Hillcroft’s annual Thanksgiving Luncheon in Muncie is reserved as a time for clients, community partners, board members, and staff to come together for food, fellowship, and fun.  Click here to view photos from the event.  The event also offers an opportunity for Hillcroft to recognize several community partners that have made a positive difference for the organization over the course of the year.

2011 Award Recipients         

Volunteers of the Year:  Nanci Sears Perry and Earl Dillon
The Volunteer of the Year award goes to individuals that have made a significant contribution to Hillcroft Services through their donation of time and effort.  The individual must be dependable, carry out assigned volunteer activities, and enthusiastically support Hillcroft.  The individual must be someone we can count on to give that extra effort toward our mission.

Nanci Sears Perry—  Nanci has supported Hillcroft over the past two years as a volunteer with Muncie’s Food Rescue program.  The Food Rescue program is a partnership with local businesses that allows non-profit organizations to pick up food at the end of the day.  Nanci got involved with the Food Rescue program in January 2009 and has been providing assistance by picking up pizzas from Little Caesars every week.  Nanci has graciously involved her children in assisting with the Food Rescue program and provides pizza to Hillcroft clients each week.  Nanci and her family have become a critical part of Hillcroft’s weekly routine and their efforts are greatly appreciated. 

Earl Dillon—Earl has supported Hillcroft over the past four years as a champion for the Ice Cream for Isanogel campaign.  Earl has used his time, talent and network of friends to sell $5,000 in Ice Cream Cards each year.    Earl’s energy and enthusiasm for the Ice Cream for Isanogel campaign has provided the opportunity for clients without resources to attend camp each year.  His efforts are greatly appreciated by clients, families and staff. 

Community Partnership Award:  Edgewater Woods—LifePath Special Care Center
The Community Partnership Award is presented to a for-profit or non-profit organization that has coordinated services with Hillcroft to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families.  The organization shows their dedication to improving the lives of people with disabilities through innovative and extraordinary approaches to service delivery and by helping them promote a positive public image.

Edgewater Woods is well known for outstanding rehabilitation services, skilled nursing, and long-term care.  But they have also been serving individuals with mental and developmental disabilities since 1968.  At the present time, Hillcroft has 14 clients who reside in the LifePath Special Care Center.  The LifePath Special Care Center is designed to provide a holistic approach of care to meet the special needs of residents who have mental and/or developmental disabilities or related disorders.  By implementing a team approach, LifePath staff work with our staff to provide care consistent with the resident's inter-disciplinary plan.  The plan defines the goals that the resident will strive to meet to be an active member of the community in which he/she lives. Hillcroft staff have witnessed numerous positive benefits LifePath has afforded our clients.  We appreciate their team approach and close alliance with our staff to further advance our mission to make exceptional differences in the lives of those we serve.

Community Service Award:   Ball State University Student Volunteer Services
This award is given to a civic organization, club, sorority, fraternity or community group that has made a significant contribution to Hillcroft and individuals with disabilities.  The award is given for monetary contributions, support, service, and/or volunteer activities. 

Ball State Student Volunteer Services is kind and gracious for contributing to Hillcroft’s Art and Recreation program with their coordination of volunteer efforts.  The contribution of volunteer manpower, enables us to run our programs smoothly utilizing Ball State students that serve as outstanding role models and friends to our participants. Student Voluntary Services is always a pleasure to work with, and we appreciate all of the thought and effort that goes into their support of our programming. We are thankful to them for their continued support and have great respect for their stewardship in the community.

Industrial Services Award:  Magna Powertrain
The Industrial Services Award is given to one business which provides a substantial dollar contract with Cannon Industries, but also strives to support Cannon through other avenues. 

Magna Powertrain looks back on more than one hundred years of successful history.  The main focus of Magna Powertrain is to develop technologies and produce products for auto manufacturers.  Starting in Muncie in 2005 in a facility on Cowan Road, Magna Powertrain has achieved and exceeded their presence in the supply of drive train components for the automobile and the light truck manufactures.  In October 2010 Magna announced its plans to expand its transmission components operations in Muncie Indiana. To accommodate the new business they leased an additional 100,000 square foot facility on Fusion Road.  This was about the same time Cannon Industries began working with Magna Powertrain.  We are now processing parts at our North Walnut, Streeter and New Castle facilities as well as providing warehousing at our New Castle location.  Magna Powertrain is providing a large quantity of consistent work for our clients and has become a great partner for Cannon Industries. 

Community Employer of the Year:  Miasa Automotive of Yorktown
This award is given to one business which goes beyond expectations to provide community employment and training to persons with disabilities.  The award is reserved for the business that strives to include people with disabilities into the corporate culture of their company while providing natural supports for its employees.

Miasa Automotive is a subsidiary of Spanish Miasa.  They are a leading manufacturer of transmission components and established its first U.S facility in Yorktown.  Miasa has been an outstanding community partner / employer with Hillcroft this year.  They have employed several of our clients and have willingly allowed us to come in and work with our clients.  Being on the premises has allowed us to get to know the company and staff well and enabled Hillcroft’s Employment Consultants to match them with quality employees that fit their needs. In return, Miasa staff have taken the time to learn about Hillcroft and what we can do to support them and those they hire.  We appreciate Miasa’s commitment to hiring people with disabilities and truly believe our partnership will continue for many years to come.

Development Partnership Award:  Unified Group Services and Grainer, Inc. 
This award goes to an individuals or businesses that have significantly contributed to Hillcroft through financial and in-kind support over the past year. 

Unified Group Services has been a great partner with Hillcroft for many years.  Over 15 years ago Hillcroft was the first customer for this insurance administrator.  Unified takes pride in the longevity of their customers and provides the best service possible.  Unified Group Services has been instrumental in our continued growth at Hillcroft.  Their support, time and dedication to Hillcroft is amazing.  For the last few years Unified has given $5,000 to help underwrite the cost of the Hillcroft Fundraising Breakfast in addition to a $2,500 donation to underwrite our golf tournament this past spring.  Without this support we wouldn't be able to continue to share with our community what we do and who we serve as effectively.

Grainger, Inc. has been a great partner with Hillcroft over the last 2 years.  One of our employees, Heather Farmer shared with her husband David who works at Grainger that Hillcroft could really use Grainger's support.  David spoke with Brian Peterson at the Muncie store and they started talking about how they could give back to Hillcroft.  They decided to donate $5,000 to help satisfy needs in several different programs. They were able to see first hand what their money did for Hillcroft.  So this year, when asked, "Would you help underwrite our Hillcroft fundraising Breakfast?", the Grainger team was more than willing to partner with us. They also donated $5,000 to help underwrite the Hillcroft breakfast in October. At the breakfast Brian Peterson shared with everyone what Grainger was doing to help support Hillcroft and he challenged others to give back and support non-profits in their community.