Greenwood Magazine March 2019 by Towne Post Network, Inc.

MARCH 2019

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WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD: NEIGHBORS OF WEST OLD TOWN GREENWOOD GROUP BUILDS LIFELONG CONNECTIONS

The cherished days of neighborhood block parties, progressive dinners, bridge parties or just dropping by to visit a neighbor unannounced are long gone. In this generation, more people connect through the fences of digital technology than face to face. But one neighborhood group is setting out to prove good neighbors can bring back those good times.

EDITORIAL MANAGER Josh Brown Josh@TownePost.com

MARCH WRITERS

Christy Heitger-Ewing / Jon Shoulders Suzanne Huntzinger / Michelle Kaufman Trisha Turner

MARCH PHOTOGRAPHERS

Amy Counts Photography Erin Feldmeyer / JWcreative.indy

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4 Green Machine: Greenwood

Robotics Teams Foster Science, Engineering & Technology Skills

16 Pizza With A Purpose: Local Couple Opens Agapé Pizza to Help & Employ the Homeless Community

8 Pride & Progress: Mayor Mark Myers 20 Wonder 50: Men’s Group Donates Details Recent Achievements While Looking Ahead In State of the City Address

12 Welcome to the Neighborhood:

$5,000 Quarterly to Local Charities & Organizations

The Greenwood Community Magazine is published by Towne Post Network, Inc. and is written for and by local Greenwood residents. Submit story ideas to PR@atGreenwood.com.

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23 March Events

Neighbors of West Old Town Greenwood Group Builds Lifelong Connections

atGreenwood.com TownePost.com atGreenwood.com / MARCH 2019 / GREENWOOD MAGAZINE / 3

Green Machine Greenwood Robotics Teams Foster Science, Engineering & Technology Skills Writer / Michelle Kaufman Photography Provided

More than 30 students at Greenwood Middle and Greenwood Community High School spend the majority of their school year designing, programming, building and driving a robot through an extracurricular program. The high school robotics team, Green Machine, and the middle school team, Wired Woodmen, were founded in 2014 by several people, including GMS industrial technology teacher and robotics team coach Chris Campbell. The team’s division, FTC, allows participants in 7 through 12th grades, so Campbell expanded to GMS. “We have so many kids that are interested that we actually have to make cuts,” Campbell says.

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Teams design, build and program a robot to perform a set of tasks. The tasks change each year. The teams compete at several competitions throughout Indiana during their season. Campbell says the atmosphere at robotics competitions is different from athletic competitions because teams help each other. “One year, Center Grove just gave us a motor because one of our motors died,” he says. “Those kinds of things in athletics and sports, you’re out there to beat that other team and fight and battle, but in robotics, it is such a different atmosphere. The atmosphere is just totally different than anything else I’ve ever been around where kids are encouraged and motivated and inspired to help one another.” Senior Tatiana Andrade has been involved with robotics since her sophomore year. Her freshman year was her first at GHS, so she didn’t join right away but her friends kept encouraging her to join. Andrade is one of four girls on the robotics teams. “Early on, I didn’t even know what certain tools were or anything like that, but I’ve gained so much knowledge,” she says. “Also just working with my hands, and now I am captain of the team. So it’s super exciting to grow with them but also take charge as one of the only girls on the team.” Andrade plans to go into chemical engineering and was recently awarded a four-year, full tuition scholarship to the Rose-Hulman

Institute of Technology and has also been accepted to Purdue. “[The scholarship] definitely wasn’t something I planned for, it was definitely a surprise,” she says. “I had to re-read it a couple times. To be accepted into a top engineering school as an engineering major and, on top of that, to get a full-tuition scholarship is really huge.” Charlie Jackson is an eighth-grader and has been a member of Wired Woodmen for two years. Jackson enjoys STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) and is looking forward to working more with robotics in the future. “It’s really reassuring [knowing there’s a high school team] because I really love robotics, and I want to carry on throughout my whole life,” Jackson says. “That’s how much I enjoy it. It’s a lot of fun. My favorite part is problem-solving or fixing something when it breaks. I’m also one of the two drivers.” Campbell says it’s rewarding for him and the other coaches to see students solve problems. “I’m always amazed at what they do pick up and what they learn,” Campbell says. “They can get out there and figure out all kinds of stuff on their own. I’m always impressed with what they come up with.” When the new middle school was built Campbell was able to get workbenches and machines for the team and designed his shop

atGreenwood.com / MARCH 2019 / GREENWOOD MAGAZINE / 5

based on what he thought he’d need for his teams. “That was my inspiration, to have a nice place where kids could come and do some design work in one part and go out and do some hands-on activities where they’re actually building the robot,” he says.

In addition to the middle and high school teams, there are Lego League robotics programs at each of the four Greenwood elementary schools as well. For more information on the robotics program or if you’d like to volunteer or sponsor the team, visit gwsrobotics.weebly.com.

6 / GREENWOOD MAGAZINE / MARCH 2019 / atGreenwood.com

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Pride & Progress Mayor Mark Myers Details Recent Achievements While Looking Ahead In State of the City Address Edited version of Mayor Myers’ 2019 State of the City Address, shortened for Greenwood Magazine. Visit greenwood.in.gov for a copy of the full address.

PRIDE and PROGRESS, the standard on which Greenwood was built, has never been more relevant. After several years of conservative fiscal diligence, Greenwood now owns one of Indiana’s strongest balance sheets. The current administration came into office in large part because of a commitment to preserve and revitalize Old Town Greenwood. Doing so requires dynamic civic assets, attractive gathering spaces and diverse opportunities for public recreation. Old Town must be walkable, connected, accessible and pedestrian-friendly. In 2018, several projects were completed, designed to achieve those goals. The first phase of redevelopment for Madison Avenue was finished. This includes a multi-use 12-foot wide trail for both pedestrians and bicyclists, brick crosswalks, a pedestrian signal at Euclid Avenue and a revitalized public parking lot at Broadway and Madison.

Last year, city staff worked with Greenwood’s Redevelopment Commission to finalize a second round of funding for the GROW initiative. The GROW program helps local businesses expand while also providing benefits to the community as a whole, including improving downtown.

and will act as a catalyst for additional private investment. City-hosted events remain extremely popular. The continued success of Freedom Festival, Just PLANE Fun at Indy South Greenwood Airport and last year’s inaugural Kris Kringle Market prove once again that, if done right, they’ll be well attended.

Bordering the northern edge of the former Greenwood Middle School, the new Surina Way extension sets the stage for development Taken as a whole, Greenwood’s reputation, growth and momentum have reached record of both the 19-acre property and a levels. reimagined Old City Park. The project included a public-private partnership with Our Lady of the Greenwood Catholic Church – which created more than 150 additional downtown parking spaces. Considerable improvements were made to the Greenwood Amphitheater and park space surrounding the outdoor venue, which played host to another recordsetting year for the city’s Summer Concert Series and Movies in the Park.

The four pillars that serve as a foundation for Greenwood are Public Safety, Infrastructure, Quality of Life, and Economic Development. If invested in properly, these pillars work together to build a thriving community.

Phase-one of improvements to Emerson Avenue was completed, one of the city’s most traveled north-south corridors. These improvements have already attracted interest

Greenwood is blessed to have men and women in both the police and fire departments who share this conviction and are committed to doing whatever it takes to

8 / GREENWOOD MAGAZINE / MARCH 2019 / atGreenwood.com

Public Safety First and foremost, Greenwood must be safe.

protect and serve our community. Greenwood Fire Department will soon receive a Class 2 public protection rating from the Insurance Services Office. Results rate on a national scale from one to ten, with one being the best rating. Last summer, a new Greenwood Justice Center was opened. A complete remodel of the police building at Surina Square, the Justice Center continues to house GPD headquarters and now serves as a permanent home for the Greenwood City Court, City Clerk’s Office and Greenwood Probation Department. In 2018, the relocation of Greenwood Fire Station 93 was announced. Fire Station 93 will be located in Freedom Park on land purchased last year. The addition will shorten response times and improve department operations. Infrastructure Last year, several departments sought to improve efficiency and create future savings through important technology investments, with more planned for 2019. In 2018, the Street Department launched Greenwood’s first interactive trash map. In the Stormwater department, staff are now using Cityworks software to maximize resources and minimize per-project expenses. Efforts to reduce administrative costs are working. Perhaps the best indicator of success is the elimination of all service fees for any customer payments to City-owned utilities.

In 2018, construction on Stop 18 Road just west of U.S. 31, was completed. Horton Street, Commission Road and Stonegate Road were rebuilt and full depth reclamations on portions of Honey Creek Road and Emerson Avenue was completed.

life cycles for city equipment and vehicles.

Progress continues on Worthsville Road, the latest section of which includes multiuse paths connecting to our trail system, providing access to the Central Nine Career Center campus and land designated for the new Grassy Creek Park.

Quality of Life

Later this year, efforts to improve, modernize and increase safety at school zone crossings are expected to be complete. Appropriate resources are being dedicated to keep kids safe. One initiative is Vision Zero. Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy and equitable mobility. In 2018, the full modernization of trash services was complete. The improvements follow the modernization of Greenwood’s recycling program, which led to several thousand more participating households and a 50 percent increase in recycling tonnage in 2018. Greenwood also has plans to build a new Department of Public Works building. Serving as an addition to the current DPW building on South Washington Street, the new 50,000 square-foot facility will allow many of the infrastructurefocused departments to be even more efficient, while also extending

Greenwood is paying for construction of the DPW building with cash on hand and will not have to issue a single dollar of debt for the project.

The quality of life offered to Greenwood citizens is a top priority. Greenwood citizens have experienced family bonding over Lego tables at Kid City, offering active seniors a diverse and expanding trail system, free concerts on Saturdays in the summer with a couple thousand of your closest friends. Freedom Springs continues to exceed expectations and welcomed more than 108,000 visitors last year, the third consecutive year of record attendance. And, just as impressive, membership increased more than 65 percent, surpassing 2,200 in 2018. The combined result led to another record year for revenue at the pool, and, for the first time, Freedom Springs eclipsed $1 million in annual revenue. While the old city pool lost more than $80,000 annually, Freedom Springs has operated in the black since day one. And in three years, the facility has generated a combined surplus of more than $750,000. That’s three-quarters of a million dollars back into the Parks system. The reimagined Greenwood Community Center followed suit with a record year of its own, hosting more than 122,000 visitors in 2018, up more than 20,000 from 2017.

atGreenwood.com / MARCH 2019 / GREENWOOD MAGAZINE / 9

In the ongoing quest to add more greenspace, last year the Parks Department acquired more than 30 acres of land next to Worthsville Road. This year, construction begins on a new downtown fieldhouse, a repurpose of the former gymnasium at Greenwood Middle School, that will serve as the public anchor for the 19-acre property’s redevelopment. Interior plans for the facility are still being determined, details will be announced soon. In 2018, planning also began for a new event lawn at Craig Park to be completed this summer. New trails will be added including on the north side of Freedom Park, extending from Averitt Road to Freedom Springs, and a multi-use trail connecting Northwest Park and Northwest Park Annex. Later this year, the Parks Department will open its first rental hall. Purchased in 2018, the department is converting the former Hampton House on Fry Road and will offer the space for a variety of events. Economic Development Economic development is highly competitive. As observed with Amazon’s HQ2 process, an available and skilled workforce is often the decision driver for businesses planning to expand or relocate. To compete in this new economic development era, Greenwood must offer current and future generations an attractive and opportunity-filled community. This strategy is generating meaningful returns. Last year, Greenwood welcomed one of the world’s most valuable companies as its newest corporate citizen as Amazon

announced a new $80 million operations hub. The investment is expected to bring with it more than 1,200 new jobs. And while Amazon announced its investment last year, another Fortune 500 company celebrated 2018 by opening its new Greenwood fulfillment center. Pitney Bowes has its 450,000 square-foot fulfillment center up and running with plans to hire up to 300 people. Other noteworthy projects include Franciscan Health’s new, state-of-theart health care facility and a $20 million apartment complex planned by The Garrett Companies, Greenwood’s latest hometown success story which ranked 10th on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest growing companies. Quality of life and economic development are more interconnected than ever, and upcoming projects will continue Greenwood’s momentum in both areas. Design continues for the remaining phases of Madison Avenue’s transformation, which will eventually extend north to Fry Road. In 2019, the streetscape work at Madison and Main Street will begin. The project includes widened sidewalks, which residents have long sought to improve Old Town’s walkability and pedestrian safety. Installation of new wayfinding and street signs will continue throughout this year. Old City Park, one of Greenwood’s most historic public spaces, will soon undergo a dramatic transformation. The visual and recreational centerpiece is a 20-foot cube 10 / GREENWOOD MAGAZINE / MARCH 2019 / atGreenwood.com

tower custom designed by an internationally renowned playground manufacturer. The play tower will be the first of its kind in Indiana, and one of only three in the country. A custom climbing wall and custom climbing net for younger children will also be included. The reimagined Old City Park will have pipe slides, spinners, ping pong tables and extensive open space for non-structured developmental play and a few urban porch swings will be available for mom and dad to relax while the kids have fun. The new park will offer amenities for all ages. An 18-foot wide promenade will run adjacent to Pleasant Creek, seamlessly integrating into the creek’s natural landscape. The shelter space will be restored, bocce ball courts and a fitness circuit will be added, as will a new pedestrian bridge. Old City Park will once again become a central cornerstone of Old Town, with connectivity to the Greenwood Amphitheater and Craig Park, the former middle school property, Greenwood Public Library, the new Madison Avenue trail and more. Like many of the projects, the reimagined park will impact Greenwood citizens for decades to come. It will serve as an example for future generations. Take pride in Greenwood’s past, honor previous generations and celebrate the continued progress toward an even brighter future.

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Welcome to the Neighborhood Neighbors of West Old Town Greenwood Group Builds Lifelong Connections Writer / Suzanne Huntzinger Photographer / Erin Feldmeyer

he cherished days The of neighborhood block parties, progressive dinners, bridge parties or just dropping by to visit a neighbor unannounced are long gone. In this generation, more people connect through the fences of digital technology than face to face. But one neighborhood group is setting out to prove good neighbors can bring back those good times.

A resident of Old Town Greenwood’s west side, Tiffany Woods, decided to start making connections with neighbors but not just on Facebook. The young mom took some time off teaching fifth grade to be at home to raise her sons. Without the daily connections to people at the school, Woods was anxious to build new connections in this new phase of her life.

Woods, an avid reader, was reading “Last Child in the Woods.” In the book, the author discusses how this generation has a deficit of being outside in nature. The topic resonated with Woods since she thought about wanting to give her kids the opportunity to be outside riding bikes and enjoying nature. She and her husband had recently moved into the west old town Greenwood

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area, and she didn’t know many neighbors yet. The thought of her kids riding bikes around a neighborhood where the people don’t know who you are didn’t seem safe. “The neighborhood isn’t less safe these days, but if no one knows me or my kids, they won’t look out for them as they ride by,” she says. “Even in this generation, it takes a village to raise kids.”

So, she began to think of how she could get connected with them and help them get connected too. What happened next was the best little accident she could have ever imagined. Woods decided to reach out to the few neighbors she knew with whom she was also connected on Facebook. She intended to share her thoughts and ideas on how she could bring the neighbors together. So, Woods opened Facebook messenger, began the message with “Hello” and hit ENTER. “I was just trying to scroll

down to the next line to type the rest of my message, but on Facebook, hitting ENTER sends it,” she says, “So, they all got my one-word message. But then, I got replies, and we continued the conversation. Everyone was on board with the plan.” The first activity of the Neighbors of West Old Town Greenwood was a pizza party get-together at a nearby pizza restaurant. Woods and her friends started calling neighbors to invite them, and about 35 people joined the party.

“We met such wonderful people and heard such fascinating stories. It was a hit,” Woods says. With that little spark at the first get together, Woods and her friends were ready to dive right in to plan the next event. Just two weeks later, she decided she wanted to plan an Easter Egg Hunt, and not just the kind in your own backyard. Woods and her friends decided to involve the whole neighborhood, and they had a perfect spot in the neighborhood for the event. After getting the word out for the event, the group was

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expecting about 40 people to attend. Acting out of caution for the safety of the kids, Woods decided to call the city to request the streets to be blocked, and they granted her request. On the day of the hunt, not only did the 40 neighbors show up, but 120 people showed up, Easter eggs in hand, ready for the hunt. The group activities started catching on. More neighbors wanted to get in on the fun. The group decided to name itself. They took the easy approach. Since Mobile app NextDoor refers to the neighborhood as West

Old Town Greenwood, they called themselves the Neighbors of West Old Town Greenwood. They began building more connections through their Facebook page, and the creativity kept flowing. Soon, they planned the first neighborhood block party, book club gatherings, cookouts, progressive dinners, holiday parties, caroling at the holidays and much more. As much as these activities were catching on, Woods and her friends realized something was missing. “Many of our more senior residents aren’t on social media,” she says. “So, at our large-scale events, we set up a table with contact sheets for new neighbors to fill out. From this we’ve created a newsletter and email it each month. When all else fails, we canvas the neighborhood with flyers or make yard signs to promote an upcoming event.” The events have gotten more diverse, and the neighbors attending them even more diverse. “We find that some people who aren’t as social will attend a large-scale event and hang out, while a more intimate

event such as a chili cookoff or bunco at someone’s home tends to make them uncomfortable,” Woods says. “The wide range of activities gives everyone an opportunity to participate in a way that’s most comfortable for them. We’re not asking every single neighbor to feel obligated to attend each event. We just want to provide opportunities for neighbors to get to know each other and make a happier and safer community.” Not only can neighbors pick and choose the activities they want to join, they can also pick and choose to lead activities that play to their own personal strengths. “I encourage residents to develop their role in the community by showing off their talents,” she says. “A former high school English teacher leads our monthly book club, a woman who works for the Center of the Aging Community at U of I led the group of Christmas carolers who sang for our senior residents, and a group of teen girls have formed a babysitting club for families in the neighborhood. A neighbor who recently built a beautiful

pergola led morning yoga classes this summer under it. A woman who is the third generation owning her home was the perfect hostess for our Christmas cookie exchange party. There is opportunity for everyone to contribute towards the betterment of the community.” In the short time the group has been in existence, neighbors are already noticing. Neighbor Kelly Munoz moved into the area just two years ago and calls the neighborhood amazing. “We’ve met so many neighbors who do so many little things that make a big difference,” she says. “Like if your car is stalled, the community jumps in to help you. My husband and I have a little, free library. I set out a dog water dish for dogs on walks. We get Facebook alerts when someone is new to the neighborhood, or they just need a pick me up. Yesterday my doorbell rang three times for cheer from neighbors. I lead a yoga class outside in the summer, followed by meditation lead by another neighbor.” Woods is delighted that the group’s efforts have exceeded her expectations. “Never in my wildest dreams

14 / GREENWOOD MAGAZINE / MARCH 2019 / atGreenwood.com

did I imagine it would take off like this,” Woods says. “I started out as a stay-at-home mom in search of other moms to connect with and find playdates for my kids. But it’s turned into a group that welcomes new neighbors with goodies, and neighbors keeping an eye out for children and looking after them as they ride their bikes down the street. I’d like to think that we’re recreating a small piece of what it must have been like in Mayberry. I hope we continue to build a stronger community. The benefits of building strong connections within a community are wide spread. Relationships lead to a sense of belonging and help deepen the concept of “love where you live.” The best part, any community is capable of reaching out and recreating the types of neighborhoods we hear about from “the good old days.” If you live in the West Old Town Greenwood neighborhood and would like to connect, or you’d like to get ideas of how to make connections in your neighborhood, visit the Neighbors of West Old Town Greenwood Facebook page.

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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 16 / GREENWOOD MAGAZINE / MARCH 2019 / atGreenwood.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.

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.”

The Wilhelmis’ helped contribute to the cause by making pizzas in the kitchen of their church — Greenwood Christian

That vision is what inspired the couple to find a way to help those who are 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.

finding a job.”

“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 doesn’t mean they don’t still need help atGreenwood.com / MARCH 2019 / GREENWOOD MAGAZINE / 17

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,’”

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KEEPING JOHNSON COUNTY FAMILIES HEALTHY The JMH Physician Network provides quality care, close to home

FAMILY MEDICINE

Sarah Beeson, DO

Sean Beeson, DO

Douglas Bullington, MD David Dunkle, MD

Diane Kolody, MD

John Wiseman, MD

Patricia Godeke Wiseman, M.D.

Katie Christian, FNP

Linda Smith, NP

Riley Hoffman, PA-C

Gerald Mader, MD

INTERNAL MEDICINE

Gaston Dana, DO

J. Timothy Deppe, MD, FCCP

Family Medicine Specialists: Franklin 317.736.6133 Whiteland 317.535.1577 Greenwood 317.215.7966 Greenwood/Stones Crossing 317.535.1876

Andrew Houston, MD Susan R. Murphy, MD

Maggie Doty, PA-C

Internal Medicine Specialists 317.346.3883

Jenny Lee, NP

QUALITY • SERVICE • VALUE atGreenwood.com / MARCH 2019 / GREENWOOD MAGAZINE / 19

EVERY PATIENT. EVERY TIME.

Wonder 50 Men’s Group Donates $5,000 Quarterly to Local Charities & Organizations Writer / Trisha Turner Photographer / JWcreative.indy

ou probably haven’t heard about Steven Woods’ group of do-gooders. And that’s just fine with him.

After all, he says, the element of surprise is one of the best parts of giving. “It’s just the idea of knocking on someone’s door on a Tuesday morning and saying to them, ‘We want to give you this. There’s a group that believes in your cause, and good luck. There are no strings attached,’” Woods says. What are they delivering? A bank bag containing $5,000 in cash — courtesy of Woods’ group. They call themselves Wonder 50. Four times a year, the Franklin-based group of 50 men gathers on a Monday night at a local restaurant. Upon arrival, each member hands over $100 in cash and

the name of a group or individual he believes should receive all the cash collected that evening. Somebody — usually someone at the bar, Woods says — draws three of the names from a hat. And then it’s up to the member who made each of those selected recommendations to make the case for why his is most worthy to receive the money. When the pitches are done, the group votes by show of hands to determine who will get the cash. And the following morning, representatives from Wonder 50 pay a surprise visit to the person or organization they selected to donate the collected funds. “Think about how excited you are to put on a pair of pants and find a five-dollar bill. These people just found $5,000 they didn’t know they were getting,” Woods says of awarding the cash. “That’s when it gets exciting. That’s a game changer.”

20 / GREENWOOD MAGAZINE / MARCH 2019 / atGreenwood.com

that would provide an opportunity for fellowship among those who could be Franklin’s future leaders. And something that would provide a monetary shot in the arm for a local business on a Monday night. But he hoped to offer something smaller and less structured than some of the more traditional philanthropic groups in the area.

Wonder 50 got its start a year ago. Woods, a financial advisor, spoke to a colleague who’s involved in a similar group in Chicago. Woods began looking into his options for organizing something locally. Something that would allow members to give back to the community. Something

Woods started with nine of his friends, who each recruited four or five friends of their own for the initial meeting, at The Willard. Since then, the group also has met at locations like Big Woods, Garment Factory Events and Shale Creek Brewing. And each member provides $100 or more for collecting at every gathering, even if he doesn’t attend. The men of Wonder 50 come from all walks of life. And while some folks might talk shop at the gatherings, the events are meant strictly for socializing and giving back.

atGreenwood.com / MARCH 2019 / GREENWOOD MAGAZINE / 21

“We’re just dudes drinking beer, and some guy gets up and makes his pitch,” Woods says. “It’s all very casual. Maybe too casual for some people. But all the guys in the group seem to like it.” So do those involved with the individuals and organizations Wonder 50 has supported. The group’s efforts have benefited causes ranging from memorial funds to service providers. Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County is one local charity to receive a surprise visit from Wonder 50. The pantry used the group’s $5,000 contribution toward purchasing food that is in demand but often not directly donated — items like eggs and white bread.

“A day doesn’t come by that we don’t get a huge thank you and hugs and lots of words of appreciation for Interchurch Food Pantry’s help,” says Carol Phipps, the pantry’s manager. “The dollars received from this group allow all of this to happen.” Woods hopes Wonder 50’s work will serve as a model to others who want to give back to their communities. He encourages them to consider starting similar groups of their own. “It doesn’t have to be a group of men,” he says. “It could be couples, veterans, whatever. By not having any rules, the possibilities are endless. If you’re doing good, and that sparks some momentum from this, then all the better.”

Wonder 50 Founder Steven Woods

22 / GREENWOOD MAGAZINE / MARCH 2019 / atGreenwood.com

March Events 2

Greenwood Park Mall and Franciscan Health are calling all future Chef’s! Our Kids Club fosters a healthy appreciation of food, while promoting family-fun activities that bring people together. Club members will receive a goody bag with a special swag (while supplies last) and have a chance to win several prizes! If you are not a member you can sign up at the event or at family.simon.com There is no cost to sign up and be a member! Greenwood Park Mall 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Parents and students (8th to 12th grade) are invited to attend the Aspire Johnson County 2nd annual Parent and Student Career Forum to hear from industry professionals, learn about success stories and discover the opportunities available to your student after high school. Endress+Hauser, Inc. 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Get a behind the scenes tour of our brewery from a Taxman team member. Learn about the history of Taxman, get a glimpse into our process and enjoy samples of some of our tasty brews! The tour will begin promptly at 12 p.m. and is limited to 15 guests. One full pour of Taxman beer is included with purchase of this tour. All guests must be 21+ years of age. Closed-toed shoes are required. Get your tickets at taxmanbrewing.com Mallow Run Winery 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Lil Chef

Center Grove Teacher Recruiting Fair Center Grove invites teaching candidates (December and May graduates) who are seeking a position for the fall of 2019 to learn more about Center Grove Schools and interview with an administrator. This event is the first step of our process for filling open teaching positions by early spring. Register now: bit. ly/CGTeacherFair. Center Grove Community School Corporation 4:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Parent & Student Career Forum

14-17, 21-24, 28-31 A Lil’ Bit of Country Dinner & Show

This knee slappin’, foot stompin’, hand clappin’ dinner-show is a hoe-down country western jamboree! If you like country, you’re gonna love it. And if you don’t love country, well, you will after this show. Featuring some of the great oldies, a lot of the good ol’ goodies and a few of today’s most recent hits. Get your tickets at cateredcabaret.com. Stage to Screen Catered Cabaret Times Vary

St. Patrick’s Winter Warm Up Weekend

Indiana Archery 25M Championship

World Archery 25M-600 Round. Practice starts at 10:45, Scoring at 11:30. Vertical 60cm World Archery Face. Venue Coordinator-Robert Webber, 317-440-9734. Space is limited, so call early to reserve a space. Shooting fee-$40. The Outdoorsman Sport Shop 10:45 a.m.

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At Compass Realty we understand the importance of a strong community. After we sell your home a portion of our commission is donated to Compass Cares. In turn, that money is used to help members of our community that need it most. It may be cleaning a yard up for an elderly couple or installing a wheelchair ramp for someone that is handicapped. We need your help to allow us to help others.

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