Huntingburg Foundation

Story by Candy Neal, The Herald News

 At Age 15, Brad Ward was an entrepreneur, serving Dubois County through his disc jockey service. 
Now, the 26-year old Ward is serving the people of his home county again, having been named the new executive director of the Huntingburg Foundation.  The Foundation board made the announcement on Monday, August 4.
“Huntingburg is a place with a deep sense of its own history,” Ward said.  “You cannot walk around town without being aware for that, for close to 175 years, Huntingburg has been an invigorated community.  Charity and philanthropy are fundamental to its preservation as a strong community.” 

Mike Uebelhor, president of the Huntingburg Foundation, said Ward has the qualities to be an effective executive director.  “Ward allows our foundation to continue its mission, be good stewards of our resources and remain knowledgeable and proactive in public discourse,” he said.

Ward replaces Christine Prior who headed the Foundation and Huntingburg Chamber of Commerce until June.  The chamber is being operated by its board of directors with the help of office manager, Connie Burgdorf, Ward said.
 
Ward, a native of Jasper, has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from DePauw University, Greencastle, IN, and has studied abroad at the University College Cork, Ireland.
 
During his college years, Ward volunteered more than 2,500 hours to community service, international and local professional nonprofits in the United States, South America, and western Europe.

For the last three years, Ward has worked at the American Cancer Society in Bloomington.  He has more than 10 years of community leadership experience, including his current service as a member of the Teen Outback  Youth Center’s board of directors.

Ward and his wife, Huntingburg native Cara Barnett-Ward, live in Jasper.

Established in 1977, the Huntingburg Foundation organizes leaders, resources and philanthropists to preserve the community’s heritage and provide charitable giving for future generations in Huntingburg and southwest Dubois County.  “This is a Foundation that serves a community we were know each other,” Ward said, “where the needs are immediate and relevant.”

People can give charitable gifts to the foundation, which uses the gifts as investments to generate more funds over time.  Those earnings are used for grants and scholarships for area individuals, charitable projects and organizations. “Since the funds are endowed, they are never spent,” Ward explained.  “Only the income from the invested funds is used to help meet the needs of our community.”

The foundation has distributed over $1.4 million in Dubois County in charitable grants, pass through accounts for special projects, and scholarships.  In 2007, it funded and completed the construction of the $3.8 million Huntingburg Event & Community Center.  For more information, call 683-5799 or stop by the community foundation’s office in Old Town Hall, 309 N Geiger St., or visit online www.huntingburgfoundation.org.

 

Originally Published October 8, 2008