Sherry Stark was surprised to receive the Community Service Award at the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting March 28, thanks to a little sleight of hand by organizers. But it’s no surprise that she’s extremely worthy of the honor because of her contributions to the community.
The award is the chamber’s most prestigious and recognizes outstanding service and leadership in community affairs.
What’s notable is that Stark didn’t grow up in Columbus. The Lafayette native moved here in 1972.
But she quickly embraced the city as home.
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That’s clearly evident by the active role she has played in the community.
Stark served as the city’s deputy mayor and executive director of community development for 10 years. She served as then-Mayor Robert Stewart’s point person on the Front Door Project and the downtown Streetscape Project, helping both come to fruition.
She also served as director of the Columbus Area Arts Council and president and CEO of the Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County. With Heritage Fund, she worked closely with the Community Education Coalition to secure a $38 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to fund Economic Opportunities through Education (EcO15), an initiative to boost post-secondary education locally. About $15 million of the grant was used to develop the Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence, located on the city’s north side near IUPUC, Ivy Tech and Purdue Polytechnic Institute.
She also helped raise $4 million in public funds for a redeveloped Commons downtown.
“I dearly and deeply love this community,” Stark told the audience after receiving the award.
Indeed, she does.
She would like others to embrace the community, too.
“My challenge to each of you is, find your gift, whether it’s time, talent or treasure, or a combination, find your gift and give back to this extraordinary community,” Stark told the crowd.
That’s sound advice worth following.
