The Ball Brothers Foundation approved 28 grants totaling $3 million in the foundation’s first round of grants for 2023, according to a Ball Brothers Foundation press release.
The two most significant grants approved were to boost capital projects in downtown Muncie, the YMCA of Muncie and the Muncie Civic Theater.
A grant of $500,000 will support the YMCA of Muncie to support the construction of the new state-of-the-art facility on the campus of Muncie Community Schools, according to the report.
“BBF provided the lead gift for this effort, serving as a catalyst to build momentum and ultimately creating transformational change in our community,” Chad Zaucha, president and CEO of YMCA of Muncie said. “We are in the final stages of securing the support needed to create a world-class social gathering hub for whole person health in collaboration with Muncie Community Schools, IU Health, Open Door, Healthy Lifestyle Center, and in the heart of our City.”
Zaucha said the project will enhance economic development, and improve health and educational outcomes for the community.
“The Ball family has a long historic connection to the YMCA of Muncie that stretches back to the YMCA’s first campaign for a downtown building in 1911,” Jud Fisher, president and CEO of Ball Brothers Foundation said. “We are excited to see this new facility get its footing in downtown.”
The YMCA is still looking for public donations for the final phase. First Merchant’s Bank is providing a matching donation of up to $1 million.
The YMCA aims to open the facility to the public in 2025.
The Muncie Civic Theater will receive a $100,000 grant for the final phase of remodeling the historic building, according to the report.
The grant will bring the theaters backstage up into the 21st century by updating the rigging system and improving its safety.
“Speaking on behalf of Muncie Civic Theatre’s Board of Directors, staff, and many volunteers, we are very grateful for Ball Brothers Foundation’s generous financial support of our rigging renovation,” Laura Williamson, artistic & executive director of Muncie Civic Theatre said. “This gift allows us to move closer to our mission of being ‘the theatre for the whole community. BBF’s love for our community and their commitment to helping Muncie become the best version of itself is contagious, they lead by a great and generous example.”
As well as the donations above, here are the rest of the donations according to the report.
Arts and Culture
- Music for All: $30,000 for support of the 2023 Music for All Summer Symposium.
Public Society Benefit
- Ball State University: $25,000 for equipment and training to assist BSU’s Police Department in fighting cybercrime.
- Cardinal Greenways: two-year funding totaling $400,000 to supplement the Cardinal Greenways’ operating budget including staffing support, routine trail maintenance, trail amenity support, equipment needs, and other basic operational items.
- Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office: $50,000 for the purchase of newer and more expansive digital forensic tools for Delaware County’s High-Tech Crimes Unit.
- Delaware County Sheriff’s Office: $25,000 to establish a forensic workstation and purchase hardware for cybercrime investigations.
- Muncie Police Department: $25,000 to advance training and purchase equipment to conduct digital forensics investigations.
- Ross Community Center: $95,000 for salaries of core staff and utilities, security, and field maintenance.
Health
- City of Muncie: $45,000 to bolster recreational programming through the purchase of equipment and hiring of certified instructors/referees; supporting the Muncie Youth Summer Employment Program; supporting the hiring of a community peace officer to provide security at Tuhey Pool during peak summer hours.
- James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association: $100,000 to provide physicians, scientists, and lab technicians with a state-of-the-art microscope to discover new pathways that influence type 1 diabetes.
- Muncie Sports Commission, Inc.: $75,000 for program support of the ICE League (a basketball league that emphasizes academics) and to support operations.
Education
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie: two-year funding totaling $350,000 to help offset operational expenses and provide expansion opportunities in Muncie and Delaware County.
- Daleville Community Schools: $51,500 to build restrooms for the district’s outdoor learning laboratory.
- Ivy Tech Foundation: $50,000 to be used for the planning, investigation, feasibility, and implementation of the early stages of an early childhood learning center to be located at the Cowan Road campus.
- Project Leadership: two-year funding totaling $380,000 to support middle/high school students and their families as they prepare to transition to college and careers.
- Vision Corner, Inc.: $10,000 for the installation of an HVAC system at the new Vision Corner Learning Center in Union City.
- Wes-Del Community Schools: $25,000 for furniture and equipment for the district’s newly established STEM lab.
- Youth Opportunity Center: $75,000 to support the salary and benefits of a behavior specialist for a new therapeutic day treatment in collaboration with Muncie Community Schools.
Environment
- Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District: $25,000 to assist in the next phase of a watershed management plan for the Upper White River Watershed through report writing, outreach, and development of partnerships.
- The White River Alliance: $20,000 to communicate the results of the first White River Report Card to increase public awareness and improve the health of the watershed.
Human Services
- Greater Muncie, IN Habitat for Humanity Inc.: two-year funding totaling $400,000 to support general operations and home construction/repairs.
- Heart of Indiana United Way: $75,000 to strengthen United Way’s annual campaign by providing a match to incentivize giving by new and previous donors.
- Indiana Youth Institute: $50,000 to support a total of 200 consulting hours for up to three East Central Indiana youth-serving organizations to enhance organizational capacity.
- Inside Out Community Development Corporation: $50,000 to launch the new Fresh Market program, a walk-in style food pantry operating as a small grocery store.
- Muncie Delaware County Senior Citizens Center: $20,000 for urgent building repairs.
- YWCA: $40,000 to aid with expenses associated with the emergency shelter and C.O.T.S Stay programs.
Applications for the foundation’s next round of grants are due July 15. The foundation also accepts applications for Rapid Grants of up to $5,000 from February through November of each year.
For more information on Ball Brothers Foundation grants, visit ballfdn.org/grants.
