The Mishawaka Education Foundation (MEF) supports local K-12 education at School City of Mishawaka (SCM), leaving a positive impact on students, educators, and the community at large. With a focused approach on enhancing learning opportunities and promoting inclusivity, the MEF serves as a noteworthy example of how grassroots educational initiatives can drive meaningful change.  

Supporting Educators 

The MEF's dedication to education is evident in its support for educators. Through ongoing grants and development programs, the foundation helps equip teachers with the necessary resources to cultivate engaging learning environments. This assistance allows educators to innovate within their classrooms, fostering student curiosity and enhancing students’ overall educational experience.

Empowering Students 

Central to the MEF's mission is creating pathways for student success. The foundation recognizes that budget constraints should never hinder a student's potential.  Thanks to the MEF’s generous donors and annual fundraising events, grants for classroom enrichment programs and projects – both big and small – ensure that SCM students have access to a well-rounded education.  As a measure of impact for 2022, MEF grants totaling $181,000 were awarded to SCM, providing educators with the tools and funding to meet the needs of its students.[1]

One of the MEF’s recent major projects was the Mishawaka Network Studio at Mishawaka High School, consisting of a state-of-the-art digital media studio for students who are learning the skills necessary for producing work used in radio, TV, and other digital formats.  Not all projects are as grand or complex – many times, teachers have smaller requests for fundamental items that may not be “in budget”.  For these types of requests, the MEF maintains a “Wish List” page on their website for specific-purpose requests of $200 or less, which may be put forward by a teacher or staff member, in hope that donors will grant all or part of a wish as requested.  

Community Engagement 

The MEF extends its influence beyond schools, actively engaging with the Mishawaka community. Collaborative efforts with local businesses and organizations strengthen community bonds, creating a united front in shaping the future for students and educators, alike.  

Continued Progress

As the Mishawaka Education Foundation advances its mission, its positive influence in the educational community deepens.  Beyond statistics and metrics, the foundation's work resonates in the exciting aspirations of students and the dedication of educators. By promoting education as a means for greater opportunity and personal growth, the MEF is proactively contributing to a future where Mishawaka thrives as a community that values educational opportunity and collaboration.  

Congratulations to Executive Director Jane Wright and the Mishawaka Education Foundation, the Indiana Trust Nonprofit Spotlight award recipient for September of 2023!  

Left to right:  Jane Wright, Executive Director, Mishawaka Education Foundation; Sophia, Liliahna, and Kaiden (School City Mishawaka students); and Tina M. Patton, CSOP™, CISM®, Vice President, Director of Nonprofit & Foundation Engagement, Indiana Trust Wealth Management.

Learn more about Mishawaka Education Foundation

Source:  

1. https://mishawakaedu.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/MEF-Annual-Report-20...

About the Indiana Trust Nonprofit Spotlight Program

Indiana Trust Wealth Management launched the Indiana Trust Nonprofit Spotlight program initiative in January 2021, which consists of recognizing, rewarding, and promoting a nonprofit organization in one or more of the company’s footprint areas on a monthly basis, as a way to highlight various nonprofit organizations throughout the year and bring attention to the good work being done in the communities they serve. Under the Nonprofit Spotlight initiative, the nonprofit organization will receive a $1,000 corporate donation and be eligible for employee gift-matching throughout the year. David R. Kibbe, JD, President & CEO, states, “As a majority employee-owned company, matching our employees’ contributions is an opportunity for Indiana Trust to support those nonprofits whose missions connect with our employees."

About Indiana Trust Wealth Management

Chartered in 1988 as the first independent trust company in the state of Indiana, and now with more than $2 billion in assets under management, Indiana Trust is deeply committed to the communities they serve.  Advising clients and their families nationwide, Indiana Trust is dedicated to increasing financial security by providing superior, ethical, and unbiased wealth management and advisory solutions – delivering legacies built on trust.

Indiana Trust offers comprehensive wealth management strategies for individual and family wealth, business retirement plans, charitable organizations, foundations, and endowments – delivered with the fiduciary standard of care, a multigenerational commitment, and excellence in stewardship. The company is majority employee-owned with offices in Mishawaka, Elkhart, and Muncie. 

Find out more at www.IndTrust.com.

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IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES: All info contained herein is solely for general informational purposes. It does not take into account all the circumstances of each investor and is not to be construed as legal, accounting, investment, or other professional advice. The author(s) and publisher, accordingly, assume no liability whatsoever in connection with the use of this material or action taken in reliance thereon. All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure this material is correct at the time of publication.  Copyright Indiana Trust Wealth Management 2023.