June 2026: Field trip highlights, on the air with Dr. Jeff Bird, and 10 years of Muncie Community Schools transformation
Healthcare Workforce Pipeline Field Trip
In early June, Ball Brothers Foundation gathered over 30 community leaders, educators, and peer grantmakers for an inside look at institutions shaping the region’s healthcare workforce.
Attendees spent a full day in Muncie at stops that highlighted a range of programs for future healthcare workers from sonographers to nurses to future physicians.
East Central Indiana has truly built something special in healthcare workforce training, and the teamwork behind it is worth celebrating. BBF has been proud to support this effort through our Optimus Primary funding initiative, which has awarded $3 million locally since 2016.
BBF Takes to the Airwaves
The Ball Brothers Foundation team helped kicked off Dr. Jeff Bird’s new WMUN radio show, “Taking Flight: Chapter 2,” as his very first guests earlier this month. BBF staff engaged in a lively discussion covering the foundation’s history, guiding philosophies, and what happens behind the scenes at the foundation.
Grantee Spotlight: Muncie Community Schools' Decade of Transformation
Ten years ago, Muncie Community Schools faced some of the toughest challenges in its history. Today, things look very different.
Thanks to the commitment of teachers, administrators, families, and community partners, MCS has found its footing, grown stronger, and become a model worth noticing. Our latest grantee spotlight shares the district's journey and details BBF’s $5 million in support over the past decade.
Special thanks to Minnetrista Heritage Collection and Ball State University Libraries' Archives and Special Collection for the photos.
Generations of Support for Public Education
BBF's commitment to public education in Muncie stretches back generations. In 1931, BBF began exploring development of land surrounding the Muncie Field House, helping advance a long-term vision for an area that today includes Muncie Central High School. These historic photos of the area serve as a reminder that supporting education and placemaking has been part of BBF's story for generations.
ICYMI: Cardinal Compass Optimus Primary Feature
Earlier this year, BBF President & CEO Jud Fisher sat down with Ball State University's Cardinal Compass to talk about Optimus Primary—what it is, why it matters, and how a century of philanthropic commitment to healthcare in Muncie shaped the foundation's continued interest in supporting the healthcare workforce pipeline.
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June is Jumping
Enjoy some highlights from a busy June out in the community:
On the Road: BBF took one of its weekly staff meetings on the road this month to Muncie's historic Carnegie Library, a downtown gem and part of the city's emerging Creative Corridor.
Nature Calls: The foundation welcomed Cassie Hauswald, the new Indiana state director for The Nature Conservancy, to Muncie for a conversation about shared work spanning bison restoration, water quality efforts, outdoor learning, and more.
Crime Solving: Program Officer Dan Wolfert tried to crack a case at Camp Invention, where K-6th graders spent a week diving into robotics, entrepreneurship, and forensics. This marked BBF's 4th year supporting the program.
Home Grown Innovation: The foundation visited ecoREHAB of Muncie at The Yard to see firsthand how general operating support is giving the organization room to innovate, including a project exploring panelized home construction.
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