When it comes to giving back to their community, Mike and Jackie Johnston take a targeted approach. Their target – education.  

“We both came from blue-collar families,” said Mike. “We were the first to go to college. We made it. Education made it possible. We had the motivation, but we gained knowledge.” 

Mike and Jackie established the Michael L and Jacqueline J Johnston Fund at The Community Foundation, a field of interest fund dedicated to education programs. Today, the fund supports Robert P. Bell Education Grants, a grants program dedicated to providing educators with funding for creative and innovative classroom projects.  

“We tend to support teachers, infants, and students,” explained Mike about the couple’s philanthropy. “It’s based on our own passions, interests, and experiences.” 

Jackie graduated from Ball State University with a bachelors and master’s degrees in home economic education. 

“I never thought I'd could ever go to college,” said Jackie. “My mother worked in a factory and raised two girls by herself. I knew we couldn't afford it. I had a high school teacher who convinced me I could. When I got accepted at Ball State, I decided to take home economics. I thought if I didn’t finish college, anything I learned I could use the rest of my life.” 

Jackie completed her undergraduate degree in just three years. After graduation she was a home economics teacher at Wilson Junior High School until her first son was born. When he started kindergarten, she was hired as a part-time faculty at Ball State University in the home economics department. Jackie has had many career opportunities. When she left Ball State, she opened her own business, The Microwave Kitchen Shop in Muncie. Her career as a home economist later took her to Payless and Kroger Supermarkets as their Corporate Home Economist. After retiring in 2004, Jackie took the skills developed in her career and her passion for education and established the Back to School Teachers Store, a free store for teachers in Delaware County. She knew about similar programs in Indianapolis and knew our teachers and community could benefit from a local program. 

Jackie gave of her time, talent, and treasures to get the non-profit store open. She was dedicated to helping teachers to have access to all sorts of free classroom supplies and resources needed to inspire learning in their classrooms.  

Mike spent his career in logistics, taking a longer journey to earn an undergraduate degree from Ball State University. It took 17 years for Mike to complete his bachelor’s degree – taking just one class a semester while working full-time.  

“After a while, my student advisors didn't know what my curriculum was,” said Mike. “They had to take pages from my old curriculum guide and compare it to new course offerings to find classes that fit.”  

When Mike finished his last class he didn’t plan to participate in the commencement.  

“He wasn't going to go through the ceremony, and I said, you should,” said Jackie. “I told him, we have two young boys that have watched you work hard and study for tests all these years and they should see you receive your college diploma.” 

Mike continued with his studies and earned his Master’s degree from Ball State University in three years through a program designed for working individuals. Mike served as adjunct facility in the business college for several years, teaching logistics. He helped establish the Department of Logistics at Ball State.  

Mike and Jackie’s two sons graduated from Ball State University with the support of scholarships and a graduate fellowship. 

Mike and Jackie attributed their success to their college education. They were the first in each of their families to attend college. This, and the scholarships their sons received, led them to create The Johnston Family Scholarship through the Ball State Foundation to benefit students now and in the future. They also regularly support athletics, specifically women’s softball and basketball at Ball State.  

“The women don't have the same support the men do, so we try to support them in different ways,” said Jackie.  

And their gifts go beyond writing checks. Mike and Jackie look for opportunities to help students who receive their scholarships and the athletes they support. On one visit to the Ball State University athletic facilities, Mike and Jackie took note of the discrepancy in the men’s and women’s training rooms. Women’s coaches stated that better facilities would lead to better recruitment. Mike and Jackie stepped up with financial support, but their efforts didn’t stop there.  

“We helped them equip the locker room,” said Jackie. “I’ve never seen a chandelier in shower room. It adds some class.” Jackie made the unbreakable chandelier herself from clear plastic Christmas ornament bulbs. Jackie also provided inspirational quotes to display and motivate the players. 

Mike and Jackie want to target their giving to make an impact on education and they encourage others to give back, too. At an annual reception for scholarship recipients and donors, Mike and Jackie encourage their scholarship students to pay it forward when they graduate. 

“We tell them, when you graduate, make that donation,” said Mike. “Even if it’s $10, the cost of a pizza, that’s established a habit and it will grow bigger over time.” 

Mike and Jackie see the value of The Community Foundation as a partner in their philanthropy. The Community Foundation has a broad comprehension of community needs and receives a wide range of grant requests from the community. 

“It’s open as far as how you apply for grants and oversee how those grants are handled,” said Jackie. “We feel that if the Foundation is going through those kinds of processes, then they are good stewards of the money we give.” 

Mike and Jackie also encourage others to consider a partnership with the Foundation because giving through The Community Foundation is one way to make a lasting impact on the causes that matter most.  

“You don’t have to have lots of money to start a fund. You can reach a lot of people when you put in a little bit,” said Mike. “Everybody ought to give back.”