High:77°F Low:61°F

Search

Heritage Fund celebrates 50 years with 'Golden Joybilee'

Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 10:30 AM

Courtesy-Heritage Fund

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Heritage Fund - The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County announces the launch of its "Golden Joybilee," a year-long celebration honoring 50 years of philanthropy, partnership, and community impact.

To commemorate its milestone anniversary, the Community Foundation will be committing 50 Acts of Joy throughout the year.    

“For half a century, Heritage Fund has been a catalyst for good in Bartholomew County,” President and CEO Edie Blakeslee said. “The Golden Joybilee is our way of celebrating with people and partners who shape this community. Joy grows when it’s shared.”    

Founded in 1976, Heritage Fund has spent five decades strengthening the community through strategic grantmaking, donor stewardship, and collaborative leadership. The Golden Joybilee offers an opportunity to celebrate the foundation’s legacy and also to get energized for the next half-century of impact.    

Throughout the year, Heritage Fund will complete a series of acts designed to spread joy. It will include surprising local nonprofits with mini-grant awards, taking part in volunteer efforts, and offering fun activities for the community.     

As part of the celebration, the foundation has enlisted its crew of “Joyriders” (Heritage Fund board, staff, and supporters) to participate in the joy-filled activities.

The Joyriders’ inaugural Act of Joy was a recent stop at the Sans Souci thrift store. They delivered several carloads of donations and also learned about the nonprofit's work that provides low-cost household items, books, and clothing to area residents. 

Heritage Fund office corgi, Moon, is also getting in on the joy. The four-legged Joyrider took a birthday trip to Speck’s Pet Supplies to pick out treats and toys and deliver them to Animal Care Services, where they were joyfully received.    

Follow Heritage Fund for all the Golden Joybilee activities on Facebook and Instagram at @heritagefundbc.

Share

More from Bartholomew County News

  • Accidental shooting injures local man

    COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus Police Department (CPD) is investigating an accidental shooting that occurred on Tuesday afternoon. Officers were dispatched to a report of a person shot at a business located in the 2100 block of North National Road, at around 1:45 p.m.   

  • State Trooper Shot During Traffic Stop on I-94

    HAMMOND, IN – UPDATE (11:26 p.m. on May 26): Detectives continued to gather information and evidence related to the investigation. The female passenger has been released pending further investigation. More details will be released in the days ahead.

  • BCSO partners with ASAP to counsel inmates

    COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), in partnership with ASAP and medical provider Quality Correctional Care, has committed to addressing mental health and substance abuse challenges both inside the jail and beyond release.

  • Bloomington man arrested after I-65 pursuit in Bartholomew County

    BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY, Ind. - A Monroe County man was arrested Sunday evening after fleeing from Indiana State Police (ISP) on southbound I-65 and later striking two vehicles before coming to a stop. A Senior ISP Trooper was on his way home from working the Indy 500 when the incident began.

  • BCSC awards diplomas to almost 850 seniors from North, East, CSA New Tech

    COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) held commencement ceremonies over the weekend for seniors at Columbus North, Columbus East, and CSA New Tech High Schools.

Community Calender

Today's Weather

  • Bartholomew County Weather

    Thunder storm

    High: 77°F | Low: 61°F

Follow Local News Digital on