Mooresville, IN– On June 10, the Kendrick Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary at the 2026 Legacy of Health banquet, marking a quarter century of investment in the health and wellbeing of Morgan County residents. Since its founding in 2001, the foundation has invested more than $20 million in grants and community initiatives and awarded nearly 700 scholarships to local students pursuing health-related degrees.
“This year is a landmark occasion as we celebrate 25 years of impact,” said Sara Dungan, JD, Board President. “Over time, the foundation has evolved from its hospital roots into a community-focused nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health outcomes for all residents. It is an honor to carry forward Dr. William Kendrick’s legacy, and we are inspired by the commitment of our 2026 scholars and community partners.”
The foundation was established from the proceeds of the sale of Kendrick Memorial Hospital and continues to steward these resources to support long-term community health improvement.
Key milestones include:
- More than $20 million invested in community health initiatives and grants
- Nearly 700 scholarships awarded to students pursuing health-related careers
- More than $30 million in assets managed to sustain long-term community investment
Kendrick Foundation scholars are selected through a competitive process based on academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and community service. Recipients are Morgan County residents pursuing health-related degrees and planning to serve their community.
A full list of 2026 Kendrick scholars and their fields of study is available at kendrickfoundation.org/kendrick-scholars.
The foundation also recognized community leaders whose partnerships have strengthened school-based mental health efforts and supported student wellbeing. Honorees included:
- Mooresville Consolidated Schools
- Metropolitan School District of Martinsville
- Susan Haynes, Communications Director at Mooresville Consolidated Schools and Executive Director of Churches in Mission
The 2026 Local Public Health Hero award was presented to Jordyn Galyan, Morgan County School Health Coordinator with IU Health, in recognition of her dedication to advancing a healthier Morgan County.
During the event, Executive Director Keylee Wright, MA, highlighted the foundation’s continued evolution and future direction. “As we look ahead, we are focused on investing in the conditions that support health across our community. Our work increasingly emphasizes upstream strategies that make the healthy choice the easy choice in Morgan County.”
The anniversary celebration also featured the premiere of a 25th anniversary video (https://youtu.be/31QvrT3X8vk?is=Q-sbvfONiUgPmglP), including reflections from Dawn Kendrick, Dr. Kendrick’s widow, who shared memories of his enduring commitment to the community and his forward-looking question: “What’s next?”
That question is already shaping the foundation’s next chapter, including two major new investments totaling nearly $1 million. The foundation announced the Leadership Impact Initiative in partnership with John Barrett Leadership, with applications due July 31 for Kendrick Foundation grantees. The initiative is designed to strengthen leadership capacity and support long-term organizational impact.
In addition, the foundation recently committed multi-year grant funding to four nonprofit organizations with longstanding partnerships and deep roots in Morgan County. These organizations have played an important role in advancing the foundation’s Legacy of Health, and these new commitments reflect continued investment in trusted partners working to improve community health. Additional details will be shared in the coming months.
These new investments complement the foundation’s ongoing work, including scholarships, school-based mental health grants, behavioral health provider incentives, and competitive grantmaking. The foundation also contributes significant leadership through initiatives such as the Morgan County Mental Health Task Force and the Morgan County Service Providers group, as well as participation on local and state boards and committees.
Formed in 2001 from the proceeds of the Kendrick Memorial Hospital sale, the Kendrick Foundation invests in conditions that support the physical and mental health of all Morgan County residents. Learn more at kendrickfoundation.org.
