Rooted in faith and a love for their community, Johnny and Julie Lindsey have dedicated their lives to making Ellettsville a place where every child can thrive. From championing local schools to investing in young people’s dreams, their decades of service reflect a deep belief that strong communities grow from compassion, generosity, and the simple act of showing up to help.
Johnny, born and raised in South Carolina, met Julie, a Bloomington native, at Milligan College in Tennessee. The college sweethearts got married shortly after graduation and began raising their three children in North Carolina. However, a job opportunity brought the Lindseys joyfully to Monroe County, and Julie back home to Indiana.
From the beginning of Johnny and Julie’s marriage, their values have been grounded in giving. Thirty years ago, they began investing in the lives of children through Compassion International. This global organization provides financial support to help meet the physical, social, spiritual, and economic needs of children in impoverished communities. They went beyond financial assistance and cultivated relationships with the children they have sponsored, exchanging letters ever since.
The Lindseys have carried that same passion for children and young people into their local community.
“I just don’t think you can do much better than trying to help young people and kids,” Johnny said, reflecting on the joy they have found in supporting youth in Ellettsville and beyond.
Julie began her local service in Ellettsville twenty years ago when their children were in school. She instinctively began giving back by getting involved in her children’s school-related activities. This allowed for a wide range of volunteer roles, from PTO involvement to serving as the band’s treasurer.
Julie’s efforts led to an opportunity to revive the Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Foundation after years of inactivity, which provides resources and support to improve educational experiences beyond what the school district can offer, such as classroom supplies, project materials, and equipment.
The school foundation also introduced Julie to the work of the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County.
“I heard all of the things the Community Foundation was doing, and that really opened my eyes up to what they do. It is a good place to make an investment in our community,” she said.
Around the same time, Johnny joined the board of Edgewood Dollars for Scholars, a program that raises educational scholarship opportunities for Edgewood High School students. For over 15 years, Johnny has faithfully served as the president of the board of directors, investing in students’ educational opportunities. Over the years, Dollars for Scholars has provided Johnny and Julie with an opportunity to volunteer together, allowing them to combine their passion for education.
When Johnny became president of Peoples State Bank years ago, he also strongly advocated and positioned his teams for community investment.
“We set aside a certain amount of money that we’re going to use to go back into the community…then it’s really just a matter of prioritizing who we want to use it for,” he said. “But sometimes it’s just something you hear, there’s something going on, there’s a need, and so we try to direct those resources where we can,” Johnny explained.
Johnny’s passion for reaching the youngest members of the Ellettsville community led to many investments by Peoples State Bank over the years that are geared towards youth, such as funding local food pantries, participating in backpack programs, and a “Reality Store” event where junior high students experience career exploration and financial decision-making.
Julie and Johnny shared, “When you meet people in local organizations and you can see their heart and their passion, you want to be a part of what they’re doing.”
There is no doubt that the Lindseys find joy in giving back to their community. Their latest gift to Monroe County was establishing the Lindsey Family Community Fund, an unrestricted endowment that will enable the Community Foundation to address local pressing needs of all kinds. Unlike funds dedicated to a specific cause, an unrestricted endowment allows the Community Foundation to respond flexibly to emerging opportunities and urgent challenges in Monroe County, today and for generations to come.
Julie said, “There’s just a part of us that wants to help others…because we feel like we have been blessed in a lot of ways, and I think that because we feel like God has provided for us, that it’s our duty to give to others as much as we can.”