Ball Brothers Foundation awards over $3 million worth of grants

The Ball Brothers Foundation has awarded over $3 million worth of grants this spring to various community initiatives, according to a press release from the foundation. 

These initiatives include health, education and environment. Among the funding awarded was a $75,000 grant aiming to "bolster public art efforts" in Muncie through funding installations and their long-term maintenance. Funds will also support the “Creative Space Action Plan,” designed to connect creative spaces in downtown Muncie, advance economic development and more. 

The full list of grants provided is below. 

Arts & Culture

• Conner Prairie Museum, Inc. - $30,000 for new nature programming for children and families as well as trail maintenance.
• Music for All - $35,000 for the 2025 Bands of America Summer Camp at Ball State University.
• Sustainable Muncie Corporation - $200,000 for 2025-2026 operations and programming at MadJax.

Education

• Anderson University - $25,000 to expand cybersecurity apprenticeships with other universities across the state of Indiana, building on an existing partnership between Anderson University and Ball State University.
• Ball State University - $25,000 for the Cardinal Academy of Digital Security and Education (CADSE) which provides internships and certifications for students interested in cyber careers.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie - $350,000 to support general operations for two years at the Madison and Buley Sites.
• Inspire Academy - $30,000 for window replacement.
• Job Source, Inc. - $15,000 for programming and operations at Muncie Scholar House.
• Project Leadership - $450,000 for general operating support across two years.
• Ross Community Center - $300,000 for general operating support across two years.
• Wes-Del Community Schools - $59,000 to upgrade the high school's computer science lab, improving opportunities for coursework in cybersecurity and networking operations.

Environment

• City of Muncie - $40,000 to add 1.2 miles to the existing multi-use trail on the southeast side of Prairie Creek Reservoir.
• Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District - $30,000 for educational events, water quality monitoring, and agricultural cost-share programs in the Upper Mississinewa and Upper White River watersheds.
• Indiana Natural Resources Foundation - $100,000 to expand the Wilbur Wright Fish and Wildlife Area in Henry County.
• Red-tail Land Conservancy - $166,000 for general operating support across two years.

Health

• Muncie Sports Commission, Inc. - $70,000 for general operating and programmatic support.
• Riley Children’s Foundation - $100,000 for research centered on early identification of Type 1 diabetes risk and delay of disease onset via the Luke Bracken Wiese Fund for Diabetes Research.

Human Services

• Ball State University Police Department - $10,000 to update the department's training room.
• Greater Muncie, IN Habitat for Humanity, Inc. - $400,000 for general operating support across two years.
• Heart of Indiana United Way - $80,000 to provide matching dollars for the 2025 campaign.
• Indiana Youth Institute - $45,000 for customized consulting services for up to four youth-serving organizations across East Central Indiana.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana - $40,000 to repair, update, and install new sprinkler systems.
• YWCA Central Indiana - $100,000 for general operating support.

Public Society Benefit

• Cardinal Greenways - $425,000 for general operating support across two years.
• Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office - $50,000 for the High Tech Crimes Unit's purchase of additional digital forensics tools, training, and internships in collaboration with Ball State University.
• Delaware County Sheriff’s Office - $20,000 to upgrade digital forensics tools and software, including the expansion of digital evidence storage capacity. 
• Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District - $90,000 for a new canoe/kayak launch on Memorial Drive.
• East Central Indiana Regional Planning District - $30,000 to support an internship program designed to help municipalities and organizations in Blackford, Delaware, Grant, and Jay counties.
• Henry County Emergency Management - $21,000 to upgrade technology at the county's emergency operations center and enhance the training center located near New Castle.
• Muncie Downtown Development Partnership - $100,000 to provide general operating support and add new event programming.
• Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc. - $85,000 for branding/marketing refresh as well as kitchen, bathroom, and HVAC updates.

Muncie Police Department - $20,000 to upgrade digital forensics tools and software as well as cyber training.

Contact the Daily News via email at editor@bsudailynews.com.

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