2018 Community Impact Breakfast Press Release
2018 Community Impact Breakfast
The Community Foundation of Boone County hosted their third Community Impact Breakfast to celebrate 2017 success, award grants to 61 nonprofits and launch their 2018 Building Capacity : Building Community Initiative.
The Community Foundation of Boone County hosted local leaders and nonprofits at their third annual Community Impact Breakfast. Dr. Ray Ingham, Chair of the Foundation, welcomed guests and turned the mic over to President & CEO Kristi Reynolds, who took guests on an hour-long journey of the work and impact of the Foundation. Kristi shared that “since the last report to our community, between investment returns and new gifts, our assets have grown from $20.8 million to $23.2 million dollars. That just means more dollars and programs in Boone County to support our community, thanks to generous donors.” Evan Reynolds, age 9, presented a video he produced called “What does the Community Foundation of Boone County do,” after which Kristi shared programs, grants and highlights from 2017, stating, “We can’t do what we do without the help of over 125 volunteers, board members, and staff. It takes a large team of community-minded leaders to accomplish this much impact! Thank you.” Gabi Youran, Director of Community Relations for the Foundation was recognized for her exceptional leadership on both the Women of Impact & Boone County Leadership programs.
Eric Bradley was awarded the Lionel Dubay Youth Sports Award, a fund that was established by his friends and the Zionsville community after Lionel was killed in a car accident in 1985. Lionel was an active volunteer and you could regularly find him coaching and volunteering in Zionsville. Now, every year, the award recognizes a community leader like Lionel with the award in his memory and a grant of $500 to the recipient’s choice. Lionel’s wife, Gwen Dubay presented the award with a photo of Lionel just over her shoulder. In her nomination of her husband, Julie Bradley said, “Coach Eric, as he is known to his teams, is a permanent fixture on the fields and courts. Eric has worked tirelessly to improve the experience that kids have playing recreational team sports around Zionsville. He has coached almost every recreational team on which his three kids have played, including over 20 ZYSA soccer teams, many Upward basketball teams, Boys and Girls club basketball and t-ball teams, and Zionsville Little League baseball teams, sometimes coaching up to three teams in one season.” Eric chose Zionsville Youth Soccer Association (ZYSA) for the grant recipient and executive director of ZYSA Peter O’Scanaill was surprised with the $500 check.
Whitney Hodges presented a check to the Lebanon Middle School from her brother’s fund, the Michael T. Hodges Musical Endowment Fund. Whitney remembered Michael’s exciting life as a talented musician, which was sadly cut short when he died in a motorcycle accident in December of 2014. Photos of him scrolled behind Whitney as she shared the impact that her brother’s fund now has on students in Lebanon—especially those who could otherwise not afford a musical instrument in school. “Lebanon Middle School has purchased 10 new instruments since we started this fund and has grown from just $5,000 to over $20,000. That in itself can tell anyone how much Michael was loved and also how much this fund was needed,” Whitney Hodges said during the presentation.
Next, 61 nonprofit organizations received checks from funds held at the Foundation. One by one, each organization was called up to receive their gift while photos of the organization’s work, logo, or mission scrolled behind each one. Professional photos were taken with the recipient and CFBC board members by Lisa Price Photography. Grants ranged from $200 to over $20,000, with the largest gift of the day awarded to Western Boone Education Foundation.
Jillian Ashton, executive director of ICAN, thanked the Foundation for the opportunity to attend the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy in 2017 and the importance of investing in building the capacity of nonprofit organizations. She shared that because of the skills and tools she learned, ICAN raised more money than ever last year and has built new relationships to help take the organization to the next level.
Along with CFBC staff, consultants and capacity building experts Bryan Orander & Susan Rozzi announced the Foundation’s plan to invest even more in local nonprofit organizational development efforts. The staff contracted with Orander & Rozzi to help create the 2018 initiative, Building Capacity : Building Community. “Stronger nonprofits mean greater programs and more impact in Boone County. We know that when our nonprofits are strong our donor dollars are being used more efficiently and effectively—and the result is that we can raise more money to support local causes. It makes so much sense to invest in the people who are so passionate about local causes and needs. It’s our local people who are doing all of this great work,” Reynolds shared during the event. To learn more about the Foundation’s Building Capacity: Building Community initiative, including how to participate call 765-482-0024.
PHOTOS BY LISA PRICE— permission to print and post digitally unedited.