Jud Fisher’s Remarks at Fellows Program 20th Anniversary Celebration
Ball Brothers Foundation recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Fellows Program, bringing together nearly half of the program’s alumni for a special evening of reflection, connection, and recognition at the Delaware Country Club.
This evening marks a special milestone: 20 years of the Fellows Program. When we started this program back in 2004, the idea was simple but powerful. We wanted to give nonprofit leaders in East Central Indiana the chance to step away from the daily whirlwind of running organizations, to sit down face-to-face with foundation staff, and to have the kind of honest, two-way dialogue that builds stronger leaders and stronger communities.
Our purpose was, and still is, three-fold:
Help leaders better understand how Ball Brothers Foundation and other foundations operate,
Create opportunities to gain new nonprofit leadership skills,
And—just as important—for our team to listen and learn from you.
We knew then, as we know now, that the best ideas for addressing community challenges absolutely do not come from inside our office—they come from you, the leaders doing the hard work every single day.
Over the years, this program has become much more than a series of meetings. It has been a place for introspection, for building confidence, for connecting with peers, and for discovering new perspectives. It has been fun to see the friendships form between many of you who have been paired up as Fellows through the years. And, ultimately, it has been a way for the foundation to invest directly in people—the kind of investment that multiplies across organizations, boards, and communities.
In many ways, it is hard to believe that 20 years have passed since our first program began with the inaugural fellows, Terry Whitt Bailey and Lynette Freeman (who has since passed away).
I also want to take a moment tonight to recognize someone who has been the heart and soul of the Fellows Program: Neil Schmottlach. Since his retirement from Ball Brothers Foundation in 2014, Neil has continued to serve as facilitator of the Fellows Program. He has guided countless conversations, asked hard questions, and helped Fellows make the most of this experience. This year marks Neil’s final year as facilitator, and we are deeply grateful for the dedication, wisdom, and humor he has brought to the role. Neil—thank you for making the Fellows Program what it is.
As we wrap up, I have one more order of business. In keeping with tradition, we couldn’t let our Fellows leave tonight without a book. Fellows, at each of your place settings is Simon Sinek’s The Infinite Game. As we were looking for a book to gift you tonight, we thought of this one, which is a favorite of Dr. Jeff Bird, one of BBF’s board members. It’s a reminder that leadership isn’t about short-term wins—it’s about playing the long game, advancing a just cause, and building an organization that lasts. In many ways, it captures the very spirit of this program.
Everyone, thank you for being part of the Fellows legacy, and thank you for all you do to strengthen East Central Indiana. Enjoy the rest of your evening, everyone!