{"id":11254,"date":"2021-10-26T15:26:37","date_gmt":"2021-10-26T15:26:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rmff.org\/?p=11254"},"modified":"2025-12-10T14:24:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T14:24:15","slug":"celebrating-thirty-five-years-of-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rmff.org\/pl\/2021\/10\/celebrating-thirty-five-years-of-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating Thirty-Five Years of Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"11254\" class=\"elementor elementor-11254\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21ea302d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"21ea302d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d31052a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d31052a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<p>In October 1986,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rmff.org\/who-we-are\/history-about-richard-m-fairbanks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Richard M. (&#8220;Dick&#8221;) Fairbanks<\/a>\u00a0created his namesake\u00a0foundation\u00a0to enhance the vitality of\u00a0his hometown of Indianapolis. Thirty-five years later, the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation continues to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rmff.org\/our-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">focus\u00a0our\u00a0grantmaking<\/a>,\u00a0research and evaluation,\u00a0and\u00a0cross-sector collaborations\u00a0and\u00a0convenings\u00a0in support of our\u00a0mission\u00a0to advance\u00a0the vitality of Indianapolis and the well-being of its people.\u00a0Since its establishment, the Foundation has awarded more than\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rmff.org\/grantmaking\/grants-awarded\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$285 million in grants<\/a>, and currently awards grants within three focus areas: Education, Health and the Vitality of Indianapolis.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Edukacja<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>A well-educated population is critical to the\u00a0vitality of\u00a0our city\u00a0and the continued global competitiveness of the United States. But in Indianapolis, too few students demonstrate proficiency in core academic subjects such as math, science and English\/language arts,\u00a0and too few students graduate from high school adequately prepared for college or careers.\u00a0Also\u00a0concerning is\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rmff.org\/insights\/research-and-reports\/education-for-all\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the chronic lack of access to high-quality educational opportunities<\/a>\u00a0faced by\u00a0Black and Hispanic students\u00a0from\u00a0childhood\u00a0through college,\u00a0leading to racial\u00a0disparities in\u00a0education\u00a0outcomes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>To improve\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rmff.org\/our-work\/education\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">education<\/a>\u00a0and workforce outcomes\u00a0for all\u00a0children and adults, we support initiatives that:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Improve academic outcomes for Indianapolis students by supporting the conditions necessary to grow the supply of high-performing schools and programs.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Minimize underemployment and the workforce skills gap in Indianapolis by supporting the delivery of cost-effective post-secondary education and training programs.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>For example, since 2006, the Foundation has awarded\u00a0more than $17.2 million\u00a0to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.themindtrust.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Mind Trust<\/a>, which serves as a catalyst for education innovation in Indianapolis.\u00a0This grant\u00a0funding supports the organization&#8217;s efforts to grow great schools and recruit quality school leaders, such as through the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.themindtrust.org\/relay-national-principal-academy-fellowship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Relay National Principals Academy Fellowship<\/a>\u00a0(NPAF). NPAF trains current and aspiring principals and principal supervisors to become instructional and cultural leaders, ultimately advancing student success and increasing community engagement.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Zdrowie<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>Good\u00a0health is a necessary condition for success in life and\u00a0is\u00a0integrally linked to the ability of children and adults to thrive in school and in the workplace.\u00a0Unfortunately, Indianapolis ranks at or near the bottom of almost every measure of public health and healthy living.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>To help address Indianapolis&#8217;\u00a0greatest\u00a0public\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rmff.org\/our-work\/health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">health<\/a>\u00a0challenges,\u00a0the Foundation has established goals to:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reduce the rate of tobacco use and eliminate youth nicotine use.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Prevent and address substance use disorder.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">In 2009, the Foundation awarded $20 million to help establish the\u00a0Indiana University\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/fsph.iupui.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health<\/a>\u00a0at IUPUI. Today, the\u00a0School\u00a0prepares leaders to advance public health in Indiana and beyond, while also supporting research into\u00a0some of our city&#8217;s most pressing health challenges.\u00a0With Foundation funding, the School\u00a0has\u00a0produced\u00a0reports\u00a0such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rmff.org\/insights\/research-and-reports\/the-opioid-epidemic-in-indiana-and-marion-county\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Epidemia opioid\u00f3w w Indianie i hrabstwie Marion<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rmff.org\/insights\/research-and-reports\/indiana-public-health-system-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Indiana Public Health System<\/a>\u00a0Review.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Witalno\u015b\u0107 Indianapolis<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>Technological advancements and ongoing globalization are rapidly reshaping the U.S. economy. To remain competitive when it comes to attracting and retaining employers and talent, the greater Indianapolis area must continue to focus on creating more of what the Brookings Institution\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/research\/advancing-opportunity-in-central-indiana\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">refers to as \u201cgood and promising jobs\u201d\u202f<\/a>that are relevant for the 21<sup>st<\/sup>\u202fcentury economy. We must simultaneously ensure that people in greater Indianapolis are prepared to fill these jobs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>Dick Fairbanks created his namesake Foundation to enhance the vitality of Indianapolis. He believed that the Foundation could accomplish this vision by supporting key economic drivers \u2013 like talent attraction and development initiatives \u2013 that could help ensure Indianapolis remains a thriving city.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>The Foundation has established the following goal in\u00a0our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rmff.org\/our-work\/vitality-of-indianapolis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Witalno\u015b\u0107 Indianapolis<\/a>\u00a0focus area:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Identify and support key economic drivers that will help to create a more vibrant Indianapolis.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>For example, since 2007, the Foundation has awarded over $11 million to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/biocrossroads.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BioCrossroads<\/a>, which works\u00a0to\u00a0advance Indiana&#8217;s life sciences industry\u00a0through collaborations and convenings with\u00a0corporate, academic and philanthropic partners and\u00a0startup\u00a0investments.\u00a0BioCrossroads\u00a0plays a\u00a0critical role\u00a0bolstering\u00a0the life sciences sector\u00a0and by\u00a0supporting the launch of initiatives such as the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute and 16\u00a0Tech\u00a0that aim\u00a0to\u00a0accelerate the growth of the life sciences and innovation sectors in Central Indiana.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p>As\u00a0we celebrate\u00a035 years since the establishment of the\u00a0Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, we reflect on the\u00a0impact of our grantees and other community partners\u00a0working tirelessly to improve the lives of\u00a0people in\u00a0Indiana. Their ingenuity and\u00a0focus on quality\u00a0outcomes\u00a0are\u00a0helping\u00a0to\u00a0ensure\u00a0Indianapolis\u00a0remains a thriving city that reflects the vision of our founder.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p><strong><em>Claire Fiddian-Green is the President &amp; CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thirty-five years after its creation, the Fairbanks Foundation continues to focus on strategic grantmaking,\u00a0research and evaluation,\u00a0and\u00a0cross-sector collaboration.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7892,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,16,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-health","category-vitality-of-indianapolis"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rmff.org\/pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11254","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rmff.org\/pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rmff.org\/pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rmff.org\/pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rmff.org\/pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11254"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rmff.org\/pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11254\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rmff.org\/pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7892"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rmff.org\/pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11254"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rmff.org\/pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11254"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rmff.org\/pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}