Since 2002, the Ball State University philanthropic group Women of Beneficence (WOB) has granted more than $1 million and supported over 60 projects and programs that have impacted students and benefited our local, national, and international communities. 

In March 2025, three grants totaling over $70,000 were awarded. The first grant was awarded to Drs. Melissa McGrath and Dawn Condon’s program, Student Outreach for Parkinson’s Disease, will expand Ball State’s Speech-Language Pathology program to offer student-led support for individuals and care partners affected by Parkinson’s disease. This support includes SPEAK OUT! Therapy, Rock Steady Boxing with the YMCA, and the Parkinson’s Support Group of East Central Indiana. The grant will enrich Ball State students’ clinical experiences, enable remote participation for treatment and support groups, and ensure program sustainability through additional faculty member training. 

The second grant was awarded to Dr. Joshua Gruver, an Associate Professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, to support Working Toward Food Security, a program that creates a community-based food security assessment to support East Central Indiana’s Mobile Food Market. Access to locally grown fresh produce remains a crucial need in Delaware County. The Mobile Market fills this gap and provides access to fresh produce in local neighborhoods. Students involved in the project will build understanding around food insecurity and food access. 

The third and final grant provided support to a book series named the Extraordinary World of Zara: Spotting Stars. The series combines social emotional learning with talent recognition. Dr. Ophelia Desmet, an Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology at Ball State, leads the project and invited s dents to be involved in various aspects of the project, from illustrations to curriculum development of the series. Dr. Desmet aims to develop a culturally responsive children’s book series for children of color in Muncie. Student Garynn Sims-Jones, an undergraduate student studying elementary education, wrote the book Little Black Girl to represent young black girls in an empowering way, with the hopes that students of color will see themselves in roles such as scientist, author, or CEO. The books will be distributed to kindergarten through second grade students in local schools and afterschool programs. The project uses a collaborative approach, involving local parents and seeking their input for the book series. As part of the project, Dr. Desmet will also assess the impact of the book on students, parents, and community members, with the goal of serving the community’s needs. 

Named Outstanding Philanthropy Group by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2023, Women of Beneficence members manifest their passion for Ball State into tangible support for the campus and community. Learn more about Women of Beneficence.  

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