Rialzo's return raises $470,000 for addiction, recovery programs
MUNCIE, Ind. – Meridian Health Services’ Rialzo XI charity gala in May drew more than 700 attendees and raised more than $470,000, according to a release.
Held in a new venue this year, at the Scheumann Family Indoor Practice Facility on Ball State University’s campus, this year's event on May 14 marked its return after being canceled for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Profits from the Kentucky-Derby-themed event will help support Meridian’s Addictions and Recovery Centers (ARC), Maternal Treatment Program (MTP), Women’s Recovery Home, Home with Hope, and other Meridian Addictions and Recovery programs.
“There was a renewed focus on our purpose this year due to the increased need for Addictions and Recovery programs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hank Milius, Meridian’s president and CEO, said in the release.
During the Rialzo XI program, Governor Eric Holcomb was awarded the Rialzo Spirit of Meridian Award, in recognition of proactive actions in promoting healthier communities.
Second Harvest offers Poverty Simulation experience
MUNCIE — Second Harvest Food Bank this month will offer its Poverty Simulation to the general public for the first time. Previously, this experience was limited to groups, but on June 25, it will be available to the public at no cost, according to a release.
A program of Second Harvest's community learning initiative, Forward STEPS, the program is "a three-hour transformative, role-playing experience that demonstrates what life is like during a given month for families experiencing poverty," according to the release.
Poverty Simulation will take place 1-4 p.m. June 25 at Second Harvest Food Bank, 6621 Old Ind. 3, Muncie. It is open to all members of the public at no cost. Registration is open at curehunger.org/simulation.
"Each participant is given a persona to role-play throughout the experience," Carol Bradshaw, Forward STEPS Manager at Second Harvest, said in the release, "and each persona has a set of barriers that you must try to overcome with the limited resources available.
"We hope that participants will leave the Poverty Simulation with a better understanding of our neighbors. They live in the tyranny of the moment, facing food and resource insecurity every day. Things we take for granted, like having a car and bank account make our live easier. We want our community to understand what it is like not having those resources so they can be more empathic to those who don’t have resources and evoke social change."
For subscribers: Second Harvest uses COVID-19 funds to expand services
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This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Rialzo's return raises $470,000 for addiction, recovery programs
