon, Doninger was joined by co-owner Kris Keys. “I thought it was a cool opportunity to plan an event that was a little different than other conventions out there,” Keys says.

The first PopCon was held in Indianapolis in June of 2014. Nine different pop culture genres were represented from movies and TV, to comics and anime and

INDIANAPOLIS POPCON IS THE CONVERGENCE OF ALL THINGS POP CULTURE

to eSports and tabletop gaming. Now, 10 years later, PopCon is a tradition for friends and family alike in Indianapolis and an annual trip for many people from around the world. Each year, more than 30,000 people attend PopCon.

“Once you fall into our universe, you are welcomed and immediately feel like you are part of something bigger. Friends are made and cultivated. Annual reunions are organized,” Doninger says.

While the term ‘comic con’ is something you’ve most likely heard, PopCon is not a comic convention. You will certainly find comic books and people in cosplay--hat is part of the fun. But, you’ll also find a fully immersive world of pop culture.

“Most importantly, you’ll also find a family,” says Doninger. “I love seeing the previously oblivious parents thrilled to see their kids in their element, and then realize that they love PopCon too.”

As an attendee of PopCon, not only does the event promise a welcoming atmosphere but also the opportunity to try escape rooms, virtual reality, laser tag, tabletop gaming and video gaming.

Celebrities that have already been announced this year include Patrick Warburton (“Rules of Engagement,” ”Seinfeld”), James Marsters (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Torchwood”) and Michelle Gomez (“Doctor Who,” “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”). Voice actors from popular anime shows like “My Hero Academia” and “Attack on Titan” will also be in attendance. The

convention is a favorite among anime fans.

For parents who may not know anything about the anime that their children love, it is a place for them to bond, learn and share the excitement.

“It’s special when that parent that drove more than 12 hours to bring their child to

meet someone at PopCon, realizes there are 100 other parents that did the same thing,” Doninger says.

If you’ve often thought a comic con might not be your thing, the duo invites you to come to their event where they assure you that PopCon will become “your thing.” Walk through the vendor hall full of artists and creators. Sit down

and try a board game or take the young kids to the Lego display that is bigger than a basketball court.

Simply put: If you’re passionate about it, you’ll find it at PopCon.

Tickets for the 10th annual PopCon Indy happening August 25th-August 27th are on sale at popcon.us.

DRIVING CHANGE

MEALS ON WHEELS OF HENDRICKS COUNTY TURNS 50

Writer / Melissa Gibson

Photography Provided

Meals on Wheels of Hendricks County (MOW) will celebrate 50 years in 2023.

Since 1973, the Hendricks County chapter of MOW has been serving nutritious, hot meals to those in the county in need of a little extra assistance.

Chances are, you’ve heard of the organization and you know they deliver food. However, the service provided is so much more.

What began as three routes, delivering meals to 10 residents in the early 1970s, has become a system of 11 routes serving 140 residents at a minimum.

“Our primary mission is to deliver hot and nutritious meals to clients throughout Hendricks County,” says Sabrina Cordon, executive director. “However, many people think of us as serving seniors and don’t realize we also serve clients with disabilities, those who are homebound, and those with chronic illness.”

In addition to hot meals, volunteers also provide wellness checks and human connection.

Tom Stempson is vice president for the MOW board and has volunteered for more than four years.

“After retirement, my wife began volunteering and she got me into it,” he says. “I thought it was just great. I began to pick routes and we’d go together. I liked a couple of things. I really like to drive and the routes would take me to places in the county I didn’t even know existed. Secondly, I’d watch as this person struggled to get to the door to pick up their food. You help them out, find out what their needs are, and it occurs to you that this is probably the only human contact these folks have had all day.”

Cordon has watched as volunteers have formed friendships with their clients, exchanged numbers and checked in with each other.

“Many of our volunteers have been driving for years and our clients are so appreciative, and to see someone come to their door with a smile really brightens their day,” Cordon says. “Tom always says, ‘It’s impossible to be in a bad mood when delivering for Meals on Wheels.’” In the midst of the pandemic, MOW saw a huge need and answered the call.

“2022 was a record year for us,” Cordon says. “We served 32,500 meals to just under 300 clients and we have the capacity to accept new clients today.”

The meals are prepared by Hendricks Regional Health, and overseen by the nutrition and dietician department. The cost is minimal, paid for by funding through CICOA, Medicaid, or the client if they don’t qualify.

“We’re not making a profit,” Cordon says. “The meal costs $7.75 and we charge $5.50, covering some of the cost with grants and donations. Like any nonprofit, we’re always looking for new donors and support.”

In addition to funds and delivering food, MOW offers several other ways the community can help.

The nonprofit partners with Misty Eyes Animal Center to provide pet food for clients with four-legged friends. Donations to Misty Eyes furthers that mission.

Birthday bags are assembled to celebrate with each client. They include a handwritten birthday card and a few personalized items. MOW collects small notebooks, chapstick, travel-sized lotions, pens, puzzle books, magnets and more, to add to the birthday gift.

Along with the hot meal that is delivered, clients receive a cold side and beverage packaged in a lunch bag.

“We have school groups and service groups that decorate brown paper lunch sacks for the holidays or a client’s birthday,” Cordon says. “It’s just another nice thing that brightens their day. We also offer opportunities with our pen-pal program and connection calls - simply checking in with clients to see how things are going.”

The checking in provides relationship building between volunteers and clients, but also security for family members who may be working full time or not live locally. It’s a relief to those caring for an elderly loved one or someone in need that MOW is there to assist.

CONFIDENCE TO SOAR

“Before I joined the board, I was told we were looking for people with various backgrounds and experiences to join,” Stempson says. “I changed that and said we want to make a policy that says to be on the board, you have to drive for three months before being considered. You need to understand what this is and what it takes. I don’t want to know where your head is, I want to know where your heart is.”

As more and more of the aging population chooses to live independently longer and stay at home, services like MOW are becoming more prevalent and needed within the community. Stempson says for some, there’s a bit of a stigma or resistance when it comes to asking for help.

“It’s difficult to admit when you need help, but I’m surprised we don’t have more clients because we could do more,” Stempson says. “What I’ve found is once you give it a try, you want to stay.”

It’s also a goal of the organization to remind the community that they are still here and still working hard.

In the past few years, Cordon has worked to increase outreach and fundraising efforts, attending public events in hopes of reaching a neighbor or family friend who may benefit from the service.

Stempson says MOW will set up a farmers market booth and often hear the light bulb go off in someone’s memory.

“They say, ‘Grandma and grandpa were on Meals on Wheels,’” Stempson says. “It’s like everyone knows us, but it’s so common it’s often forgotten.”

To deliver the meals, it takes 55 volunteers each week with a growing need for more.

“There is a brief [volunteer] online application and then I schedule an online orientation that takes about 30 minutes,” Cordon says. “We do background checks on all of the volunteers and we ask that people drive at least one route per month. We have some volunteers driving three times per week, so the more the merrier.”

For the current MOW volunteer family, they’ll celebrate their 50th anniversary on April 26 with an open-house celebration. There will be appetizers, light refreshments, a slide show of historical photos and more.

“I would love to see more drivers and more clients signing up,” Stempson says. “We have our 50th coming up and we’ll be around for another 50 more, I’m sure. As long as I can lift a container, I’m going to continue to do it.”

For more information or to sign up to volunteer, visit hcmealsonwheels.org.

HENDRICKS COUNTY BANK AND TRUST COMPANY NAMED AN IBA FIVE STAR MEMBER

Writer / Melissa Yetter Photography Provided

Hendricks County Bank has been honored as a Five Star Member of the Indiana Bankers Association (IBA). The award was recently presented by Rod Lasley, IBA chief operating officer, in recognition of the bank’s IBA involvement throughout 2022.

The Five Star Member designation recognizes those IBA-member banks that demonstrate outstanding commitment to the IBA in five areas - political awareness, issues advocacy, lifelong learning, IBA volunteerism, and Preferred Service Provider utilization.

“We very much appreciate the dedication of Hendricks County Bank and Trust Company as a Five Star Member bank,” says Amber Van Til, IBA president and CEO.

“Our association is strong, thanks to our supportive members.”

The IBA supports Indiana banking through issues analysis, professional education, and products and services that enhance member banks’ ability to serve their communities.

Founded in 1908, Hendricks County Bank and Trust Company has been locally owned and operated for 115 years. With five locations in the county, Hendricks County Bank provides outstanding customer service along with the latest technology and innovative products. The bank’s employees, from the president and board members to the customer service representatives, live in Hendricks County, and understand the local economy and the areas that are served.

Visit the bank’s website at hendrickscountybank.com for more details.

5-Star Award Presentation

NOT YOUR USUAL SUMMER BUCKET LIST

Writer / Claire-Anne Aikman Photography Provided

Two things that are true about me: I love a good road trip (they help me recharge), but I do not always have the calendar space to allow for time to make a long trip happen.

This made me ponder some fast travel (travel that can be done in a couple of hours) to destinations that I want to visit or revisit. Maybe these fast trips will recharge you as well.

WITH THAT IN MIND, HERE IS 2023’S SUMMER BUCKET LIST OF UNCOMMON STOPS:

• Bluespring Caverns, Bedford

• Nick’s Kitchen (home of the tenderloin), Huntington

• National Auto & Truck Museum, Auburn

• Studebaker National Museum, South Bend

• Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum, Elkhart

• Fort Ouiatenon, West Lafayette

• Rotary Jail Museum, Crawfordsville

• Museum of Miniature Houses and Other Collections, Carmel

• Indiana Medical History Museum, Indianapolis

• Harmonist Labyrinth, New Harmony

• Seiberling Mansion, Kokomo

• Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, Indianapolis

• Antique Fan Museum, Zionsville

• Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, Indianapolis

• Madam C.J. Walker History and Heritage Museum, Indianapolis

• Levi and Catharine Coffin House, Fountain City

• Oinking Acres, Brownsburg

• Nine Lives Cat Café, Indianapolis

• Root Beer Ranking Ride: Dog n Suds (Lafayette), Triple XXX Family Restaurant (West Lafayette), Mug n Bun (Indy)

• Garfield Park Conservatory, Indianapolis

Maybe we’ll bump into each other while exploring Indiana!

Claire-Anne is a west side realtor helping people make Hendricks County their home. You can reach her at 317-345-6640 or thepointinrealestate@gmail.com

Staying Active

Jessica Ledford Is Pumped for the Future of the YMCA

be safe and she started volunteering on teen night. I met the director and started working as a sports site supervisor.”

government system,” she says. “We spent the weekend at the state house and really walked through the process.”

Jessica Ledford has been working at the YMCA since she was a teen.

“When I was going into high school, my brother, mother and I moved to a different neighborhood and my brother started playing basketball at the Y,” Ledford says. “Mom wanted her kids to

Even as a teen, Ledford took classes offered at the Y and began developing her leadership skills.

“I took a youth-in-government program that teaches young people about the

She continued working at the YMCA in a variety of departments, from membership to marketing, throughout high school and college.

“In 2011, when the Hendricks Regional

Writer / Melissa Gibson

Photographer / ASH Interactive & Amy Payne

Health (HRH) YMCA was being built in 2011, I became the member involvement director under Mary Beth Carmichael’s leadership for 11 years,” Ledford says. In the winter of 2022, she was named district vice president and executive director of the Avon location.

Just as the Y was there for Ledford’s family, she’s glad to be a part of the community service for others.

“The Y has something for everyone,” she says. “We want to meet people where they are and really provide wrap-around service for the entire family. We want to create a space for interaction and dialogue, and I’m excited about the development in Hendricks County and the community as a whole.”

Having first joined the Avon location in 2011, Ledford has watched the community grow around the facility, from new businesses to housing.

“Development can be challenging, but we see it as an opportunity,” she says. “Our demographics are changing in Hendricks County and I love the idea that someone going to Costco might see us over here and stop by. We’re a place where people can connect.”

The HRH YMCA offers swim lessons, water fitness, lap swimming, a variety of sports programs from leagues to free gym time for basketball and pickleball, and programming for active older adults, to promote senior education and socialization.

Classes range from taekwondo to tumbling, but families with children learn the Y isn’t just for taking gymnastics. It’s so much more.

The Play & Learn/Kids Zone allows adults to drop off their children aged six weeks to 12 years, so they can join a workout or lifestyle class. The Early Learning Center is a licensed early-learning program for children aged 3 to 5.

In addition, summer day camps are available for children aged 5 to 15, and a preschool

camp is available for children aged 3 to 5.

The YMCA also offers educational classes for those with questions or dealing with specific health issues.

In addition to the specialized program for cancer survivors, attendees can learn more about risk factors for diabetes and prediabetes, monitoring blood pressure, and even healthy eating choices.

While there are plenty of opportunities for every age, if Ledford had to choose one to get plugged in, it would be a group exercise class.

“Our group exercise classes have a variety of options, but it’s also an opportunity for small community connections,” Ledford says. “You have an instructor there to welcome you and show you the ropes. It gives you a sense of comfort and connection right away, and it’s a smaller space. As you start your journey, we want to get you plugged in so it’s not overwhelming.”

Exercise classes include cardio, strength, dance and cycling, with the option of engaging with a certified personal trainer or small-group training session.

In her new role, Ledford has plenty of plans for the future.

Coming out of the pandemic, the YMCA team saw a need for reimagining their work, reassessing the needs of individuals in the community and extending their reach.

“The Hendricks County Community Foundation recently released the 2022 Needs Assessment and we’re looking at that and how we fit in,” she says. “We serve a little over 8,000 people right now and I want to see that increase. We have a great facility but I also envision us finding solutions, being a part of the conversation and elevating the voices of the community. I would love for us to find ways to reach out beyond the facility to support and serve those moving in the community outside of this building.”

One way to extend the reach is to make the

2022 Gobble Gallop

Jessica presenting 2022 Volunteer of the Year award to Tracy Whetstone

Y affordable for everyone.

The YMCA is a nonprofit organization and depends on donations and fundraising, to support programming and those who may not be able to access programs without assistance.

“Last year we raised $217,000 and gave almost double that away to the community,” Ledford says. “We never want to turn anyone away and we want to offer subsidized programs like Livestrong YMCA.

This is a 14-week program for cancer survivors as they walk through that journey.”

They offer opportunities throughout the year to join the community and support their mission.

Mark your calendars for the Cycle-a-Thon on May 19 and 20.

Sign up to cycle on a stationary bike for one hour or more on Friday or Saturday to raise funds for the HRH YMCA. Ledford says each session includes fun themes and a special play list to accompany the cycling. In addition, they will host a first-responder ride, encouraging first responders to get involved at no cost to them, thanks to a special donor.

In addition, the annual Golf Outing is scheduled for October 2 and the popular Gobble Gallop event will be held on November 23.

Ledford is excited to see what the future holds. Though she expected to use her degree in psychology, she found more than she planned for at the Y.

“What I wanted to do was help people,” Ledford says. “What I’ve found is the Y gives me those opportunities to do that in a number of ways. There’s just something about the Y. It’s fulfilled me in a way I had no idea.”

For more information, visit indymca.org/ hendricks-regional-health.