Blue River Comm. Foundation

Grant Update!!! Last Fall we partnered with the Shelby County Recycling District to support an arts and connection recycling program at Golden Bear Preschool. Residents from a local nursing home cut nature shapes out of milk jugs, returned them to the school where the students colored them, and then they were assembled into mobiles and sun catchers! Maybe the most impactful part of this program was allowing the students to showcase their work to the residents at a reception and celebration held this week. The interaction between generations was pretty special! 💙⭐️

🎨 New Traffic Cabinet Art Installation in Shelbyville! 🎨 This artwork, located at the Blue River Trailhead on North Harrison, plays off the Roland Hobart-inspired artwork of the sundial recently installed at the same location. The art incorporates several images connected to Shelbyville’s history and visual identity, all designed by Hobart, including the Shelbyville city flag (fountain motif), the 1972 Sesquicentennial logo (badge emblem), artwork from a 1972 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band concert poster (bicycle illustration in background), and artwork from the 1970 SHS Jr./Sr. Prom program (wave design). Roland Hobart (1940-2020) lived and worked in Shelbyville from the late 1960s through the 1980s, creating remarkable printmaking, mural, marketing, and sculptural works, including the Urban Wall mural in Indianapolis. He was well known in Shelbyville for his work with children, famously designing an 80-by-15-foot sculpture for a number of Shelbyville Senior High School proms in the early 1970s. The Grover Center: Museum and Historical Society recently acquired three of Hobart’s prints, along with a booklet he designed. These pieces are now on permanent display. We hope that the sundial project and this traffic cabinet art will continue to create interest in Hobart’s work and inspire others to visit the museum to experience his art in person.

Congratulations to Braydon Povinelli on graduating from Indiana University! A 2022 Shelbyville High School graduate and Lilly Endowment Community Scholar, Braydon earned a double major in Mathematics and Computer Science with a specialization in Data Science. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, made possible through Lilly Endowment Inc. and administered locally by BRCF, helped Braydon pursue his education without financial burden so he could focus on his academics and future career. In a few short months, Braydon will begin Liberty Mutual’s Actuarial Development Program in Chicago as he works toward becoming a credentialed actuary. We are proud to celebrate Braydon’s accomplishments and excited to see all that lies ahead!

✨Grant Update ✨ AirPods Supporting Multilingual Learners at Shelbyville Central Schools With support from grant funds at BRCF, Shelbyville Central Schools is seeing a meaningful impact from the use of AirPods equipped with live translation technology in classrooms. Funded through the ESL for Students and Adults Fund and the Leon and Mary Ann Beaty Fund, this project is helping remove language barriers and create more inclusive learning environments across the district. Staff across most school buildings have been trained on how to use the devices, allowing teachers to better communicate with students who are still developing English language skills. The technology is being used to support students in real-time. At the middle school level, staff have successfully used the AirPods to communicate with a French-speaking student, while Loper Elementary has used them to assist a new kindergarten student who speaks Mandarin Chinese. These early successes show how quickly the devices are making a difference for both students and teachers. Looking ahead, the district is working to expand access even further by incorporating iPhone 15 devices into its Title III funding request for next year. These phones would be housed in each school office and dedicated specifically to pairing with the AirPods, making the translation tools even more accessible and efficient for staff across all buildings. We are thrilled to see that this project is strengthening communication, supporting student success, and helping ensure that all students can fully engage in their education.

During National Volunteer Week, BRCF extends our sincere appreciation to our dedicated board of directors. These 12 individuals give their time, talent, ties, and treasure to help guide our mission and steward community resources responsibly. Their thoughtful goverance, vision, and commitment strengthen our work every day.

Blue River Community Foundation received funding in 2025 through Lilly Endowment Inc.’s GIFT VIII Board Engagement Grant, awarded in recognition of BRCF board members’ collective commitment, with each member contributing $500 or more to the Foundation. BRCF chose to invest these funds in enhancing the landscape and frontage of our downtown building by incorporating native plantings, new walkways, and multiple public art installations. Located in downtown Shelbyville next to the Grover Museum, across from the Shelbyville-Shelby County Public Library, and near the Japanese Alley installation, the project is designed to further activate this corridor and strengthen connections between community spaces. Both the Japanese Alley and BRCF frontage improvements are currently under construction. Students from the Indiana University J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program have led the design-build process over the past several months, gaining hands-on experience while contributing to a meaningful community initiative. Guided by faculty member Lucas Brown, the student team has collaborated closely with BRCF staff, board members, the BRCF Creative Committee, industry professionals, and City officials throughout the semester. These improvements will help visibly identify BRCF’s presence while reflecting the Foundation’s mission and impact across Shelby County. The project advances BRCF’s broader commitment to expanding public art, enhancing downtown spaces, and creating welcoming environments that celebrate community pride and place. While under construction, visitors to the BRCF building should access it from the west entrance of S. Tompkins St.

We’re proud to share that Blue River Community Foundation has once again earned national accreditation through Community Foundations National Standards! This recognition affirms our commitment to transparency, strong stewardship, and accountable practices, ensuring we continue serving Shelby County with integrity and care. The National Standards Seal signifies that Blue River Community Foundation meets rigorous standards for financial responsibility, governance, and community leadership, giving donors and partners confidence that their generosity is making a lasting impact right here at home. Thank you for trusting us to steward your philanthropy for Shelby County.

Blue River Community Foundation is now accepting nominations for their 2026 Spirit of Community Award. This award shines a light on the extraordinary generosity and leadership of outstanding individuals, families, or businesses who demonstrate community spirit through their service and giving. An award will also be presented to a nonprofit organization that has shown a measurable difference in creating positive change in our community. The Spirit of Community Awards will be presented this summer. The recipient in the individual/family/business category will receive a framed commemorative framed certificate along with $1,000 to direct to any nonprofit organization in Shelby County. The nonprofit recipient will also receive a certificate and a $1,000 grant to continue their impactful work in our community. NOMINATION DEADLINE: May 20th Nomination Link: /form/200615013101128 Questions? Contact us at 317.392.7955 or [email protected]

You've helped us reach a major fundraising goal!! ✨ We have now met the 1:1 Match Opportunity through IHCDA's CreatINg Places Program for the Japanese Alley Activation Project. This means that we will be awarded $50K from the program, plus an additional $5K from AARP. Thank you for your generosity! You can still give to the project! These donations will not be matched but are appreciated to help offset final project costs. Learn more about this initiative here: Patronicity.com/japanesealley [link in bio] You can also donate toward the project by either method: *Check made out to 'Blue River Community Foundation' Japanese Alley Fund on the memo line or an attached note 54 West Broadway St., Suite 1, Shelbyville IN 46176 *Online directly to the Japanese Alley Fund via our website /form/251975067952166

LEGACY IN MOTION: Spartanettes Fund Begins First Year of Giving The Southwestern Consolidated Spartanettes Fund, held by BRCF, stands as a powerful reminder of how one life can shape generations and how legacies can be created through endowment. Established through an estate gift from Morris and Evelyn Stroup, the fund honors the memory of their daughter, Nancy Stroup Sellers, a longtime Spartanettes coach whose influence extended far beyond the dance floor. Nancy was a well-loved teacher and music department volunteer at Southwestern High School, her alma mater. Her own happy school memories were re-lived as she helped her students learn in the classroom and perform for audiences to the best of their abilities. Today, that legacy lives on through the current Spartanettes coach, Erika Swanson, one of Nancy’s former dancers. As Erika leads the team, she carries forward the same encouragement, discipline, and belief in every student that Nancy once gave to her, as shown in the segment photo. For many young women at Southwestern Jr.–Sr. High School, the Spartanettes are more than an extracurricular activity; they are a place of belonging, confidence, and connection. Support from the Southwestern Consolidated Spartanettes Fund is transforming what’s possible for the program and the participants. Grants from the fund will remove financial barriers so families are no longer burdened with the cost of uniforms and supplies. The fund will create opportunities for camps, scholarships, and creative performances that build skills and pride. Most importantly, it ensures that any student who wants to be part of the Spartanettes can participate, regardless of financial circumstances. Through this legacy gift, Nancy’s spirit continues to guide and inspire. What began as one coach’s investment in her students has become an enduring gift opening doors, building confidence, and creating a lasting sense of belonging for generations to come, and a forever legacy for Nancy.

To everyone who has contributed to this upcoming public art project, we thank you! We are very near to the top of our fundraising goal to activate the alley between @thegrovercenter and Shelbyville Fire Station 1 on Broadway St. The 1:1 Match Opportunity for this project through IHCDA's CreatINg Places Program will close on Sun., March 15 at 11:45pm. This means that any donation made toward the project before this deadline will be doubled until the $50K target is met. If you would like to give or become a sponsor but need extra time, we will still accept donations for the project after March 15. Financial gifts received after the $50K has been raised will not be matched but are appreciated! Learn more about this initiative and donate directly here: Patronicity.com/japanesealley [link in bio] You can also donate toward the project by either method: *Check made out to 'Blue River Community Foundation' Japanese Alley Fund on the memo line or an attached note 54 West Broadway St., Suite 1, Shelbyville IN 46176 *Online directly to the 'Japanese Alley Fund' via our website /form/251975067952166