I was back in Indianapolis last week — seems that I visit there more than any other Fuller Center site (most likely because they keep inviting me back!).  I was there for their first annual Millard Fuller Legacy Awards Banquet.  It was a grand event.  Jeff Cardwell, a member of our Board of Directors and a key leader with the Fuller Center of Central Indiana, has been holding fundraising dinners for 30 years, and he’s got it down pat.

The event was at Jonathan Byrd’s, “the largest cafeteria, banquet and catering facility in the world!”  It really is something, the kind of place that can feed 200 people and make them feel to home.  Jonathan is on the Indy FCH board, so he was the natural host.  There were about 200 people there — a remarkable marketing achievement by the Indianapolis board.  This is the same group that hosted the 2010 Millard Fuller Legacy Build and has turned St. Paul Street into a showcase, so it shouldn’t be a surprise.

This was an awards banquet, and awards were given.  Unlike last Sunday’s event, where millionaires gave golden trinkets to other millionaires, this was just folks giving thanks to other folks for helping make life a little bit better for some of God’s people in need.  The first honoree was Indianapolis’ First Lady, Winnie Ballard, who was named Volunteer of the Year for her work with the Fuller Center as well as her tireless efforts in bringing financial literacy training to families across the city.  Allison Transmissions, a hometown business with operations around the world, was named Corporate Citizen of the year for their continuing partnership with FCH Indy, sponsoring houses and sending volunteer teams to help build them.