Each year, we honor individuals, corporate partners and organizations that work tirelessly to help the people we serve live out their dreams.
Today, we proudly announced our 2020 Noble Annual Award Winners presented by Citizens Energy Group and Corteva Agriscience with a full-page ad on the back cover of the Indianapolis Business Journal.
President’s Award Winner William Carmichael: Over the years, Bill has served Noble in numerous capacities, including as Chairman of the Board of Directors. His business, American Surety Company, sponsors nearly every event we host; he works hard to introduce potential new donors and partners to the Noble family; and he has hired individuals through our Community Employment service on several occasions. His lead-by-example approach and sage advice have proven invaluable to Noble.
Champion Award Winner Kim Dodson: As Executive Director of The Arc of Indiana, Kim is a tireless advocate for people with disabilities. Each year, she spends countless hours at the Statehouse meeting with our legislators and other elected officials to ensure that the rights and needs of people with disabilities and their families are met.
Partnership Award Winner IndyGo: For many years, IndyGo has worked closely with Noble to help ensure that the transportation needs of the people we serve are met. President Evans and the rest of her team have been fantastic to work with, demonstrating a willingness to try new approaches and providing the organization with effective leadership over what is often a thankless job.
Development Award Winner Ray Skillman Westside Auto Mall: For years, Ray Skillman Westside Auto Mall has been a generous presenting sponsor of our annual Raising the Stakes for Noble. This is in large measure due to the leadership of General Manager Jason Bunte, who has been an incredible advocate for Noble and the people we serve.
Employment Award Winner Corteva Agriscience: In a partnership that stretches back to the Dow Agroscience days, Corteva has been an incredible employment partner for Noble for the last couple decades. By tapping into the strengths that people with disabilities bring to the table, Corteva has demonstrated how people of all abilities can boost an employer’s bottom line by diversifying their workforce.
Volunteer Excellence Award Winner Alli Isaacs: Alli has served as chair of the Raising the Stakes for Noble event committee for many years, working hard to secure sponsorships and provide incredible leadership for the rest of this volunteer event team. Her enthusiastic support is contagious, and her knack for nailing down the details has made this fun casino night, with games hosted by the Broad Ripple Sertoma Club, a must-attend event on everyone’s calendar.
Harriet P. Irsay Distinguished Parent Award Winners David and Mary Anne Noble: David and Mary Anne have set an example for parents everywhere in how they have raised their daughter Mollie to know that there’s nothing she can’t do if she truly wants it. Because of that, Mollie has not allowed her diagnosis of Down syndrome to stop her from going to Marian University, working two jobs, serving on our Board of Directors for 12 years before joining the International Best Buddies Board of Directors, and living independently in a condo.
Noble Auxiliary Member of the Year Rebecca Shepler: Rebecca is a tireless advocate and volunteer for Noble, serving for several years on the Noble Auxiliary before taking the reins as its President in 2019. Each year, the Auxiliary hosts Noble Evening in the Garden, the preview gala to the Indiana Flower and Patio Show. Her leadership led the Auxiliary through the countless hours of securing restaurants, beverage companies, entertainment, sponsorships, auction donations and much more, only to have it all cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marissa Manlove Distinguished Service Award Winner Donita Murphy-Sims: As a Developmental Therapist in our Kids Only Early Intervention service, Donita has been a role model, coach and mentor for other therapists and staff for many years. While she has impacted the lives of countless children and families, she goes above and beyond each day to help ensure that each person she works with has the tools and confidence to achieve their goals. She is a strong advocate for the people we serve, understanding that their basic needs must be met before they can focus on their therapy goals.
Citizenship Award Winner David Orton: David is our longest serving staff member, having worked on Noble’s staff for 46 years now. As an Administrative Assistant, he is quick to ask his colleagues how he can assist them. He uses his incredible gift for remembering facts and dates to serve as our unofficial historian, reminding us of important dates in our organization’s history. David once said that he couldn’t wait to turn 65, an age when many think about retiring, so he could start working full time. It is quintessentially David that his favorite quote is: “Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful,” coined by Annette Funicello.
Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsors Citizens Energy Group and Corteva Agriscience.
We would also like to thank our other sponsors for their generous support:
- Gregory & Appel Insurance
- Sertoma Club of Broad Ripple
- Barnes & Thornburg LLP
- Greg and Traci Dolan Family Foundation, a fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation
- Indiana Compensation Rating Bureau
- Jim and Michelle Jones
- Maco Press
- Ned and Melissa Campbell, Jubilee Giving Fund of the National Christian Foundation
- OneAmerica
- Sponsel CPA Group
- Stifel: The Knall/Cohen/Pence Group
- The National Bank of Indianapolis
