Author: Rebekah Thomas

Chris and Erin Martoglio with daughters Aurelia and Jasmine.

Chris and Erin Martoglio believe that being committed to community can create lasting change, one stride at a time.

As a lawyer in Bloomington focused on business and estate planning, Erin’s professional path led her to work in charitable gifts advising, where she crossed paths with Brian Yeley. Yeley was the Board Chair at the Community Foundation and nominated her to join the Community Foundation Board in 2021. “The Community Foundation Board is a knowledgeable group of people that passionately care about the community,” Erin reflects.

Chris, an entrepreneur who founded a consulting firm, Blue Burro, also brings a wealth of experience and a passion for giving back to this community. Erin and Chris met through their shared love of running and continue to run together with their twin daughters, Aurelia and Jasmine. Erin was inspired by her grandmother, who continued to run into her late 80s.

In 2023, they chose to devote some of their philanthropy towards this passion and established the Long Run Fund to support cross country programs in local schools. “We wanted our fund to support the team that shows up in jeans because they don’t have uniforms or the kid who doesn’t have the right shoes,” Erin shares. “Running has been such a big part of our lives, and we want to ensure that every child has the opportunity to participate.”

Aurelia and Jasmine, now juniors in high school, embraced the family passion for running by participating in cross country. Erin and Chris believe cross country is a meaningful sport, saying, “It’s a lifetime sport; it can visit you throughout your life.” The Long Run Fund represents a financial commitment and a legacy of community involvement that they hope will inspire their daughters.

At the same time, Erin and Chris created the Martoglio Family Fund, an unrestricted fund that aims to address various community needs. “We heard the Lilly Endowment was providing matching dollars for unrestricted funds at the Community Foundation, and we thought it was a great opportunity,” Chris explains. “If you are going to be charitable, multiplying the amount for your fund is just incredible.”

Erin and Chris are committed to making a difference in their community, especially during challenging times. “Unrestricted funds at the Community Foundation were used to meet the emergency needs of Monroe County during COVID-19,” Chris notes.

Their trust in the Community Foundation stems from its ability to respond to evolving community needs. “They have a good finger on the pulse of what the community needs,” Erin adds.

As they look ahead, Erin and Chris hope their efforts will encourage others to get involved. “I hope that other people will see that they can create a similar fund,” Erin states.

“Our goal for the Martoglio Family Fund is to invest in the community without a predefined direction,” Chris explains. “We believe in the discipline of the Community Foundation’s allocations. It’s a springboard for lasting impact.”

By working with the Foundation, the Martoglio family is not just contributing funds; they’re building a legacy that will benefit Monroe County for generations to come.

Twenty-one high school seniors selected from six area schools as semifinalists for Monroe County’s two 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County (CFBMC) has announced that 21 high school seniors have been selected as semifinalists for the 2025 Monroe County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program. Congratulations to these exceptional students:

• Audrey Adams, Bloomington High School South
• Gabrielle Buckley, Edgewood High School
• Sophia Craiutu, Bloomington High School North
• Daniel Crum, Seven Oaks Classical School
• Tamanah Fazel, Bloomington High School South
• Mayah Fish, Bloomington High School North
• Zoe Gray, Bloomington High School South
• Isha Harbaugh, Bloomington High School South
• Koel Harbaugh, Bloomington High School South
• Gavin Kocher, Bloomington High School North
• Wren Millick, Edgewood High School
• Gabriel Oliger, Bloomington High School South
• MaKenzie Rayles, Bloomington High School South
• Lilah Reed, Bloomington High School North
• Ashton Shalley, Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship
• Sara Shedd, Bloomington High School North
• Aiden Shin, Bloomington High School North
• Kate Thies, Bloomington High School North
• Trinity Vuyyuri, Lighthouse Christian Academy
• Luke Waugh, Edgewood High School
• Danielle Yang, Bloomington High School South

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) will provide 147 scholarships statewide and two scholarships in Monroe County. LECSP scholarships may be used for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year. The special allocation may cover the costs for required books and required equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university.

The program is administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and locally in Monroe County through the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County.

Monroe County’s semifinalists were selected from among 110 applications submitted by students from seven of the ten high schools that serve Monroe County students. Eligible schools include The Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship, Covenant Christian School, Bloomington Graduation School, Bloomington High School North, Bloomington High School South, Edgewood High School, Harmony School, Indiana Academy for Science Mathematics & Humanities, Lighthouse Christian Academy, and Seven Oaks Classical School. 

Evaluation Process for Monroe County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships:

Applications are blindly reviewed and independently scored by members of a Lilly Scholarship committee at each Monroe County high school to identify semifinalists. The number of semifinalists identified is determined by each school’s senior class size. 

Next, semifinalists submit additional content and references from schools and other members of the community. The Community Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee then evaluates the semifinalist applications. This committee, comprised of community members and former Monroe County Lilly Scholars, blindly reviews and scores applications from the semifinalists to select ten finalists. In October, each finalist will be interviewed, and their interview scores will be combined with scoring from the written applications. In selecting recipients for the Monroe County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, consideration is given to student activities and achievements, community and civic service, academic performance, and leadership potential. 

The finalists’ rankings, along with the committee’s recommendations for scholarship nominees, are then submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. for final selection of scholarship recipients for Monroe County prior to the formal announcement in December.

Lilly Endowment initially established LECSP for the 1997-98 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling more than $490 million. More than 5,300 Indiana students have received Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships since the program’s inception.

The primary purposes of LECSP are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.

For more information on the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program or other scholarships administered by CFBMC, visit https://www.cfbmc.org/lasting-impact/apply-for-a-scholarship/ or contact Marcus Whited, Program Director, at 812-333-9016 or [email protected].

Created by individuals, families, and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has granted $50 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $45 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff, and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education, and religion. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.

Since 1997, Independent Colleges of Indiana has administered the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program statewide with funding provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for the state’s 29 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a total local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-time graduation rates, and ICI institutions produce 30 percent of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates. 

“My home is really special to me, and leaving it to the Community Foundation in my will to help alleviate homelessness felt like the right thing to do. With my estate gift, I hope more people can have their own safe place to call home.” -Kathy Weller

Kathy Weller values Monroe County as the place where she and her family decided to settle. In this story, Kathy shares her passion to support housing security in our community.

“Through circumstances beyond their control, many families in our community have nowhere to call home,” said Weller. “I have been blessed that I never had to worry about where I was going to lay my head at night. By gifting my home to the Community Foundation, my house will support our neighbors who are housing insecure.”

Kathy grew up in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, before attending Purdue University to pursue a degree in landscape architecture with a focus on residential design. After college, Kathy married Steve Weller, an Indiana University graduate with a master’s degree in biology. Once they married, Steve made a pivot in his education by also studying landscape architecture. Steve began specializing in park planning and administration in Northern Illinois. This led to the Wellers starting their own business, Ecological Planning, where they worked restoring wetlands to make up for development impacts in the Chicago area. 

Kathy retired from residential design to work full-time with Steve on their wetland restoration business and to raise their two children, Amelia and Nathan. While their projects remained in Illinois, they searched for a new home in Indiana so they could return to their roots and reconnect with their families.

In 2004, while visiting family in Ft. Wayne, Steve stumbled upon an intriguing real estate listing in Bloomington. The family decided to extend their stay to explore the property, which ultimately led them to find their forever home here.

After Steve’s passing in 2022, Kathy wanted to continue his legacy by giving back to the community they loved. “The driving force of my giving is having empathy for people and causes beyond myself,” she said. “We are all collectively responsible for sharing our blessings and good fortune in the best way we can to help others who have fallen on hard times.”   

Kathy decided to establish the Weller Family Fund with the Community Foundation as a donor advised memorial fund to Steve. She shares her experience: “Giving brings me so much joy and continually energizes me to do more. A benefit of partnering with the Community Foundation is their expertise in knowing the needs of the community. I became aware of their good work in bringing together individuals and organizations who work together to better Monroe County.”

After creating the Weller Family Fund, Kathy continued to look for more ways to invest in Bloomington.

 “As I considered what I could do for my community, I received an impact report from the Community Foundation about the Heading Home initiative, and it made sense to gift my own home to benefit those efforts,” Kathy said. “I thought about how hermit crabs shed their shells when they’re done with them and leave them for another crab to use, and I thought I could do the same thing with my house. So I named the Community Foundation and their Housing Security Endowment in my estate plan.”

Heading Home of South Central Indiana was established as a result of the leadership work the Community Foundation and others facilitated in 2020 to address the challenges of housing insecurity. Heading Home and the resulting Heading Home Plan were created to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-repeating. The Community Foundation’s Housing Security Endowment will provide long-term, sustaining funding for efforts that align with the Heading Home plan. 

The Community Foundation can receive all kinds of gifts in different forms to benefit the Housing Security Endowment or any of its other 290+ funds. A gift of real estate or property, like Kathy’s, is a powerful example of giving assets besides cash.  “Naming the Community Foundation as the beneficiary for my home was almost no effort. The Community Foundation wrote up a memorandum of my charitable intent, summarizing the purpose and details of my gift,” she said. “It was quite easy.”

The Community Foundation will assume ownership of Kathy’s home after her life. The proceeds from the home’s sale will support efforts to improve housing security in Monroe County in perpetuity. “Unhoused persons are part of our community. If someone doesn’t have their basic human rights of food, clothing, or shelter, the community pitches in, and we all rise up better together,” said Kathy. 

Kathy shares, “Giving is an innate part of our nature, and it really is like a circle: to receive and to give back. Many generous volunteers and donors in our community have been integral to the Community Foundation’s success. They have been doing this for decades, and I am honored to join them in giving back.”

Kathy’s house will have a lasting impact in our community. By designating the Community Foundation and its Housing Security Endowment as the beneficiary of her estate, Kathy will transform her home into a sustainable source of giving so that others don’t have to go without a home.

Debbie Lemon wanted her planned gift with the Community Foundation to reflect her history and connection to Monroe County. Debbie’s ties to this community have deep roots spanning multiple generations. She explains, “My cousin, Tom Lemon, was the mayor of Bloomington for several years. After World War II, we had an influx of students to our town and started having water issues, which is when Lake Lemon was created.”

Debbie grew up on the southwest side of town, where she attended high school while her parents owned a retail store. Debbie gratefully recalls this “idyllic life.”

She attended Indiana University Bloomington to study Marketing and Entrepreneurship, a new field for her class. After graduating, Debbie worked in healthcare sales in Chicago and Seattle for a few years before moving to Indianapolis. Debbie moved back to Bloomington in 1985 to be closer to family and because she loved the town. She had a long career in the community, culminating in her role as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Indiana University from 2014 to 2021 before retiring.

As Debbie resettled in the community, she became more aware of the many charitable efforts – and she got involved. “When I came back to Bloomington, many of the people I used to know had moved away. I joined Leadership Bloomington, where I began networking and getting to know more organizations. I became involved in the hospital, Hospital Board of Directors, Local Council of Women, Hospital Foundation Board, and Parks Foundation Board, amongst others. Now, I am on the board of the Bloomington Health Foundation. Through this, I have seen the different community needs and focused my philanthropic efforts.”

Her firsthand experience witnessing the challenges of nonprofits led Debbie to create an unrestricted endowment at the Community Foundation in her estate plan. This permanent endowment, the Debbie Lemon Community Fund, will provide flexible grant funds to support community needs in perpetuity. The Debbie Lemon Community Fund will continue Debbie’s legacy of service and giving as it supports Monroe County’s changing needs. 

Debbie continues, “Serving on these boards and learning about their operating expenses, the help they need, and overhead made me passionate about unrestricted funds. Sometimes organizations have a specific focus, but they are often just trying to keep their doors open.” Debbie adds, “When the pandemic happened, no one had a line item in their budget that said ‘pandemic.’ Challenges and changes come from nowhere, but unrestricted funds keep everyone flexible and adept at handling these weighty issues.” The Community Foundation was the ideal place for Debbie to leave her gift because she knows her funds will be cared for, and it will ensure this place she loves will thrive, now and forever. “The Community Foundation makes me feel like this is the right place for my giving to happen because it will be done right, it will be done responsibly, and we will know the outcome,” she said. “When this money comes from my planned gift, I hope it will have a positive community spirit.” 

By leaving a legacy gift with the Community Foundation, Debbie can support the various organizations she has been connected to while adapting to the growth and needs they experience over time. Debbie says, “For my will, I know the institutions I am focusing the funds towards and leave them unrestricted, which gives the organizations a little more flexibility over the years.” 

 As both a volunteer and donor, Debbie has experienced the Community Foundation’s impact and shares in the vision for local, long-term support. “The Community Foundation covers a multitude of broad areas and covers needs that could be chronic or even acute,” she said. “The Community Foundation looks into the needs here and now, as well as the future. I appreciate that the Community Foundation can address things at a moment’s notice to reach community needs.”

Monroe County has become a better place thanks to Debbie’s many contributions, which will continue forever thanks to her thoughtful, planned gift. “This is my hometown,” Debbie shares, “I feel such a loyalty and a commitment to making it better. What’s important to me is that Bloomington keeps its beauty and continues to develop to be a place with great jobs for a growing workforce and that we support those gaps for the services people need. I have always felt very strongly about local giving. You can see the impact of your giving, give feedback, and see tangible assets.”

Andy and Kim Allard believe strong, supported families are foundational to every community, and their donor advised fund enables them to positively impact families in Bloomington. The couple shares, “We love supporting families and children in our community. We want our giving to be a catalyst for their growth and success by creating opportunities.”

Kim grew up in Ohio and moved throughout the Midwest during her childhood. She attended Ohio University to study elementary education, where she continued to cultivate her passion for teaching. “I have known since I was very young that I would be a teacher when I grew up. The moment my fate was solidified and my teaching ‘career’ began was when I received a double-sided easel-style chalkboard for my fifth birthday. I joyously began my teaching career that very day in my family’s living room. I have taught a variety of grade levels in elementary school, preschool, and within the church.” Kim currently works at Clear Creek Christian School as a 6th-grade teacher.

Andy grew up in Bargersville and studied finance at Indiana University Kelley School of Business. He has been in the banking industry for 32 years and currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the IU Credit Union for the last 16 years. 

Andy and Kim met while working at a Greenwood restaurant shortly before starting their careers. The couple married after college and recently celebrated 32 years of marriage with their two daughters, Madeleine and Lydia. 

Supporting families has always played an essential role for Andy and Kim, even before their daughters were born. “As a newly married couple, we were leading the youth group at our church and supporting causes for families and children at risk,” Kim shared. “The journey to start our family wasn’t easy, and we explored and considered adoption,” said Kim. “Giving back and serving others, especially children, was one way for us to cope with our fertility struggles.”

Andy also recalled discovering his passion for programs serving families and children. “I remember when I was working at the bank in Indianapolis; we were encouraged as leaders to network in our community and to give back. One day, there was a nonprofit fair, and I went from booth to booth, grabbing brochures and asking questions. When I returned to my office, all the brochures were about youth and family needs. There was one program, Champions for Children, that served new parents and taught them how to care for their children. I distinctly remember when we were new parents how difficult it was. I had an epiphany because I had my family nearby and was blessed with an education and financial security, but I was still at my wit’s end. So that’s when I realized how difficult it must be for families at risk or in need.” 

Over the years, Andy and Kim have become deeply connected throughout the community and feel inspired to give back wherever possible. The couple volunteers frequently through their church at Sherwood Oaks and with local charities while serving separately in roles through nonprofit boards, locally and globally. “It is part of our civic responsibility to be purposeful and give back, whether through volunteerism or financial contributions,” Andy said. In the couple’s view, Kim shares, “We feel it is important to give back to the community where we live, which is also the community that invested and helped raise our daughters. Building connections and relationships within our community is important because it provides a constant thread that ties us all back together.”

In 2020, Andy and Kim established the Allard Family Charitable Fund, a non-permanent donor advised fund (DAF) through the Community Foundation, to support programs and philanthropic passions that matter the most to them – children and families. 

“It is deeply rooted in our beliefs and a core tenant of our faith,” the couple shared. “We have been blessed with a means to bless others, and serving others is love in action. When you give back, you can see tangible needs met. Providing opportunities for individuals in our community to grow and prosper is important to us.” 

The Allards shared that establishing their donor advised fund was easy and efficient. “When I first heard about setting up a fund, it seemed daunting and complicated, but it was easy to set up,” Andy said. The Community Foundation is great about helping you understand how your charitable dollars can be used and deployed.” 

The Allard Family Charitable Fund also provides tax benefits for the Allards as they give back. “When the tax laws changed, a cap was placed on tax deductions for charitable giving, but we were exceeding it,” said Andy. “By setting up a DAF, we can easily bundle our giving for tax advantages and handle our grants or distribute whenever we want, almost like a charitable checkbook.”

Kim agreed, adding: “It really is a great way to be efficient with your charitable giving. It does feel like, in a sense, a charitable checkbook. It’s very user-friendly and has no downside – It’s a win-win situation. The ease at which everything is managed at the Community Foundation is amazing. The new fund portal is a game changer; we can put in our request, and it tracks our giving. So, really, the simplicity of having the fund is wonderful.” 

“We have seen the impact of our fund through the causes we support,” said Andy. “The vast majority of our giving is centered on kids and families. We are strong supporters of  New Hope for Families, and a significant portion of our grants went to their capital campaign, which resulted in two new buildings and provided additional capacity to serve their clients.”

“The Boys & Girls Club is another organization that we partner with,” Kim added. “They are excellent at focusing on the needs of children and providing quality resources for families and kids. Whether it is during the summer or after school, it is the continuity and high-quality experiences that matter to us. It’s putting love into action, and that’s what our fund looks like.” 

Partnering with the Community Foundation to establish a fund can turn your charitable dollars into a philanthropic powerhouse. Andy and Kim shared, “When we partnered with our local community foundation to start the donor advised fund, we essentially partnered with our neighbors. There is a level of care and connection here that makes our charitable giving more effective. If you have a cause where your heart lies, the Community Foundation partners with you to make connections and structure your charitable giving more effectively.”

Warren Cutshall’s father, William, demonstrated generosity throughout his life. Growing up, Warren learned from his dad’s example, and today, he is ensuring that William’s impact is still being felt and will be for generations to come.

Warren grew up in Bloomington after his father moved the family here to practice medicine. William Cutshall played a key role in establishing Cook Family Health Clinic, which serves Cook Group companies’ employees, spouses, and dependents. As a doctor, William found innumerable ways to care for others locally and abroad.

The Cutshall family traveled for medical mission trips each year to volunteer their time and William’s medical expertise. The family often traveled to various locations, including Haiti and destinations in the South Pacific, where William could transport medical supplies and offer clinical care to those in need. Warren was deeply connected to his father from a young age through their love of travel, adventure, and serving others.

William Cutshall’s legacy is a story of generosity, authenticity, and service. Warren shares, “My dad was always a generous man. If you saw something on his kitchen counter and commented that you liked it, he would give it to you. He was just that way. When patients had a tough time paying, my dad would work pro bono or accept what they could give. One time, a patient gave him a donkey as payment, while others just gave him things like food because they liked him.”

During high school, Warren became fascinated with learning the Chinese language, which led him to Georgetown University’s renowned Chinese Program. After graduation, Warren worked in New York for a stint before realizing he wanted to continue his education and career in corporate law in Bloomington, where he reconnected with his future wife, Lara. Lara and Warren launched their long-time careers, permanently anchoring their family in Bloomington, when Lara began working as an attorney for Bunger & Robertson, and Warren started his work as an in-house counsel for Miller Real Estate LLC.

In December 2005, when Warren’s dad, William Cutshall, passed away, the family decided to create a fund in his memory: “At the time of my dad’s death, the donor-advised fund enabled family and friends to make donations to honor him. My wife’s coworker, Peggy Frisbie, another attorney, recommended setting up a donor-advised fund with the Community Foundation. We pretty easily found a great structure for our charitable giving that was the best fit for our family. The Community Foundation can accommodate all shapes and sizes, and their experienced staff can help you find the right answers to your questions.”

A donor-advised fund allows donors to play an active role in their grantmaking while leveraging Community Foundation expertise. Warren shared the advantages experienced over the past 17 years: “Having the ability to make recommendations as the community needs change, or as our giving priorities shift, is one of the huge benefits. With a donor-advised fund, you can specifically make recommendations about what you support as an individual or family. Our community has always had needs; they just change over time.”

Today, Warren and Lara’s family includes three children: Carter (age 17), Helena (age 15), and Fionn (age 13), and two precious dogs, George and Gus. The close-knit Cutshall family continues to invest in one another’s lives, furthering their family story here in Monroe County.

Warren comments on Bloomington’s importance to their family: “My wife and I grew up in Bloomington, so we love supporting our community. Along with us, our children and parents are still a part of this community. We passionately care about the causes in our community and the people around us getting the support they need.”

Warren shares how the William D. Cutshall Memorial Fund has impacted his family, saying: “The memorial fund is one point of connection among the generations. My mom is a big part of our family. My kids didn’t know my dad, but they can get involved by contributing to the fund or providing distribution suggestions. I think anybody can make an impact, no matter how small or big of a financial role they can play. My wife, family, and I have a long-term commitment to this community. You do what you can every year and continue to improve year after year. Creating community impact is an ongoing process.”

The Cutshall family was and continues to be deeply rooted in philanthropic giving and serving throughout Monroe County. Warren seeks to pass on these values to his family, sharing: “Hopefully, generations after us are learning through examples of good parents and grandparents. Those fortunate enough should give back to the community because we are all connected. I feel as though I have given my kids strong values and areas of being connected to the community. My kids have learned many different ways to volunteer and give back in non-financial ways through their mother, too. For every person, there are many ways to give; the will to do it is the most important thing.”

The William D. Cutshall Memorial Fund has grown to be a powerful vehicle of impact in the community by distributing grants to meet pressing needs while continuing to tell the story of William’s life and legacy. As Warren looks to the future and purpose of this fund, he said: “I still meet new people that tell me that my dad changed their life or saved their life. My dad was a character, but at the end of the day, he was a generous person and made a difference. Through charitable giving, I would love to continue changing people’s lives like he did. This fund will continue making a difference and meet our community’s needs while creating more impact in the areas that need it the most.”

From the beginning of her career, Peggy Frisbie knew she wanted to give back to her community and encourage others to do the same. In 2021, she retired after a dedicated 38-year career as a caring and knowledgeable estate planning attorney and as legal counsel to charitable organizations and other nonprofits.

Along the way, Peggy became involved with the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County.  

Her journey to becoming one of the Foundation’s strongest advocates began in her 20s. After graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism, and reporting for several newspapers, Peggy became head of publications and public relations for Centre College in Kentucky. Her interest in charitable giving developed there as she worked to support the college’s efforts to increase donor support.

When Peggy decided to pursue law school, she knew she wanted to help serve various needs in the charitable giving world, from helping individuals and families to consider giving in their estate planning, to helping visionary community leaders start and grow charitable, nonprofit organizations that could turn their visions into reality.

After completing her J.D. at the University of Kentucky Law School, Peggy returned to her hometown of Chicago with her husband, Richard Frisbie, and joined the estate planning practice group of Sidley Austin, a major international law firm. While there, she was engaged in planning for individuals and families with significant wealth and, importantly, also developed expertise in the law of charitable giving and nonprofit organizations. 

The Frisbie family moved to Bloomington a few years later, and Peggy subsequently began working for Bunger & Robertson. In her 29 years with this Bloomington law firm, Peggy has impacted individuals and organizations in Bloomington and the surrounding counties for generations through her work in planning for their estates, retirement needs, asset transfers, charitable giving, business transitions, and more. 

While working at Bunger & Robertson, Peggy soon became aware of the Community Foundation and its mission. Her involvement as a volunteer began with service on the Community Foundation’s grants committee for two years. She then became a member of the Board of Directors for ten years, beginning in 2010, and ultimately served as Chair of the Board from 2016-2018.

During these years, Peggy also served on the development committee, executive committee, and finance committee. She helped with the creation of the Professional Advisors Council, which connects legal professionals engaged in estate and trust planning, financial advising, and charitable giving with the Foundation. Peggy also helped initiate the Foundation’s Charitable Gift Annuities program, which provides a powerful giving vehicle for community members to create an impact. 

Peggy reflected on the progress she witnessed, saying: “The Community Foundation has matured not only to the point that I thought it should be but beyond that. During my time, we have had two Lilly Endowment matching campaigns, the creation of Regional Opportunity Initiatives, and the launch of the Impact Investing program. The Foundation is a model for other community foundations in its stewardship of its gifted assets and leadership of collaborative community initiatives. The Community Foundation has far exceeded my original hopes.” 

After a few years with the Community Foundation, Peggy and Richard decided to start their own fund in 2015. Peggy and Richard agreed that they wanted to open an unrestricted endowment fund named the Frisbie Family Fund.

Peggy discusses their decision: “One thing that I’ve seen within organizations is a need for unrestricted dollars. We’re talking about a fund that is endowed, something going into perpetuity, meaning it can flex with the times. In my roles here and back in Chicago, I have seen situations in which the charity can no longer use an endowed fund because of the donor’s restrictions on those dollars. I wanted my fund to be unrestricted because I have seen the need for organizations to have flexibility firsthand. Unrestricted funds, for me, are critical for a strong nonprofit.” 

Choosing to create an unrestricted endowment fund means the Frisbie Family Fund will be used by the Community Foundation for a wide array of grantmaking to address Monroe County’s pressing needs, with the flexibility to seize compelling opportunities, both now and forever.

In a few short years, the Frisbie Family Fund has granted out more than the original investment that Peggy and Richard made. “My heart is here in Bloomington,” Peggy said. “My view is that the impact of our dollars is so much greater here than it might be if we were to support a similar charitable interest at a national level or elsewhere. The Community Foundation reaches people who are right here.”

In addition to establishing their fund, Peggy made a planned gift by naming the Foundation as a beneficiary of her retirement plan. Her planned gift will create another endowment fund to provide mental health services in our community, a cause she feels is critical to the well-being of our residents.

As someone with over 30 years of experience in legal counseling for and about charitable giving, Peggy is still very passionate about sharing easy ways to give back to others. “There are simple ways to benefit our community through the Community Foundation, such as naming the Foundation as beneficiary of a portion of your estate, retirement account, or life insurance,” she said. “Any of us can also consider making qualified charitable distributions each year from IRAs, creating a charitable gift annuity, or making gifts of stock or other assets. These gifts can fund your own unrestricted named fund, a fund dedicated to the cause you care about, or a fund for which you be advising on its use. All of these are more straightforward than you might think.” 

While contemplating how her work with the Community Foundation changed her experience as a Bloomington resident, Peggy shared, “I am not only so much more aware of community issues and needs but also the people involved in them. Sometimes, it’s not in the headlines. I am more aware of what is going on behind the scenes to resolve these issues, especially issues like the needs of low-income families, affordable housing, and mental health challenges. It takes time to achieve impact, and the Community Foundation is operating on that long-term vision.” 

Peggy summarizes why she supports the Community Foundation’s work and mission: “I have always loved the fact that the Community Foundation can be a repository for dollars that can do good works in perpetuity. The Foundation consistently has had community members devoted to Monroe County as stewards for these funds. We’re going on 32 years for the Community Foundation, and the very first dollars from its founding are there and working. Let’s continue building this good work for many years to come.” 

Monroe County was never far from Herb and Angie Caldwell’s hearts, even when their home was.

Herb and Angie Caldwell first met while studying at Indiana University, where they fell in love and later married at IU’s very own Beck Chapel. In 1987, they moved to Chicago for a job opportunity, and the couple stayed there for several years. During this time, Herb worked with a Michigan community foundation to support a revitalization project. Herb commented on this time, stating, “Watching how a Foundation worked to bring nonprofits in the community together to see their commonality and to bridge future collaborations became my first experience with the work in which a community foundation engages.”

During their time away, Herb and Angie maintained connections with friends from Bloomington. So, when a friend encouraged Herb to apply for a job opportunity with the Kelly School of Business, they knew it was time to return home. Together, the couple has made the perfect home in Bloomington, where they take their dogs for long walks or bike to work.

Today, Herb works as an Investment Operations Manager at the IU Foundation. Angela is a jewelry designer and teaches metalsmithing and jewelry at the IU Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design.

Herb and Angie still stroll by Beck Chapel, a precious piece of their love story, with their two beloved dogs.

Herb recounts their frequent walks, sharing, “It’s cool to look back and realize I was studying here 30 years ago. There’s still a lot here that I remember from my time as a student at IU. Of course, they tweak things a bit here and there, but for the most part, the community remains timeless.”

Herb continues to be an active community member through local organizations. Herb has a reputation for knowing the community well enough to recognize and address its needs. It made sense that Brian Yeley, President of the Community Foundation Board and a friend of Herb’s, reached out in 2018 to recruit him as a board member for the Community Foundation. “Brian said to me, ‘Herb, you’re always out and about,’” Herb laughed while continuing, “You’re pretty into the community here. You should join the board at the Community Foundation.”

“This is the community where I grew up. Even when I wasn’t living in Bloomington, Angie and I would talk and dream of the day that we could return. Now that we’re home, we are committed to doing our part to better Bloomington.”

As they got more involved with the Community Foundation, Herb and Angie knew that they wanted to open a fund through the Foundation. The Caldwells chose to establish an unrestricted endowed fund over other fund options to serve the ever-shifting, always-pressing needs of the community. Herb shared that their motivation to start an unrestricted fund stemmed from a strong desire to invest in Bloomington, saying, “Putting dollars back into the community in which you live is important. For those of us who are fortunate and can give back, we should give back and be generous.”

Herb explained his unique perspective on the Herbert and Angela Caldwell Community Endowment Fund, “I have experienced the impact of unrestricted dollars during my time as a development officer at IU in fundraising roles.”

“Throughout my time, I often met with donors wanting to establish a scholarship; we would talk about making it unrestricted, but usually, the donor would have a specific requirement they wanted the applicant to fit. Their hearts were always in the right place, but when it was too restricted, their money might sit dormant. Whereas, if unrestricted, it can always be utilized, no matter what, because there will always be immediate needs. Sometimes, nonprofits have to shift their focus, so what do you do when you need to change how you deliver your services for the greater good? Things like pandemics happen, and we all know that now. We need unrestricted funds to help us in those times as we adapt.”

Herb and Angie continue to be passionate about supporting Bloomington as seasons shift, needs emerge, and services transform.

Herb continues to live up to his reputation as an engaged member of the community by learning more about the nonprofit environment, supporting organizations like Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard and WFHB Community Radio, and passionately collaborating for social issues such as food security, affordable transportation, affordable housing, education, and job opportunities.  

The Herb and Angela Caldwell Community Endowment Fund is living up to their vision as well. Their fund is invested for long-term sustainability, growing each year into a more impactful tool to improve Monroe County.

Herb offers advice to others considering funds to improve the community: “Do it. Jump in. Contribute. Be a part of the solution. Your future family will proudly recall the decisions you’ve made and still be able to see the community benefit from a fund you started years ago. It’s a way to leave a lasting legacy.”