UNCF’s Indiana area office, led by regional development director Andrea Neely, was recognized as the top performing office in the country for UNCF when exceeding its fundraising goal for the second year in row by raising a record $26 million. Through Neely’s leadership, Indiana’s office dedicated staff and commitment from the UNCF Indiana Leadership Councils and supporters statewide, the UNCF Indiana area office has raised $66.8 million since 2006 in an effort to enrich the lives of young people.
“The Indiana Office of UNCF has been a phenomenal force for young people who pursue their education after high school,” said Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, a member of the UNCF Northwest Indiana Leadership Council. “So often, our students get an opportunity to start school but financial challenges impede their achievement or completion. We salute Andrea Neely and the Indiana UNCF office and the statewide UNCF Leadership Councils, community partners and stakeholders across the state for laboring on behalf of the young people including those from Gary and all of Northwest Indiana.”
“The diligence of the Indiana office on raising awareness of UNCF’s mission is admirable,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, UNCF president and CEO. “Continuing to set the example for us all in our work to provide quality education, the outstanding efforts of the Indiana office provide young students the necessities to become the next generation of leaders . . . our dividends.
Notable fundraising efforts throughout the year that gave the Indiana area office the resources to make an impact statewide include the Lilly Endowment investment of $50 million, the eighth annual Indianapolis Masked Ball, twelfth annual Bowling For Scholars Bowl-A-Thon, third annual (Gary) Mayor’s Breakfast, third annual Inter Alumni Council Golf Classic and second annual Gospel Fest. Several scholarship/internship programs also benefited from these contributions: the launch of the IU Health neighborhood scholarship program, the launch of Justin and Darrianne Christian scholarship program and renewal of the USA Funds scholarship program.
“Neely and her team continue to set the standard in UNCF’s fundraising efforts,” said Fred Mitchell, UNCF vice president of development for the northern region. “Our service is an essential part of building successful communities and we look forward to the continued growth from the Indiana market in securing better futures.”
“On behalf of UNCF-member schools and students, here in Indiana and across the country, we would like to thank everyone who helped to make it happen,” said Neely. “Together, we are living up to the UNCF ideal, ‘A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but a wonderful thing to invest in.
