Our Current Campaign
Celebrating 175 years of Josiah White's!
Alex Downard
Alex Downard, Implementation Director of Imagine One 85 shares how he defines legacy and the impact it leaves on a community. Thanks, Alex!
Andy Zay
Andy Zay, Indiana State Senator shares how he has witnessed the legacy of Josiah White’s. Thank you, Mr. Zay!
“To leave a legacy is to leave an impact beyond the current time or engagement with an organization. Josiah White’s has been a legacy institution to the Wabash community and the many individuals and families it has served and will serve.”
Biz Bishop
Biz Bishop, Content Manager for Visit Wabash County, shares how important a positive legacy can be to individuals and families!
“Josiah White’s has impacted me personally by bringing my adopted older sister into my family’s life, there isn’t a greater impact on me than literally growing my immediate family. “
Thanks for joining our celebration, Biz!
Brad Merchant
Brad Merchant, Lead Pastor at Wabash Friends Church, shares the importance of legacy and how he has witnessed Josiah White’s impacting the community!
“I have seen Josiah White’s impact countless lives throughout Wabash County and beyond. JW’s unwavering commitment to changing the trajectories of children’s and teen’s lives is inspiring. Personally, I have enjoyed relationships with several Josiah White’s employees—many of which are actively involved in the community of Wabash. In each person, I have witnessed integrity, mercy, and humility—all trademarks of Josiah White’s. I couldn’t be more thankful for JW’s impact in our community.”
Thank you for your partnership, Brad!
Brandt Downing
Brandt Downing, Josiah White’s Board President, shares how mission and legacy go hand in hand.
“Our time on earth is short and I hope that our service ensures Josiah White’s can keep fulfilling their mission long after I am gone. If I can play a small part in that mission continuing after my life on earth, that is an incredible legacy to leave behind!”
Thank you for your leadership and support, Brandt!
Christine Flohr
Christine Flohr, Executive Director at Visit Wabash County, shares how impactful a legacy can be!
“Josiah White’s has significantly contributed to the community by providing essential services to troubled youth and offering family support, education, and rehabilitation. Additionally, Josiah White’s creates job opportunities that foster local economic growth. The organization has brilliantly woven the community together through its greenhouse and cafe which provides a connection point for stakeholders and the youth who are actively engaged in the campus programs.”
Thank you for your continued support and partnership, Christine!
Colby & Sarah Stout
Colby and Sarah Stout, current Josiah White’s foster parents, share their goals for leaving a legacy and the impact Josiah White’s has had on their fostering journey.
“For us, the greatest legacy we could leave this side of eternity is knowing we reflected the love of Christ towards as many children and families as God brought to us. To leave a legacy is to pass on the same faith, hope, and love that we receive daily from Jesus, recognizing and honoring His image in the faces of these precious ones. We cannot keep His saving, healing power a secret when so many families need to encounter Him.”
Thank you for saying yes to foster parenting, Colby and Sarah!
Dave Haist
Dave Haist, Consultant and community board member, shared his thoughts on the impact a legacy can make.
“A legacy can be in many forms. It includes the impact we can all make with our “time, treasure or talent”. A way we can positively impact an individual or an organization is by sharing our time, treasure, or talent, helping to accomplish a better future. Legacy is the way each of us can give back in a meaningful way to all that has been provided to us.”
Thanks for your continued support, Dave!
Denae Green
Denae Green, who grew up on campus and is also a former staff member, shared her thoughts on the impact Josiah White’s has made and is making on the children and teens we serve.
“When I think about Josiah White’s, I think about the kids that come in and out of that ministry. They are given the gift of spiritual legacy. They are given the gift of education, connection, and a new start. I really believe that the legacy Josiah White’s will leave behind is the gift of a holistic viewpoint of people who radically believe that redemption and restoration is possible.”
Thanks, Denae, for your continued support and partnership!
Doug Shoemaker
Doug Shoemaker, Pastor at Hemlock Friends Church and former Josiah White’s board member, reflects on how the legacy of others has impacted his own life as well as the lives of those at Josiah White’s. We appreciate your continued support, Doug!
“I have seen first-hand the impact of legacy during the years I served Indiana Yearly Meeting. Each year IYM funnels tens of thousands of dollars to missions, evangelism, and support of ministers from legacy gifts that had been given over the years. I have experienced first-hand the impact of spiritual legacy in my own family. I have been incredibly blessed by parents, grandparents and other family members who have modeled deep and genuine faith. The spiritual legacy left by them is priceless and continues to impact my life every day!”
Dr. Greg Hinshaw
“Jesus told His disciples to bear ‘fruit that will remain.’ The vocation of any Christian is to seek out work that bears that spiritual fruit. Josiah White’s is bearing that fruit! Because of my association with the Friends Church, I was first exposed to Josiah White’s more than forty years ago. As someone who has spent a career working in education, I see the serious need for places like Josiah White’s to serve children that are not reached in other ways. Josiah White’s ministry and mission are unparalleled in serving the neediest of children in Indiana.”
– Dr. Greg Hinshaw, Josiah White’s Board Member
Thank you for your continued leadership and guidance, Dr. Hinshaw!
Eric Seaman
Eric Seaman, Corporate Relations Manager at Honeywell Arts & Entertainment shares how impactful partnerships can be on a community.
“Honeywell Arts & Entertainment’s commitment to our community and its partners has left a lasting impact for both our organization and our partners. We believe that these partnerships are vital to the growth and wellbeing of Wabash. Honeywell and Josiah White’s both strive to make the world a better place in their own respective
missions and work.”
We value your continued partnership, Eric!
Heidi Fowler
Heidi Fowler, Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at Ivy Tech Community College shares how important legacies are and how they provide opportunities for impact on those around us.
“Leaving a legacy means leaving behind a piece of myself. After I’ve spoken to a group of students at Josiah White’s, one of the most impactful things that can happen is when a student refers back to something we’ve discussed at one of those meetings. There are many ways I attempt to leave behind that piece of myself. Sometimes it’s meeting with students, sponsoring a table, purchasing items for an event, or coming to support students at a game. Leaving a legacy is important because good people have a responsibility to be a good example to others. Creating a legacy is about building a life that shows to others how much they mattered.”
Thank you, Heidi, for your partnership and continued support!
Jana Thibos
Jana Thibos, Investor Services & Event Project Manager at Grow Wabash County, reflects on leaving a legacy and the impact she has seen Josiah White’s have on the community.
“I have seen Josiah White’s have an everlasting impact on the community through people. Every single day, people interact through words, stories, social media, and history and through that, each student is transformed into the best version of themselves thus leaving the world a better place.”
We appreciate you, Jana!
Jay Driskill
“Josiah White’s has deeply impacted the lives of children and teens through a Christ-centered relational/educational/work skills approach for 175 years and thus changes lives, lives changed for eternity. Life on earth is temporal and loving kids to a saving relationship with Jesus for eternity is the single most important mission JW can do as it lasts forever.”
– Jay Driskill, Vice President of Mission Advancement at the Wabash County YMCA and former Josiah White’s staff member
Thank you for your support, Jay!
Jeanine & Michael Conrad
Jeanine & Michael Conrad, current Josiah White’s foster parents, shared about leaving a legacy as well as their experience fostering with Josiah White’s.
“To leave a legacy means that long after our physical bodies have left this earth, the seeds that we planted will continue to grow and flourish. Maya Angelou said, ‘If you’re to live, leave a legacy. Make an impact on the world that can never be erased.'”
Thank you for serving children and families, Jeanine and Michael!
Jeff Hobson
“I was privileged to grow up on one of these campuses for most of my formative years. I was also employed at White’s for 12 years. It was during my time on the White’s campus that I learned from the staff what it meant to be a “people helper.” These are some of the same skills that I use today in my job as a Community Corrections Director and Probation Officer.”
– Jeff Hobson, Former Josiah White’s Staff Member
Thanks for your continued support, Jeff!
Jennifer Staggenburg
“White’s has impacted my life through years of living in a community of wonderful, faith loving individuals, who made it their mission to renew and invest in kids and families. White’s helped me grow professionally, in my walk with Jesus, and loving others well.'”
– Jennifer Staggenburg, Former Josiah White’s Staff Member
Thank you for many years of service and support, Jennifer!
Jenny Ritzema
“As for me personally, my entire life was impressed by Josiah Whites. My family arrived on campus in 1983 and left 15 years later. I literally grew up living on campus and those were the best years of my life. Growing up around the staff members helped shape me into who I am today.”
– Jenny Ritzema, Director of Lighthouse Mission of Wabash County
Thank you for your partnership and continued support, Jenny!
Jennifer Hamilton
“Leaving a legacy means influencing others even after your life is over. It is important because it helps you in your everyday life to have meaning and purpose.”
— Jennifer Hamilton, Josiah White’s Office Manager
Thank you for your service in our ministry, Jen!
Jere Johnson
“Josiah White’s (formerly White’s Institute) has influenced my life over many years. My oldest brother worked there after college, and I had the opportunity to see first-hand the work he was doing. God was using his talents to impact young lives for the better. As I started coaching basketball, my team played White’s. The games were hard fought, but I would watch over time how their young men would play and conduct themselves on the court. I was always impressed by how they competed each year.”
– Jere Johnson, IWU National & Global
Thank you, Jere, for your continued partnership!
Josh Bowyer
“The greatest way I have seen Josiah White’s impact on those we serve is very simple: we aim to treat our students unlike they have ever been treated before. This means that we show our students unconditional love, respect, accountability, and boundaries at all times. This combination of empathy and grace mixed with structure and justice can be jarring for our students at first. They are used to either being treated harshly or ignored. When we explain to our students that our rules and consequences are for their own growth they can trust that we have their best interest at heart because they have also seen us show them the grace and love of Christ. When applied properly, over time, the above-referenced philosophy typically results in students seeking structure and accountability for themselves. I have seen this approach fundamentally change our student’s perception of adults hundreds of times.”
— Josh Bowyer, VP & Director of Residential Services, Josiah White’s
Nick & Julie Niman
“If you’re going to foster, you can’t do it without Josiah White’s!”
– Nick & Julie Niman, Josiah White’s Foster Parents
Thank you, Nick and Julie, for your commitment and faithful presence in the lives of foster children!
Katie Beauchamp
“Whether it sparks positive change, fosters development, generates new ideas, or inspires future actions, it’s important to leave a legacy that future generations can look to as a model for their values and actions.
Josiah White’s offers a rare and invaluable experience, and I believe the people who dedicate their time and effort to this organization are truly remarkable.“
— Katie Beauchamp, Marketing Director, Crossroads Bank
Kelli Dale
“To me, leaving a legacy means making a lasting impact. Josiah White’s impact on the community has been remarkable. By offering residential programs, foster care, counseling, and educational programs, Josiah White’s has been dedicated to helping children and families who need guidance and support with a foundation centered around Christian values.”
– Kelli Dale, Executive Director, Wabash County United Fund
Kristen Petruniw
“Josiah White’s has made a lasting contribution by engaging students in planting and maintaining flower beds throughout our downtown district. This program not only beautifies our spaces but also teaches important lessons in civic responsibility and environmental stewardship, helping our community’s vibrancy and spirit endure for years to come.”
— Kristen Petruniw, Former Executive Director, Downtown Wabash, Inc.
Lew Curless
“In my experience every student at Josiah Whites who truly makes a turnaround can point to at least one caring staff member as the catalyst. These young people are our living legacy.
Every young person so impacted positively affects their home community. I also feel that the Wabash community as a whole treasures Josiah Whites and the concept of “second chances” it represents for young people.”
— Lew Curless, Former Josiah White’s Jr./Sr. High School Principal
Marty Wilkins
“Josiah White’s has taken away any myth or stigma I had about foster care.”
— Marty Wilkins, Josiah White’s Foster Parent
Mike Keaffaber
“A legacy can take many forms, including positive changes in the community, enduring relationships, and values instilled in others. It is about leaving behind something meaningful and enduring, whether it is through tangible accomplishments or intangible influences like kindness, mentorship, and inspiration.”
— Mike Keaffaber, Former Superintendent, MSD of Wabash County
Roger Peebles
“When I think of legacy, I automatically think of longevity and generations passing positive qualities onto the next generation. It’s unique that as you celebrate 175 years of Josiah White’s ministry, our family also has been in the area almost as long. My Great-Great Grandfather arrived in early 1851 to plant our first crop in the soils of Wabash County.”
— Roger Peebles, Never Fail Farms
Sandy Davis
“For nearly 25 years we had the privilege of watching God work in so many ways, in the spiritual growth of our friends, in our family, and in the Josiah White’s students.
We watched Josiah White’s grow and become well-known in the realm of childcare throughout Indiana and across the nation. God has been faithful to the ministry of White’s for 175 years and we were privileged and blessed that He chose us to serve there for 25 years.“
— Sandy Davis, Former Josiah White’s Staff
Scott Long
“To leave a legacy in my mind is to take what you have been given, improve on it, and leave it better than you received it. Legacy is important to the world and there is a long history of people in Wabash County that have left a legacy and continue to leave their legacy on Wabash County.”
— Scott Long, City of Wabash Mayor
