Being for Others Health & Wellness Foundation

09/03/2026

BFO Staff, Board Members, and local Community Partners were proud to join the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance yesterday for the 2026 Philanthropy Leads Dinner and celebrate the graduating class of the Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute, including BFO President Christian Blome. 🎓

Now in its sixth year, the Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute provides a continuing education experience designed to prepare emerging leaders for board and executive roles at foundations and corporations serving communities across Indiana.

Over the course of the program, Christian and his fellow classmates had the opportunity to learn alongside philanthropic leaders from across the state, exchange ideas, broaden their perspectives, and explore new approaches to leadership, collaboration, and community impact, all while strengthening their their voices and their ability to help shape the future of Indiana’s philanthropic sector.

Experiences like these help strengthen not only individual leaders, but also the organizations and communities they return home to serve.

BFO is proud to celebrate Christian and the entire 2026 graduating class of the Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute! 👏 We look forward to seeing how the knowledge, relationships, and experiences gained through the program continue to shape their leadership and strengthen communities across Indiana.

09/01/2026

38 applications, and 38 different ways organizations across our region are stepping up to improve health and wellness. 💚

BFO is proud to share the incredible response to our Project Grant Cycle 2 for 2026!

This cycle brought applications from 38 unique organizations, including 33 nonprofits, 1 governmental entity, and 4 schools. But these numbers only tell part of the story.

We know that behind every application is a team of people who sees a need in their community and is actively doing something about it.

These organizations are tackling health and wellness from so many different angles. Whether it’s by supporting children and families, expanding access to essential services, creating safer and healthier environments, or finding new ways to care for people throughout our region, they’re out there making it happen. Every. Single. Day.

The diversity of these projects and approaches is one of the things we love most about the Project Grant program. There is no single way to make a community healthier, and this applicant pool is a great reminder of just how creative, committed, and deeply connected our local organizations are to the people they serve.

We’re honored that so many organizations continue to bring their ideas, projects, and big goals to BFO, and we're anxious to continue digging further into this impressive group of applications.

Stay tuned as we share more about the 2026 Cycle 2 applicant pool in the coming weeks, all while working toward announcing our next round of BFO Grant Recipients in October 2026!

08/27/2026

The Boys & Girls Club of Dubois County is finally becoming a reality for Emily and the team behind the scenes that have been working so hard to make this happen!

We cannot wait to see the first round of local students walk through the doors of the Club! 🤩

Meet the Boys and Girls Club of Dubois County Advisory Council!

This team has been hard at work over the past several years to make the Boys and Girls Club of Dubois County a reality!

08/26/2026

Reported by a total of 20 Spencer County, Indiana Respondents: Spencer mirrors Dubois in issue priorities but shows slightly more emphasis on collaboration and coordination barriers.

Other Top Issues reported include Early Childhood & Family Support, Transportation & Connectivity, and Housing & Economic Stability.

Responses were collected as optional surveys given to local community leaders, representatives of nonprofit organizations, service providers, schools, and government agencies. Learn more about the BFO Community Snapshot Survey 2026: https://www.beingforothers.org/news/just-released-the-community-snapshot-survey-report

08/21/2026

Good things are happening in our communities, and even greater things can happen when we rely on one another, collaborate, and work toward shared solutions!

This effort is just one example of the greater impact that community collaboration can have. 🌿

It is incredibly special to know the people behind this work, to see just how deeply they care about their communities, and to watch those individual passions come together in such a meaningful and impactful way.

We cannot wait to see where you grow next... 💚

08/20/2026

Reported by a total of 18 Orange County, Indiana Respondents: Mental health and housing dominate in this county. Funding is cited even more heavily than other counties proportionally.

Other Top Issues reported include Housing & Economic Stability, Early Childhood & Family Support, and Transportation & Connectivity.

Responses were collected as optional surveys given to local community leaders, representatives of nonprofit organizations, service providers, schools, and government agencies. Learn more about the BFO Community Snapshot Survey 2026: https://www.beingforothers.org/news/just-released-the-community-snapshot-survey-report

08/19/2026

Introducing the newest members of BFO’s Board of Directors: Kelly Clauss (L) and Jamie Livingston (R)! 🌻

Kelly joined the BFO Board in January 2026, bringing more than 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership. Prior to her retirement, she served as Vice President of Medical Practice Management at Deaconess Memorial Medical Center, where her career included leading a 32-practice medical network spanning seven counties across Southern Indiana. Kelly holds a Master of Social Work, and is a member of BFO’s Finance Committee.

Jamie recently joined the BFO Board in August 2026, bringing more than a decade of experience in operations leadership, process improvement, and cross-functional team management. She has built her career around finding smarter ways to work, leveraging technology, automation, and data to improve efficiency, strengthen accountability, and create meaningful, measurable results.

Strong organizations are built by strong people. And that's why we’re extremely honored to have Kelly and Jamie bring their unique perspectives, leadership, and expertise to BFO. Their diverse experiences are incredibly valuable as we continue looking ahead and strengthening the future of health and wellness throughout Southern Indiana. ✨

Please join us in welcoming Kelly and Jamie to the BFO Board of Directors! 💚💛💜

08/18/2026

Reported by a total of 16 Perry County, Indiana Respondents: Transportation and mental health are closely intertwined themes. There are also comments indicating the need for inpatient mental health resources.

Other Top Issues reported include Transportation & Connectivity, Early Childhood & Family Support, and Housing & Economic Stability.

Responses were collected as optional surveys given to local community leaders, representatives of nonprofit organizations, service providers, schools, and government agencies. Learn more about the BFO Community Snapshot Survey 2026: https://www.beingforothers.org/news/just-released-the-community-snapshot-survey-report

08/17/2026

Today, we invite you to join us in expressing our deepest appreciation to Dr. Kristi Mahaff Nord, MD, for her years of dedicated service as a volunteer member of the BFO Board of Directors. 💜

Dr. Nord was a founding member of the Board when BFO was established in 2024, helping lay the groundwork for the Foundation from its earliest days. She also served on the Grants Committee during BFO’s first year of grantmaking in 2025, playing an important role as we began putting our mission into action.

As a Jasper-based physician, Dr. Nord brought an invaluable perspective to the Board. Her firsthand understanding of the needs and challenges facing patients and families in our communities helped shape thoughtful conversations around how BFO’s grantmaking could make a meaningful difference. 💛

From helping build the Foundation’s early direction to lending her experience and insight to our grantmaking efforts, Dr. Nord’s contributions have been an important part of BFO’s story.

Thank you, Dr. Kristi Nord, for your time, leadership, and dedication to helping shape BFO into the Foundation it is today. We are deeply grateful for your service, and even more grateful to know you as a trusted colleague and friend in our community. 💚

08/14/2026

Check out this special feature with BFO Board Chair, Tonya Heim, reflecting on the 75-year Anniversary of Deaconess Memorial Medical Center: