October Focus: Fall In Love With Giving
Supporting The Causes That Matter Most
AUTUMN BRINGS A TIME OF REFLECTION as we enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons and prepare for cold days ahead. While we turn indoors for warm meals, toasty blankets, and fall favorite movies, our Delaware County community invites us to share in the joy of the season.
Generosity and neighborly goodwill are essential tools to keep our community thriving. From radio stations to animal shelters to orchid collections and more, read on to hear about the ways in which donors have supported causes in every corner of Delaware County through the power of designated funds.
David & Mary Jane Sursa - Orchestra
The Muncie Symphony Orchestra had been bringing music to Delaware County for over 70 years when in 2022, it was given the chance to unite with Marion Philharmonic into one new, blossoming organization – Orchestra Indiana. Today, Orchestra Indiana’s passionate musicians bring the art of orchestral music to communities statewide, offering free concerts, educational programs, and more.
Programs like this are crucial to developing strong communities, something that David and Mary Jane Sursa knew well.
In addition to helping form the Foundation’s early days, David and Mary Jane were passionate about the arts and helped to establish the Muncie Symphony Orchestra itself, as well as the Mary Jane & David Sursa Muncie Symphony Orchestra Fund to support its mission in perpetuity.
The Sursas held philanthropy close, and they believed in the organizations they helped to establish. From Mary Jane, “I can’t imagine the area without the Foundation, particularly when times have been difficult. It’s probably more important than most of us realize, the good that they do that we wouldn’t know how to do on our own. This gives me a good feeling of satisfaction maybe I’ve helped somebody today.”
Russ Vernon -
Environmental Conservation
The Dr. Joe and Alice Rinard Orchid Greenhouse (ROGH), located on Ball State’s campus, was established as a conservation project in response to tropical habitat destruction and orchid species endangerment. Today, it is the largest collegiate orchid collection in the United States.
One of the collection’s early curators, Russ Vernon, has always been “obsessed” with orchids, says his wife, Anita. After spending years tending to ROGH’s orchids, Russ wanted to make sure that the collection had the resources to thrive following his retirement.
In 2019, Russ began the Wheeler Orchid Collection and Species Bank Fund through the Foundation, after the collection’s original name during his time as curator.
From Russ, “Individuals and institutions can lose interest or are no longer able to take care of what they have, so these plants could be lost. And the way that habitat destruction is growing, they’re not only lost [locally], but also lost in nature.” His philanthropic gift, and the ongoing support of new donors, will continue to protect these delicate species for years to come.
Gary & Lana Merritt - Animal Welfare
Muncie’s Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) is a local nonprofit helping pets find their furever homes and supporting pet owners in need. In 2023, ARF adopted out nearly 700 stray and surrendered animals. Now, ARF’s recently renovated Ollie’s Bed & Biscuit is giving permanent pet residents the chance for a loving, long-term home.
For animal lovers, giving rescued animals a second chance in life is priceless. For Lana and Gary Merritt, this held especially true.
While the couple traveled internationally for Gary’s career as a boxing judge, coming home to Muncie after a long trip brought the blessing of many little paws waiting at the door. Seeing the good work that local animal welfare organizations were doing, Lana and Gary chose to pledge a future estate gift through the Foundation’s Legacy Society. Their bequest will be used to establish two new funds: one to benefit Animal Rescue Fund and the other to benefit Best Friends Animal Society, a national nonprofit. While Lana sadly passed away in 2019, her gift will continue to support the wellbeing of rescued animals for years to come.
Albert Miller - Indiana Public Radio
In the days of Spotify and Apple Music, public radio can feel like an aging service. But Indiana Public Radio has one mission that will never expire: keeping our community connected.
Indiana Public Radio has been a service of Ball State for over 60 years and covers 22 counties throughout East Central Indiana. In addition to broadcasting timeless tunes, IPR engages with the topics that matter most, discussing culture, history, fine art, and news from the local community. The Facing Project Radio Show, hosted by IPR, inspires empathy through expert-led discussions on pressing social issues.
For Dr. Albert O. Miller, a graduate of Ball State, Indiana Public Radio is a “critically important” cause in keeping our community connected, informed, and educated. In 2012, Al established the Indiana Public Radio Fund, a designated fund that will help support the service for years to come. He was inspired to begin this fund during his lifetime rather than waiting to donate posthumously, and he says that watching the impact of his philanthropy has been “tremendous.”
Steve Robert - Community Advocacy
With so many worthy causes in the Delaware County community, it can seem impossible to pick just one to support. Thankfully, with over one hundred designated funds already established, your gift can be directed far and wide across the community.
Steve Robert was an avid volunteer, and by his own words, a community advocate. After he was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor in 2020, Steve chose to make a gift that would continue his community work for years to come.
Steve chose for his donation to support five existing funds at the Foundation, including Motivate Our Minds Fund, Red-tail Land Conservancy Fund, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, Inc. Fund, and the YWCA Fund. But Steve wanted to do even more with his gift, and he directed part of his donation to be the seed money needed to establish three new funds – the Martin Luther King Dream Team Fund to support the ongoing fight for civil rights, the Muncie OUTreach Fund to support LGBTQ+ youth, and the NAACP Muncie Branch Fund to promote racial equality and justice. Before he passed, Steve was quoted as saying “Well - I don’t guess this world is going to make itself into a better place – so – I guess that it’s just gonna have to be our job.”
Make a Difference
Caring, giving donors are key to developing an enduring source of charitable assets to benefit our community today, tomorrow, and always.