2009 Touchstone Awards Honorees
Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis' annual Touchstone Awards acknowledges women whose personal and professional achievements inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and boldSM.
Ellen K. Annala
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2009 Honoree |
Ellen K. Annala was selected in 1998 as the first female ever to lead United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI).
During her decade of leadership, United Way has committed to a new mission and priorities; dramatically expanded the funds under its management, and implemented significant efficiency, accountability and cost-effectiveness measures.
Most recently, Annala has been at the forefront of United Way’s commitment to focus greater resources, relationships, knowledge and talent to get upstream on improving conditions for children.
First through launching a community collaborative – Success By 6 – to promote early learning, and then by adopting new priorities for itself in 2006, United Way under Annala’s leadership is becoming known for making tomorrow a better place by helping children today.
Specifically, Annala’s leadership has resulted in focused collaborative strategies with Indianapolis Public Schools to increase the readiness of children entering school and increase the number of children performing at grade level by sixth grade. Adopting a data-based decision-making approach, the results of each strategy are being carefully monitored and evaluated.
Twice during her tenure, Annala – with volunteer leaders – sought and received multi-million gifts from Lilly Endowment. The first, $50 million to United Way’s endowment, is enabling UWCI to pay an increasing share of its fund-raising and administrative costs through investment earnings on the endowment, rather than by individual givers.
The second, $100 million in three grants, is being put to work in an ambitious revitalization and modernization of agency buildings and properties serving the region’s most vulnerable citizens.
Fundamental changes have also been made to the way in which United Way conducts its due diligence responsibilities, during Annala’s presidency. The once separate funding and evaluation processes have been streamlined into a single process — delivering the assurance to contributors that the money they give is money well spent while at the same time assuring United Way agencies have a stable yet flexible source of support.
To better serve UWCI’s rural areas, Annala deployed staff to the five counties surrounding Indianapolis, opened offices, established volunteer leadership and shifted some decision-making to the counties.
Looking for new ways to improve stewardship, cut administrative costs, and increase dollars available for the community, Annala assured UWCI was a founding member of a multi-state United Way collaborative to consolidate certain backroom operations and share services such as information technology and some accounting functions.
Twice (1996, 2007) the IBJ has named Annala to the area’s Most Influential Women list of women who wield power and influence in their respective careers. And, in 2002, the IBJ honored her with their Women in the Lead award in the Not-for-profit/education category.
Born and raised in Arizona, Annala earned a master’s from Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in religion from Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma.
Click here to check out the other strong, smart, and bold Touchstone Awards honorees!
Alpha C. Blackburn
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2009 Honoree |
Alpha Blackburn is president and CEO of Blackburn Architects, lead architects of the recently completed National Underground Freedom Center in Cincinnati. The 165,000-square-foot facility tells the story of the plight of slaves during the Civil War and their struggles escaping from slavery in the South. An award-winning designer and former TV host, Blackburn is a successful businesswoman, who has shown her dedication to her community by serving on more than 60 boards and committees. Blackburn sits on the board of directors for One American Mutual Insurance Holding Company, the Indianapolis Symphony Society, Key Bank Regional Board, Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission, and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. She serves as the chairperson of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission and is the owner’s technical representative and co-coordinator for art for the new billion-dollar Indianapolis Airport. Blackburn is a cum laude graduate of Howard University with a bachelor’s degree in art and a master’s degree in painting and art history.
Blackburn is the recipient of many awards including the Hope Award from the Multiple Sclerosis Society 2005, the Indiana Torchbearer Award from the Fashion Group International 2005, Outstanding Woman of the Year 2004, and inaugural inductee to the Madame C.J. Walker Hall of Fame 2006. The Trailblazer Award from Indiana Black Expo 2001, the Spirit of Freedom Award from the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, and the City of Richmond, Indiana, Proclaimed February 27, 2001 Alpha Blackburn Day.
Click here to check out the other strong, smart, and bold Touchstone Awards honorees!
