Delaware County foundation presents annual leadership award
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Two east central Indiana leaders are being recognized by The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County.
The foundation recently announced its 2023 David Sursa Leadership Award recipients, including J.P. Hall of the Halteman Village Neighborhood Association and former Cardinal Greenway President Marta Moody, who was recognized posthumously.
The leadership award is named after the foundation’s founding president David Sursa and recognizes not-for-profit board members who have contributed to success in their community.
In honor of Sursa, the foundation awarded $2,500 this year to the Halteman Village Neighborhood Association and Cardinal Greenway.
Hall was nominated for the 2023 prize by the Halteman Village Neighborhood Association, which he helped found after Muncie Community Schools announced plans in 2017 to close the neighborhood’s Mitchell Elementary School.
The association led a successful “Kids not Condos” campaign when it learned of the school district’s plans to raze and redevelop the school to make way for new housing. The building now serves as the Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Resource Center.
Hall was also influential in securing more than $76,000 in community support and $30,000 in matching funds for the redesign of Halteman Park in partnership with Building Better Neighborhoods and Ball State University’s Landscape Architecture Department.
Cardinal Greenway nominated Moody for the award for her efforts to spearhead two strategic planning initiatives during her time as president. She served in the role from 2012 until her death in January.
Moody was influential in raising funds to support the growth and maintenance of the Cardinal and White River Greenways, and helped move the Kitselman Trailhead project forward. She also partnered with state officials in the creation of Indiana’s Next Level Trail program.
Other finalists for the 2023 David Sursa Leadership Award include Allen Johnstone of the Muncie Delaware County Area Senior Citizens Center and Terry Pence of the Little Red Door Cancer Agency.