90 Years Strong

Ball Brothers Foundation 90 YEARS STRONG 2016 Annual Report Jud Fisher, President and Chief Operating Officer, and James Fisher, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 90 YEARS STRONG “Philanthropy is America’s passing gear.” —DR. PAUL YLVISAKER, educator, foundation executive SINCE 1926, Ball Brothers Foundation has helped jumpstart by tradition. They include IU Health Ball Memorial promising new projects and enabled proven initiatives to Hospital, Ball State University, Camp Crosley/Muncie surge forward. The organization that began 90 years ago as a YMCA, Cardinal Greenways, Inc., Cornerstone Center way for a grateful family to give back to its home community for the Arts, Indiana Youth Institute and Minnetrista has grown into a philanthropic engine with the flexibility and Cultural Foundation. capacity to respond quickly to the needs of its service area. • We successfully completed our second five-year In this year’s annual report we feature four success stories strategic plan and began work on our third. Because that affirm our founders’ commitment to Muncie, Delaware we strongly believe that this process promotes good County and East Central Indiana. They illustrate two ongoing governance, we now request that all general grant partnerships: first, with IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, applicants submit a strategic plan when recipient of BBF’s largest grant in 1929; second, with Ball possible. State University, whose Ball brothers’ support predates the • Our board welcomed six associate directors Foundation’s launch. Even more recent grantees—Cardinal as we continue efforts to educate the next Greenways and Vision 2021—reflect our founding family’s generation of Ball family members on the interests. The Greenway speaks to their concern for health, work of the foundation that bears their name. fitness and the environment; the newly minted Vision 2021 addresses their belief in workforce development. • We honored Northside Middle School educator Steve Spradlin, recipient of our Excellence in We continue to explore innovative ways to accomplish the Teaching Award, and Ron Orebaugh, recipient of the Foundation’s historic goals. This year we celebrated several Fisher Governance Award for his work on behalf of the achievements: Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District. • Our total grant payout exceeded $7 million for the first If philanthropy is “America’s passing gear,” as Dr. Ylvisaker time in history. once observed, Ball Brothers Foundation—just a decade away • Half of our 2016 allocations supported the seven from its centennial anniversary—anticipates many, many “legacy” organizations to which we are committed more years in the fast lane. James A. Fisher, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Jud Fisher, President and Chief Operating Officer page 1 90 YEARS STRONG A 90-year vision, still unfolding Two visionary ideas, proposed by Edmund B. Ball and funded by his estate, continue to have an impact on East Central Indiana nine decades later. Ball Brothers Foundation and Ball Memorial Hospital have a shared history. BBF came into existence in 1926, a year after Edmund Ball died; groundbreaking for Ball Memorial Hospital occurred in 1927, and BMH opened its doors two years later with the help of a generous grant from BBF. Since then, grants have supported the development and expansion of programs that have First shovel of dirt, Ball Memorial Hospital secured BMH’s reputation as a first-class hospital and teaching facility. “If he could only see how his vision has grown,” says Tricia Stanley, president of the IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Foundation. Edmund Ball’s dream was to position the hospital as a training center for healthcare professionals, mostly nurses. Today: “Muncie has the largest medical teaching program in Indiana outside of Indianapolis,” says Stanley. “It’s now possible for students to attend four years of medical school at the IU School of Medicine’s Muncie campus, housed in the Edmund F. Ball Medical Education Building. They then have the option of applying for the four- year residency program based across the street at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. In total, during the last academic year, well over 200 future doctors spent time training in the Muncie and East Central Indiana region.” And after that? “The goal is to create such a robust educational and community experience for medical students that after their eight years Main building, Ball Memorial Hospital here, they will want to stay,” says Stanley. To enhance the educational and community experience, BBF convened a group of key partners this year to consider concepts that would lead to the creation of new models for healthcare education, the retention of healthcare workers in East Central Indiana, and the establishment of better health outcomes for all Hoosiers. Participants in the conversations were invited to envision the future—much as Edmund Ball did 90 years ago—and propose ideas to build on Muncie’s tradition as a center of excellence in healthcare. The BBF board would then review the proposals for possible funding in 2017. “This is an effort to create a synergistic approach with everyone working together to improve the physical and economic health of our community,” says Stanley. “No single entity can do it alone. Going forward, it’s a collective partnership.” Historic photos courtesy of Minnetrista Heritage Collection Medical Building, Ball Memorial Hospital, in memory of Edmund B. Ball page 2 90 YEARS STRONG At Burris, ‘We don’t do status quo’ Faculty members at Burris Laboratory School and Ball State University are creating a one-of-a-kind innovation center where Burris students can put into practice the lessons learned in their science classes. The project is part of a comprehensive initiative called O.W.L. Pride (Onward with Learning) supported by a $250,000 BBF grant. “We’re working hard to have a skeleton version of the center in place by September 2017,” explains Dawn Miller, principal of Indiana’s only K-12 public laboratory school. “Then we’ll continue to finesse it throughout the school year.” The goal of the center is to develop critical-thinking skills through experiential learning activities related to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). For example, a discussion in an introductory physics class might culminate with an assignment to create a project that demonstrates one of Newton’s laws. “We want children to tackle issues, brainstorm ideas, ask questions and build prototypes,” says Miller. “We envision a vibrant room within our facility equipped with real tools and current technology. It also will host our robotics program.” The BSU-Burris collaboration benefits a range of partners and participants. Researchers in the educational psychology department at BSU are adding to their knowledge of entrepreneurial learning environments as they help design the center and create age- appropriate curriculum. University students preparing for teaching careers will witness the benefits of hands-on education as part of their preservice clinical training. Chief beneficiaries, of course, will be the Burris students who will put theory to practice in a user-friendly laboratory setting. Because Burris faculty and staff are mindful of research that indicates the value of a well-rounded curriculum, part of the BBF grant also supported the purchase of musical instruments and the addition of a theater arts class. Grade school kids learn Spanish and experiment with string instruments at the same time they’re becoming proficient with school-issued iPads. “We’re always trying to look forward and provide as many robust opportunities for our students as we can,” says Miller. “At Burris, we don’t do ‘status quo.’” page 5 90 YEARS STRONG Kitselman Project advances Greenways’ one-trail vision When the historic Albany Bridge—circa 1905—is restored, reassembled and repositioned on Muncie’s east side, Cardinal Greenways’ 62- mile trail system will emerge as “one trail…actively connecting our communities.” Those words comprise the Greenways’ new marketing tagline and appropriately describe the rails-to-trails system that spans five counties, links three cities and passes through dozens of small towns and neighborhoods. The rehabbed and renamed Kitselman Bridge will join Cardinal Greenway and White River Greenway, enabling users to gain access from any point and enjoy the longest trail system in Indiana. The installation of the bridge is expected to take place sometime in 2017 and is the centerpiece of a $12 million trailhead project that will feature two pedestrian areas and hardscape components. Ball philanthropies have been consistent supporters of Cardinal Greenway since its conception in 1993 and are key partners in bringing the one- trail vision to fruition. The Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Foundation provided funds for the purchase of the retired bridge, and a 2016 BBF grant of $500,000 is helping to restore the vintage structure. More than 20 government and philanthropic partners are contributing to the effort that promises to expand recreation opportunities and turn an industrial brownfield into an attractive greenspace. “The Kitselman Trailhead was part of our original master plan,” explains Angie Pool, chief executive officer of Cardinal Greenways, Inc. “But it really started gaining momentum two or three years ago.” The total project is expected to unfold gradually, with the bridge serving as an early symbol of a project that has “many moving parts,” according to Pool. She predicts that the initiative, once completed, “will

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