July 8, 2020
Dear Friend:
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted most aspects of our lives.
The E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center suspended activities in March due to the pandemic. Given the current risk of the resurgence of the coronavirus, it is clear to me that we will not be able to resume live programming and public gatherings at the Center until the end of the year at the earliest, and possibly not until sometime in the Spring of 2021. In light of these facts, I made the decision to temporarily discontinue operations.
I remain committed to reopening the facility and to maintaining the family legacy items. We will honor our commitment to the Ball Brothers Foundation, who gifted the home to the Ball State University Foundation for use by Ball State as a continuing education facility in 1975. The former family home is a true gem and an important part of the Minnetrista campus, the Ball Family legacy, and Ball State University.
I am grateful to the dedicated staff who have provided valuable programming over the years. As we anticipate the end of the pandemic, the University will begin to develop a plan to seek input and guidance from Muncie community members, local organizations, and the campus community to ensure the facility fulfills the vital component of our University’s strategic goal to serve lifetime learners.
If you would like to participate in this planning process, I welcome your input and guidance. Given its historic connection to our community, it is important for us to work together to honor and further build upon the legacy of the home.
Sincerely,
