The holiday spirit was strong at IU Indianapolis this year, as members of the IU community—from faculty and staff to students, alumni, retirees, and friends of the Indiana University family— came together to help 233 community members have a more joyous holiday through the 2024 Season of Giving program, sponsored by the IU Indianapolis Office of Community Engagement. This year’s program reached new heights, nearly doubling the number of community members supported compared to the previous year.
For over 27 years, IU Indianapolis has been committed to helping families in the local community during the holidays, and this year’s program, in partnership with the Hawthorne Community Center and Christamore House, was a testament to the generosity and dedication of the IU community. For committee member Jill Ward, the sight of the gifts was deeply emotional. “It gave me the goosebumps – AGAIN!!,” she said. Teresa Francis, another committee member, shared her awe, “The site was amazing to walk into—the room full of gifts!”
The Season of Giving pairs sponsors with families in need, providing gifts such as toys, clothing, and household items to make their holiday season brighter. This outpouring of generosity from the IU family—faculty, staff, students, alumni, retirees, and friends—helped 233 children and parents from 63 families. The strong participation this year has given the committee confidence that in 2025 they will reach 100 families.
The program’s success was driven by 51 teams from IU Indianapolis, IU School of Medicine, IU Health, and Riley Children’s Hospital, whose efforts exceeded expectations. Gifts were collected and delivered to the community centers on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. Cindy Harkness, a committee member, was moved by the generosity displayed. “Two trucks full of gifts for families in need—it was a simply beautiful day, and I am honored to work and be among this amazing committee!” she said.
Richard Bray, Community Partnerships Manager in the IU Indianapolis Office of Community Engagement and Season of Giving program manager, also reflected on the impact, “It was an amazing sight to see.” Bray expressed his gratitude to all involved, including volunteers from the IU School of Medicine Indianapolis Laboratory Animal Resources Center (LARC). “Their efforts were instrumental in ensuring the process ran smoothly and efficiently, allowing us to make a meaningful impact,” Bray said. Key activities such as checking in sponsors, wrapping gifts, labeling, and organizing the donations by family and community center were completed seamlessly. “Thanks to the leadership and volunteers from LARC, we were able to manage all these activities with remarkable ease,” Bray added.
As the program continues to grow, Bray is already looking ahead to next year. “We look forward to collaborating with the IU Indianapolis community, our partners, and LARC for Season of Giving 2025, building on this year’s success,” he concluded.
The Season of Giving program remains a shining example of community engagement at IU Indianapolis. The IU family, together with its dedicated community partners, came together to make the program a success, brightening the holiday season for many families. As the 2024 holiday season continues, the campus community and partners can take pride in knowing their generosity has made a meaningful difference in the lives of their neighbors.
If you’re interested in participating in the 2025 Season of Giving, you can sign up now by visiting the webpage.