Wolfe Allen, a senior at the Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship, has been awarded the first Carl Deal, Jr. Memorial Scholarship. Established at the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, this scholarship will be presented annually to a current, or former Boys & Girls Club member for post-secondary education or training. Carl Deal’s wife Berit with longtime friend Tommy Richardson were joined by Community Foundation Program Director Marcus Whited and Boys and Girls Clubs Executive Director Jeff Baldwin to award the scholarship to Allen at the school’s Senior Awards Breakfast ceremony on May 16, 2018.
“Having the Carl Deal, Jr. Scholarship awarded to me was a pleasant surprise, and I am very grateful to have this opportunity,” said Allen, who will be attending Ivy Tech Community College in Bloomington this fall.
Born in 1959, Carl “King” Deal Jr. grew up in the Crestmont neighborhood on Bloomington’s northwest side. He attended Fairview Elementary and Dyer Jr. High, and was a graduate of Bloomington High School North. Carl also worked for over 25 years at General Electric in Bloomington. As a child, his father coached youth sports at what was then the Boys Club, where Carl and his brother Steve were active members. Carl developed lifelong friendships through his involvement with the Club. He appreciated the commitment and impact that the Boys and Girls Club had on his life and wanted to give back to the young people of this community. Carl was known for his big personality, for his generous nature, and as an advocate for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington and the families they serve.
After his unexpected death in 2012, Carl’s wife Berit, friends, family, and co-workers launched an annual fundraiser to support the Boys & Girls Club and to create a scholarship in Carl’s memory. Held in August, the King’s Blues, BBQ & Funk Fest at Upland Brewing Co. has drawn 400 people each year since 2013.
“Carl was a strong believer in the power of education, and it is my hope that, through this endowment, kids who wouldn’t normally receive such an award, will be able to achieve things that might not have been possible before,” said Berit Deal. “Like Carl, you can be ordinary and extraordinary at the same time. We are so excited for Wolfe, and look forward to seeing his future unfold.”
“Carl and Berit understood fully what it means to ‘pay it forward,’” said Jeff Baldwin, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington. “They both recognized the value in the Club and what it did for them and for other youth in the community. Thanks to them, and the scholarship they have provided, Wolfe Allen will take a bolder step forward into his future – exciting for him, our community, and the Boys and Girls Club.”
The next King’s Blues, BBQ & Funk Fest is scheduled for August 4 at Upland Brewing Co.
Information and eligibility requirements for the Carl Deal, Jr. Memorial Scholarship can be found at https://cfbmc.org/lasting-impact/apply-for-a-scholarship/deal/. The application deadline for the 2019 scholarship is March 15, 2019.
About the Community Foundation: 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 $27 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $32 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources.