JULY 2019
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Joy. Confidence. Freedom.
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COMPASS CARES: COMPASS REALTY REPAIRS HOMES FOR LOCAL FAMILIES IN NEED Roof repairs, yardwork, plumbing, electrical work and other projects free for deserving families. It sounds too good to be true, but Compass Realty makes it happen, just like they make home ownership dreams come true.
8 Making the Call: Steve Woods
Prepares For Third Season As An NFl Official
12 The Combined Giving Power of
100+ Women Who Care: How One Johnson County Women’s Organization Is Making a Difference
20 Compass Cares: Compass Realty
Repairs Homes For Local Families In Need
24 My Sugar Pie Celebrates Grand
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16 Smashing the Competition: Center 28 Pizza With a Purpose: Local Couple Grove Resident Wins Table Tennis State Championship
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CENTER GROVE MAGAZINE JULY 2019
Steve Woods Prepares For Third Season As An NFL Official Writer / Jon Shoulders Photographer / JWcreative.indy
Greenwood. “It’s crazy how one question changes the entire trajectory of your life.”
Throughout the upcoming NFL season, Johnson County residents will be able to watch one of their own on the field. It won’t be a player, however. Rather, it’s one of the officials who works diligently to keep each and every game running smoothly.
Woods promptly got busy learning his new craft at local bantam leagues, eventually calling high school and small college games. In 2008, a new challenge came when he was hired into the Mid-American Conference and found himself officiating at the Division I collegiate level. By 2012, the Big Ten conference had officially brought him on board.
Steve Woods, a native and resident of Franklin, is now in his third season as an NFL official, having started his journey in football officiating 20 years ago.
Woods says officiating at the college level requires a high level of dedication in many respects.
After graduating from Wabash College, where he played football and studied English and philosophy, Woods took a job with a sports marketing company that eventually brought him to Dallas in the early 1990s. During a workout class at his local athletic club, one of his fellow exercisers asked if he’d ever considered officiating football games.
“In order to get noticed for college conference officiating, you have to attend clinics that require a financial commitment on your part - I went to clinics in Michigan, Ohio and California,” he says. “And on top of that, you’re working college scrimmages, sometimes for free, just to get noticed. It’s just the way you have to do it.”
“I didn’t even know how people get started in officiating, but it got my interest going enough to look into it,” says Woods, who works as a financial advisor with Raymond James in
In 2015, Woods was invited to participate in the National Football League’s Officiating Development Program, which gives college-level officials exposure to the NFL officiating
8 / CENTER GROVE MAGAZINE / JULY 2019 / atCenterGrove.com
experience. Invitees attend meetings and study game film with NFL officials and participate in NFL training camps and minicamps. “It’s the pool of candidates that the NFL hires from, so getting into that was another rung in the ladder,” Woods says. “There’s no guarantee that you’ll get in, but you’re a step closer.” Throughout 2015 and 2016, while continuing to officiate at the collegiate level, Woods worked a Philadelphia-Baltimore matchup that happened to be Tim Tebow’s last pro game. In the spring of 2017, he got a phone call that he describes as “surreal”. “I got a call from (former NFL vice president of officiating) Dean Blandino, and he said they’d like to hire me,” Woods says. “It was absolutely nuts. I still have a screenshot of the call - it was April 24 at 3:09 p.m. Then I spent some time calling everyone who had helped me out, which was great.” Woods’ current official position is umpire, which involves standing behind the offensive line to keep an eye on blocks, as well as observing the line of scrimmage during pass plays. Preparation is the name of the NFL officiating game - Woods’ prep for each game starts immediately after the previous week’s game during his flight home when he reviews the game film. The following day he continues analyzing film from multiple
angles and receives a grade on his previous game performance. “The supervisors will ask us questions about particular plays, and we get graded on every minute of every game,” Woods says. “On Wednesday we get our final grades, receive our weekly quiz, watch training tapes, and by Thursday and Friday we’re watching film on the next team. So by the time game day hits, you’re done preparing. The game itself is the best part of the week.” Woods says his direct experience with players throughout his first two seasons has been surprisingly altercation-free. “I won’t name any names, but some of the guys with the worst reputations are actually the nicest,” he says. “You’re going to get yelled at once in a while and tempers are going to flare, but it’s our job to always keep our cool and be the adults out there.” In July, Woods will find out which preseason games he’ll work, and he looks forward to his third season this fall with relish and appreciation for how far he’s come. “You’ve got to put in the work, and you can’t cheat the grind,” he says. “As much as I’m in the limelight now and hear people say how they’d love to do what I’m doing, there aren’t many people who want to go and get their hands dirty and do the heavy lifting. But it’s what you have to do.
9 / CENTER GROVE MAGAZINE / JULY 2019 / atCenterGrove.com
THE FUTURE IS IN SIGHT
Our vision for the future of health care in Johnson County is about to become reality. Soon we’ll be opening a new state-of-the-art emergency department and outpatient services building, totally reshaping the east side of our Franklin campus. It’s a patient-focused future, with shorter wait times, easier access and the compassionate care you’ve come to expect from Johnson County’s only full-service hospital.
The future is in sight, and our vision is 2020.
10 / CENTER GROVE MAGAZINE / JULY 2019 / atCenterGrove.com
1675 W. Smith Valley Road C-1 Greenwood, IN 46142
317.886.7744
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The Combined Giving Power of 100+ Women Who Care How One Johnson County Women’s Organization Is Making a Difference Writer / Lynda Hedberg Thies Photography Provided
In our busy lives, we often don’t think we have the time to volunteer. While we want to help those in need, sometimes we just don’t know what organizations to give to or if our donation will even make a difference. There is one organization, 100+ Women Who Care Johnson County, that allows
you to commit only one hour every 90 days. It also allows you to network, meet other women, and learn about nonprofit organizations in your community. Even better, it lets you know that 100% of your donation will go to a local charity. The group was founded by Carol Phipps, the director of Interchurch Food Pantry. Phipps was involved in a chapter of 100+ Women Who Care in Edgar County in Illinois. She enjoyed its mission so much 12 / CENTER GROVE MAGAZINE / JULY 2019 / atCenterGrove.com
that she wanted to bring it to Johnson County. In December 2015, she collaborated with Dorcus Abplanalp, Cheryl Morphew and Gail Richards to form the group through the Johnson County Community Foundation. The current steering committee chair, Ro Umbargar, has also been involved since the beginning. The group invited everyone in their circle
of influence to a kickoff luncheon in December 2015. At the first meeting in February 2016, the group boasted 48 members and awarded its first “nostrings-attached” grant of $4800. Phipps notes that you do not have to live in the county that the group is formed in.
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The first recipient was the Interchurch Food Pantry and was nominated by a volunteer that had toured the facility (not Phipps) because of how impressed she was with the program. It just so happened that the heat went out the day the group met and the heating system needed to be replaced.
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Each quarter, the group learns about local charities that they might not otherwise know about and each donates a $100 check to the charity that the group selects. The donations leverage the individual contributions for a greater impact. The 100+ Women Who Care Johnson County group has grown to over 125 members, and to date has awarded more than $160,000 to 14 Johnson County nonprofits.
Over $1 billion in assets under management for clients.
She went on to say that she “is thrilled to see so many organizations that do such great work in Johnson County
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“It was such a surprise to have my organization nominated and to receive that grant was such a blessing because it was winter, so our organization could not have remained open until it was fixed,” Phipps says. 317-261-1900 | www.dmdcap.com | Indianapolis Not FDIC Insured – No Bank Guarantee – May Lose Value
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100+ Women Who Care Johnson County is a group of women who gather four times a year for a onehour meeting. Members are invited to nominate a nonprofit organization and three are randomly selected. The member that nominated them then presents information about the organization.
receive these awards. I know what a difference it can make.” While the group is all about supporting nonprofits and making a difference in the community, the organization has proven to be an efficient networking group. Many of the organizations have found volunteers and created connections that they otherwise might not have made. Member Sonya WareMeguiar, the Chief Executive Officer of Girls, Inc., knew about the organization because she knew the founding members. She says, “I love it because they run efficient meetings. We have some social time and then we get right down to
business and they start the meeting on time and end the meeting on time. There are a lot of new organizations that I have learned a lot about, so many worthwhile causes, visions and missions that other organizations are trying to get accomplished that I might never have known about if I had not been part of the group.”
The remaining meetings for 2019 are August 1 and November 7 from 5:306:30 p.m. There is a social time prior to the meeting at 4:45 p.m. Meetings are held at Garment Factory Events, 101 E. Wayne St., Franklin, Indiana. There is a $12.00 meeting fee that covers the cost of the room and refreshments (cash bar available). Interested guests are welcome to attend one of the meetings and only pay the $12 meeting fee.
In Johnson County alone, there are more than 200 nonprofit organizations that are engaged in serving those that live in the community. There are plenty of organizations that members can nominate. Once a recipient has been awarded the funds, they must wait two years before they can be nominated again.
If you would like to join 100+ Women Who Care Johnson County or learn more about the group, visit jccf. org/100-women or call 317-738-2213.
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Center Grove Resident Wins Table Tennis State Championship Writer / Matt Keating Photographer / Amy Payne
Paul Bhosle, who recently won the Table Tennis State Championship at the Table Tennis Club of Indianapolis, says hard work and perseverance led to his victory. “I had mixed emotions when I won,” Bhosle says. “I remembered I never thought it could happen a few years back. At the same time, I was excited and calm. I was thankful to God I made it through the Final Match.” Bhosle, a senior financial consultant with Anthem Inc., loves playing table tennis, a game that has gained a lot of popularity over the last few years. “It is a sport that can be played regardless of the weather,” Bhosle says. “I lost 15 pounds in four weeks when I started, so it is a great exercise. It is also good for mental health. Lastly, you don’t have to be a certain size or super fit to play table tennis. It can be played by almost everyone.” Bhosle also believes table tennis relieves stress. “Honestly, when I’m not playing in a tournament, it really relaxes me,” Bhosle says. “It’s good exercise, and it is a great skill to learn. It kind of feeds itself. The better I get, the more I realize how much I need to improve.” Bhosle just started playing a few years ago.
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“I began this journey in Summer 2016,” he says, “My workplace had just gotten a ping pong table, and they wanted me to play too, so I joined.”
P
Bhosle didn’t want to go back to the club, but something in him said to return. “Someone mentioned at that time that Tuesday nights were for beginners,” Bhosle says. “So I went on a Tuesday, and got slammed again! They had a coach there, though, who worked with me. The lowest division in that club, U1150, would easily beat most garage level players (ping pong that is). I was rated around 1080 back then – which is a very good garage level player.”
B
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exPerience You can Bank on.
Before that, Bhosle says he was a very decent garage/basement level player. “So, I soon looked up the Table Tennis Club of Indianapolis, which I had been to once over 13 years ago,” Bhosle says. “I went there all confident and got crushed.”
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Bhosle noted that if there is a 200-point difference in players, it is almost impossible to win, unless the upperrated player has a very bad day. “In the Fall 2016, they asked me to join the League! I lost 15 pounds in four weeks! It was really intense, and I wanted to quit. You have to be really fit and get into shape to play real Table Tennis.” So Bhosle started exercising more for joint support and footwork.
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“Studies have also shown it is very good for your brain,” he says. “After the League was done, to my surprise, I won a trophy in doubles in first place!” Bhosle became more motivated, and in 2017, he started winning many awards for either first place within his Division for singles and doubles, and as a team in whole. “I also practiced in my garage and hired a coach this year,” Bhosle says. “This spring, I decided to play in the State Championship, U1550. I played for four hours total, which includes a division above me, U1650, and lost in the semifinals. In the 1550 (my division), I played a total of four matches.” Bhosle says it was extremely challenging. “Table Tennis is like chess on steroids, and often you have only 1/4 of a second to respond to the spin and speed,” Bhosle says. “There is so much spin on the ball – you have to compensate for it quickly, without giving the opponent much chance to attack. It is mentally exhausting, and typically your mind is tired way before your body catches up.” Bhosle noted that a match is best of five. “Each game is 11 points and you have to win by two points,” Bhosle says. “I won the first two games against my opponent from Ft. Wayne. The third game I lost, as I played tentatively. And I sure didn’t want to go to the fifth game.” Right before the fourth game, Bhosle prayed and asked God for help. “I asked him for help mentally – meaning even though I don’t win, I want to play my best,” Bhosle says. “Something inside me clicked and I won the fourth game 11-4, even though I was extremely exhausted. By 6:30 p.m., I was dead tired and walked home with a first-place trophy.”
18 / CENTER GROVE MAGAZINE / JULY 2019 / atCenterGrove.com
Making Your Dream Project a Reality Go-to Design and Remodeling: Gettum Associates
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• Decks and Porches
Compass Realty Repairs Homes For Local Families In Need Writer / Suzanne Huntzinger Photographer / JWcreative.indy
20 / CENTER GROVE MAGAZINE / JULY 2019 / atCenterGrove.com
Roof repairs, yardwork, plumbing, electrical work and other projects free for deserving families. It sounds too good to be true, but Compass Realty makes it happen, just like they make home ownership dreams come true. Through their new program, Compass Cares, the brokerage helps deserving families by easing the physical or financial burden of home maintenance projects or repairs. Compass Realty managing broker, Jake Stiles, launched the program earlier this year. Stiles has always had a generous spirit of giving back and paying it forward. The realtors in his six- yearold brokerage share his giving spirit. In previous years, he and his staff gave their time and effort to participating in various community service projects like Habitat for Humanity. Everyone in the office made it a priority to incorporate their involvement in service projects around their lifestyle and schedule. “Everyone did what worked for them, but everyone was involved in something,” Stiles says. A turning point came when Compass Realty had an unexpected surge in profits in 2018 and started 2019 strong as well. “I started thinking what if we found a way to create a nonprofit company,” Stiles says, “We already give back more than most companies, but we have the means, so I wanted to give back even more.” Stiles knew immediately the target group to benefit from Compass Realty’s extra profits. “There will always be people who get hit with unexpected home repair or maintenance expenses,” he says, “Many of them don’t have the financial resources to pay for it or they have physical limitations due to illness or injury that prevent them from completing the project.” With that in mind, Stiles decided to donate a portion of the proceeds from the closing of each home sale to Compass Cares. Next, he gathered a group of trusted local businesses specializing in HVAC, plumbing, electrical work, construction and lawn and garden to make the necessary repairs on the homes of deserving families. Once Stiles and his team got the word 21 / CENTER GROVE MAGAZINE / JULY 2019 / atCenterGrove.com
yet, some people decline. This is just how society is wired these days. The concept of free things is tough to grasp.”
out about the program, it didn’t take long before responses came pouring in. Stiles and Compass took nominations for deserving families, and something amazing happened. “Not only did we get plenty of nominations, we got even more responses from people asking how to help, where to go to volunteer, and how to contribute,” Stiles says.
Sometimes, nominees aren’t in a position to decline the offer for help. One family needed a simple roof repaired badly. “The husband is a general contractor and more than capable of repairing it, but he’d been diagnosed with a devastating illness, and the wife is a nurse working long hours,” Stiles says, “it wasn’t a big job, but he couldn’t do it himself. I’m just glad we could help.”
As hard as it is to believe, the incredible generosity Compass Cares offers doesn’t always elicit the reaction you’d expect. When they receive a nomination from someone, Compass Cares takes great care to keep the nominating party’s name anonymous.
Whether it’s a small or large repair or simple home maintenance task, Compass Cares is on top of it. “We may receive a call from someone with an elderly neighbor who needs some yardwork completed. We’re blessed to have plenty of people looking for volunteer opportunities, and we can send them out to get that yard mowed and branches trimmed,” Stiles says, “Not one contractor has turned us down and
However, sometimes even preserving anonymity isn’t enough for the nominee’s family. “Many nominees are skeptical when we call.,” Stiles says, “When we offer them free help, they automatically think it’s too good to be true or there’s a catch. We tell the family that it’s free, and
many businesses who’ve heard about their program call us offering to donate the labor if we cover the cost of the supplies. The Midwest has a reputation for kindness and hospitality, but you don’t believe it until you experience it. It’s truly humbling.” While the main goal of Compass Cares is to help people in need, there is a deeper purpose that many might not realize. “We think of it as creating a sense of pride in our community,” Stiles says, “We’re not just helping people, we’re helping the entire community. It’s a win-win for everyone. We want to create pride in home ownership. No one wants their house to be the eyesore of the neighborhood. But the reality is some people are trapped financially or physically, and we want to help because we can.” In the short time since Compass Cares has started, people in the community are already talking. The feedback they’ve received includes comments like “So proud of the work you and your team are
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doing,” and “Compass Cares truly has the community’s interests at heart. Their compassion, sincerity and drive are top notch.” That sense of community is what shapes Compass Cares. Their network of professional contractors and businesses is all over Johnson County, including Express Restorations, SPG Roofing and Restoration, Dixon Plumbing, Ferguson, First Option Mortgage, and Quality Title. To keep things in the community, Compass Cares limits the scope of their program to benefit families in need only in Johnson County. Though Stiles intends to keep the focus of Compass Cares in Johnson County, he’s hoping to grow the network of businesses there. “Someday I’d like to separate these projects into quadrants so that the businesses are matched with projects nearby.” Nominating a deserving family is easy. If you know a friend or family member, neighbor or someone from your church
in need of a repair or maintenance project but they’re unable to complete the project due to financial or physical limitations, contact Compass Cares to nominate them. You can also go to the Compass Cares Facebook page to complete the Google form nomination and send it in. The Compass Cares Program Coordinator will contact the family to discuss their need. The name of the nominating party is kept completely confidential. Next, the coordinator asks the homeowner’s permission to have a professional come out to assess the repairs
needed and the scope of the project. Most often, a contractor can come out to make an estimate that same day and schedule the work to be done. To learn more about Compass Cares or to nominate someone, go to their Facebook page at facebook.com/compasscareshome, or call them at 317/883-9461. Compass Realty is located at 4800 W Smith Valley Road Suite J in Greenwood.
23 / CENTER GROVE MAGAZINE / JULY 2019 / atCenterGrove.com
Owner Kelly Maucere
My Sugar Pie Celebrates Grand Opening At Greenwood Park Mall Writer / Michelle Kaufman Photographer / JWCreative.indy
Kelly Maucere has taken the pies she made from her kitchen in Zionsville and now has made the southside a little sweeter by opening a second My Sugar Pie location in Greenwood. My Sugar Pie opened in February inside the Greenwood Park Mall. Whether guests want a single slice, a whole, fresh pie or a pie they can keep in the freezer to reheat, all are now available. Each pie is made
from scratch, one at a time. Maucere first got into making pies as a creative outlet when she was a stay-athome mom. She found comfort in the kitchen and often got compliments on her pies. Pie was also a family tradition. “I love pie,” she says. “I grew up with our family gatherings — we always had pie, most of the women in our family make pie.”
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After completing a three-day, 60-mile breast cancer walk, Maucere was looking for her next big goal in 2008. “I thought ‘Well, I could go back to teaching now that my kids are going into school, or I could do something else,’” she says. “‘I like making pie, so maybe I’ll turn this into a business and see what happens.’” After thinking about what she liked to do and wanted to spend her time doing,
Maucere decided to start My Sugar Pie almost 12 years ago. The Zionsville location opened in 2011. When one of Maucere’s longtime employees, Molly Worley, moved to Greenwood, she wanted Worley to have her own shop. Maucere’s friend and client is the long-term leasing manager for the Greenwood Mall, so the location was a perfect fit. “I’m really excited about this location because there’s a lot of foot traffic, and it’s an opportunity for us to kind of expand our repertoire of what we do,” Maucere says. The Greenwood location features a refrigerator, freezer and refrigerated display case, which allows them to serve cream pies by the slice, something that isn’t available in Zionsville due to a limited amount of refrigeration space. In addition to fruit, cream and various other pies, My Sugar Pie also offers retail products such as mugs, t-shirts, aprons and kitchen items. “Everything that we’re using here in our kitchen, those are the items I look for to sell at our stores just to make it the full experience,” Maucere adds. The business name, My Sugar Pie, comes from Maurcere’s mother’s nickname for her grandchildren — sugar pie. Maucere makes each mix, and the pie recipes come from her, her mom or pastry chefs who work at My Sugar Pie. “The pastry chefs that I’ve hired that work here, I always give them kind of the goal of coming up with a new recipe for us to feature,” Maucere says. Now that she’s opened two locations, Maucere is considering other future expansion opportunities as well. The Greenwood My Sugar Pie is located inside the Greenwood Park Mall. They can be reached at 317-893-5355 or greenwoodbaker@mysugarpie.com. You can also visit them online at mysugarpie. com.
The Driven Life: Bargersville Wellness
Writer & Photographer / Johnette Cruz
Looking for a new spot that offers all the things selfcare? If so, Bargersville Wellness is where you need to go! Owners Blythe Potter and Ashley Auld both grew up in the Center Grove area and have an amazing, long-standing friendship. Combine that with their unparalleled knowledge in the health and beauty industry and you’ve got yourself a winner! Bargersville Wellness doubles as a spa and yoga studio and has really created its own niche in their area of expertise. We talked with both owners on what drives them to stand out from the rest. There are a lot of beauty salons in this area. How is yours different? Blythe: “Not many salons and spas consider hair and skin/ body therapies to be wellness nor do they include yoga which has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, insomnia and many other western-world induced ailments. We have been committed to sustainability from day one. We will not use products that have animal derived ingredients or that have been tested on animals. Our makeup and hair care lines completely revolve around being as close to zero impact as possible. Our equipment and furnishings are mostly second-hand. We use recycled toilet paper, LED lighting, plastic-free laundry detergent and more. We are also members of the Green Circle Salons family which means we are able to recycle more than 95% of the waste we create which includes hair trimmings, wax sticks/ strips, old electronics, lights, styrofoam, almost everything (except food).”
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What is your greatest joy from owning your own business? Blythe: “The greatest joy is being able to truly create change in this industry in the way we interact with the public, other industry professionals, our colleagues and our environment. We now have the power to be the change. We get to call the shots in our careers. It is amazing!” Ashley: “I love inspiring others in the industry. Watching the women I have trained grow into amazing stylists fills my heart.” What has been challenging? Blythe: “Everything! As a former military employee, I should have known the SBA and permitting processes would be a challenge, but they each took much longer than we had planned for. Construction was also quite interesting, but we had some amazing contractors! I have learned to be a little less stressed about the pivots I will take in owning a business.” Ashley: “Through this process, I have learned to let go of control. Really, I had to. There were so many things that were out of our control during our build-out phase and there was nothing we could have done to prevent or change them.” Do you give back to the community? Blythe: “We do community cleanups at least once a month, we have donated time and packages to many local schools and fundraisers, and I do think that partnering with Green Circle Salons counts as giving back to the community. We are able to divert a lot of landfill space and water waste with GCS.” Where do you get your inspiration from? Blythe: “My kids, my life experience, other business owners, life, Ashley, you name it!” Ashley: “I inspire to be better every day because of my family, friends, Blythe and my clients.” What would you tell your younger self today? Blythe: “Absolutely nothing. I have made so many mistakes but that is how I learn. Every little misstep and victory brought me here.” Ashley: “I am who I am today because of the mistakes I made. I can’t imagine who I would be without them.” What Drives you? Blythe: “I have always been very motivated and driven. My 12-year-old told me she was proud of me when we opened, so I suppose part of my drive comes from wanting to be a good role model for our kids.” Ashley: “In general, I am a very driven person as well. I want to teach my kids that the sky is the limit. If you have dreams, set goals to get there. I want to inspire women all over to work together and support each other.” Connect with Bargersville Wellness at bargersvillewellness.com on Facebook at facebook.com/bargersvillewellness or on Instagram at @bargersvillewellness for more information.
Pizza With a Purpose Local Couple Opens Agapé Pizza to Help & Employ the Homeless Community
Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / JWcreative.indy
Giving hearts tend to gravitate towards one another. Such was the case for Angie and Tom Wilhelmi. When they met in 2009, they learned that they both had a passion for helping the homeless. For more than 25 years, Angie served as a police officer in a suburb of Chicago. Tom, who worked in the pizza business years ago, became a loan officer so he could help people reestablish their credit through mortgages. In 2017, the couple traveled to Greenwood to visit friends
and fell in love with the area. “Everybody was so wonderful, kind and genuine,” Angie says. “Something told us that this was going to be our new home.” They prayed it over and two months later moved to Greenwood. As soon as they settled in, they started asking around to determine how they could best aid the homeless population in and around Indianapolis. They were introduced to Brian and Tiffany Walls, founders of Tear Down the Walls (TDTW), whose community development programs 28 / CENTER GROVE MAGAZINE / JULY 2019 / atCenterGrove.com
include remodeling abandoned buildings in impoverished, under-resourced neighborhoods of the inner city to be used for housing and ministry. “Hooking up with Brian and Tiffany was a match made in heaven because our passions so perfectly align,” Angie says. The Wilhelmis’ helped contribute to the cause by making pizzas in the kitchen of their church — Greenwood Christian
struggling to help themselves. One day last fall, a friend mentioned that Papa John’s had moved out of the stand-alone building in the far east parking lot of the Greenwood Park Mall. The wheels started turning and the couple looked into the cost of renting the space. As they suspected, the amount far exceeded what they could afford, but then they explained their plans for the space. “We want to hire homeless people who are transitioning off the street and are in need of hope,” Tom explained. “Just because they’re getting off the street 29 / CENTER GROVE MAGAZINE / JULY 2019 / atCenterGrove.com
Church — selling them and donating the profits to the homeless ministry. “Tom and I are Italian,” Angie says. “We love food, and that’s how we see people come together — sitting around this feast full of food. To us, everybody is family. You live life together by talking, crying, sharing. That’s what life is all about.” That vision is what inspired the couple to find a way to help those who are
doesn’t mean they don’t still need help finding a job.” A deal was struck, and the Wilhelmis’ were able to rent the space for an amount that was drastically less than originally stated. Agapé Pizza opened on December 6, 2018, serving authentic Italian Chicago thin crust and pan style pizza. Their tagline — “pizza with a purpose” — articulates their devotion to providing hope to those who need it.
“Agapé means ‘God’s unconditional love,’” Angie says. “And that’s what we’re trying to stress.” It seems to be working. According to Angie, the outpouring of love from the local community has been tremendous. “People hear what we’re trying to do and become patrons because they want to help,” she says. “The tips have been incredible. Every penny of tip money goes directly to Tear Down the Walls.” In addition, TDTW gets 5 percent of their net sales right off the top. And they only employ formerly homeless people who are now living in transitional housing. Currently, they have just two employees, but as business picks up, they hope to hire more. Though Tom and Angie are at the store almost daily, they don’t take a paycheck. They even occasionally provide transportation to and from the shop when employees can’t find a way in. Open every day but Monday, Tom originally lobbied to be open seven days a week. “Bless his heart, but I told him that for the sake of our marriage, we needed one day off,” Angie says. He’s since agreed that his wife’s suggestion was a good one. “We’re so grateful to finally have this opportunity,” Angie adds, noting that it has been a dream of theirs for years. It never worked out in Chicago, so they are grateful to the Greenwood community for embracing them. “Simon & Company [who rented us the space] have been incredibly accommodating,” she says. “We’re humbled they took a chance on us.” Agapé Pizza is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays and is located at 1201 Greenwood Park East Drive in Greenwood. For more information, call 317-893-5117 or visit them online at agapepizza.com.
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO RETIRE? WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO TELL YOU. WITH OUR RETIREMENT INCOME EXPERTISE, WE CAN HELP BRING YOUR FUTURE INTO FOCUS. Visit us at www.raymondjames.com/ulrichkoenig to learn more ULRICH KOENIG Vice President, Investments O: 317.885.0114 | Toll Free: 800.382.9487 | ulrich.koenig@raymondjames.com 701 E. County Line Rd., Suite 302 | Greenwood, IN 46143 30 / CENTER GROVE MAGAZINE / JULY 2019 / atCenterGrove.com
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