Donating to a good cause is its own reward.
But on a day dedicated entirely to supporting local nonprofits, people will have the opportunity to give as well as receive through a slate of entertainment, activities and eats.
Johnson County Giving Day, scheduled for June 21, will be a supercharged session of philanthropy. Over the course of 24 hours, people will be encouraged to donate to one of seven local nonprofits.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
To help jump-start the giving and create a buzz in the community, organizers have put together activities from dawn to dusk, including yoga sessions on the Johnson County courthouse lawn, a doughnut drive-through and a cheeseburger lunch.
A block party featuring beer, food, activities and entertainment by country musician Trace Thompson will put an exclamation point on the entire day.
“It’ll be fun, and we hope to raise a lot of money at the same time,” said Kim Minton, vice president of development for the Johnson County Community Foundation. “It’s family-friendly, so that will bring in people who maybe aren’t even familiar with some of these organizations, but they see that it’s a festival and they come down to learn more.”
Giving Day was created by the Johnson County Community Foundation as a way to maximize a pool of $60,000 from the county’s Unrestricted Community Impact Fund. Foundation leaders have flexibility to use the fund for special projects and grants.
For every donation made to one of the participating agencies from midnight to 11:59 p.m. on June 21, that amount will be proportionately matched by the foundation.
To stoke enthusiasm and excitement, Giving Day organizers have put together a full slate of activities.
The capstone of the day will be a block party held right in front of the community foundation headquarters at the corner of Main and South streets in Franklin.
Thompson, a Johnson County native and Center Grove High School graduate, blends a unique country-rock sound with poignant lyrics. His influences range from Bryan Adams and John Mellencamp to Garth Brooks and Jason Aldean.
A songwriter at heart, he has been writing songs for the last 20 years and pitching those songs in Nashville, Tennessee for the last three years. In February, Thompson released his first album independently, aptly titled “Get It Right.”
For his work, he received three nominations for the Josie Music Awards, recognizing the best of independent music. He’ll be up for Male Artist of the Year in modern country, Song of the Year and Album of the Year when the awards are announced on Sept. 8.
Thompson has performed in local Indiana venues as well as some of the top clubs in Nashville. Though all performances are special for him, he particularly enjoys being able to use his talent to help the community, including at events for the Special Olympics and the March of Dimes.
“I consider it a privilege to have been asked to perform at Johnson County’s Giving Day. I enjoy opportunities that allow me to help others,” Thompson said in an emailed statement.
While Thompson and his band perform, block party guests can take part in a variety of other food, drink and activities intended for the entire family.
Taxman Brewing Co. will be serving up pints of its Belgian-inspired beers. Johnson’s BBQ Shack will have pulled pork, brisket and other smokey delicacies for people to eat, while Johnson County Farm Bureau will have its famed milkshakes for sale.
Endress+Hauser has science, technology, engineering and math-related games and activities for children.
All of the agencies taking part will have booths or tables set up offering kids’ activities, such as face painting to support Franklin Education Connection, lemonade shake-ups from Gateway Services and a dog kissing booth to benefit the Humane Society of Johnson County.
But throughout the day, other activities will help raise money while keeping people entertained.
The summer solstice is a time to reflect on the rhythms of nature, and in the yoga community, it’s a time to align your body, mind and spirit to the seasons.
Because of that, Peace Through Yoga will be offering a series of yoga classes on the courthouse lawn. Sessions at sunrise and midday will cost $10 each, while a kids’ summer solstice class will be accepting donations of any amount.
Kickapoo Kids Camp will be taking part in the yoga, and is planning to host a “penny war,” collecting change in a friendly competition within the camp. All the proceeds on June 21 will go towards Giving Day, Minton said.
Rise ‘n Roll Bakery, a Greenwood-based business, will be offering a drive-through doughnut pickup at the community foundation offices. For a donation of at least $10, people can get one of the bakery’s fresh cinnamon sugar doughnuts to go.
Later in the day, Johnson County Farm Bureau and Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance will be serving cheeseburgers for lunch. Again, for a $10 donation, people can enjoy a burger, chips and a drink at the community foundation, Minton said.
“We wanted everyone to be able to participate. Some people think that they don’t have $100 or $250 or $1,000 to give, but if it’s only $10, they can get excited about contributing,” Minton said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Johnson County Giving Day
Schedule
All day: Dine-to-donate at Franklin restaurants Applebee’s, Chicago’s Pizza, Bob Evans, Firehouse Subs and Buffalo Wild Wings; Greenwood restaurants Tried and True Alehouse and Hot Box Pizza.
Midnight: Johnson County Community Foundation office opens
6 to 8 a.m.: Donut Drive-thru with Rise ‘n Roll Bakery, community foundation office, 398 S. Main St., Franklin; $10 donation
6:30 a.m.: Sunrise Summer Solstice Flow yoga, Johnson County courthouse lawn; $10 donation
10 a.m.: Kids’ Summer Solstice yoga, Johnson County courthouse lawn; donate any amount
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Grilled cheeseburgers, chips and drink, community foundation office; $10 donation
2 p.m.: Midday Summer Solstice Flow yoga, Johnson County courthouse lawn; $10 donation
6 to 10 p.m.: Block party, community foundation office; entertainment by Trace Thompson, food by Johnson’s BBQ Shack, beer from Taxman Brewing Co., milkshakes by Johnson County Farm Bureau and more
Midnight: Community foundation office closes and Giving Day ends
[sc:pullout-text-end]
