BBF 100: Historical Ties to Ball Memorial Hospital
Ball Memorial Hospital’s story is closely tied to the Ball family’s long-standing connection to East Central Indiana. In the early 1900s, members of the Ball family recognized the growing need for a public hospital in Muncie—a need that expanded as the community grew. In the early 1920s, Edmund Ball committed to helping fund a new hospital once state authorization was secured.
Although he died in 1925, Edmund Ball provided for the hospital project in his will. Funds from his estate also helped establish Ball Brothers Foundation in 1926, and support for the hospital was among the foundation’s earliest grants. Ball Memorial Hospital broke ground in 1927 and opened in 1929 with 142 beds, becoming a cornerstone of healthcare in the region.
Over the decades, the hospital has continued to grow and evolve alongside the community it serves. Since the beginning, Ball Brothers Foundation has remained a partner in that work, supporting improvements and programmatic initiatives that strengthen patient care and carry forward the hospital’s legacy as a teaching institution. Over the past 50 years, Ball Brothers Foundation has invested more than $3 million in support of Ball Memorial Hospital, reflecting an ongoing commitment to strong local healthcare and the well-being of East Central Indiana. Today, the hospital is part of the Indiana University Health system and continues to serve families across the region.
BBF & Ball Memorial Hospital Stories Through the Years
The Congregational Care Network provides compassionate care beyond the hospital walls with help from community partners.
The burden of emotional and spiritual strain can be overwhelming for individuals facing life transitions or caregiving challenged. The Congregational Care Network (CCN), a program offered through IU Health, is designed to bridge that gap by providing consistent emotional support to those in need.