Transformers to honor volunteers at annual gala event Friday

Monday, April 4, 2016

Transformers, a network of programs working to break the cycle of poverty in Putnam County, will hold its annual gala on Friday, April 8 at the Prindle Institute for Ethics at DePauw University.

Theme of this year's event is "Honoring the Volunteers Who Help Transform Lives."

Six local volunteers will be recognized for their service:

-- Tara Baugh, Shop with a Cop coordinator.

-- Patti Harmless, Putnam County CASA program director.

-- Matt Headley, Putnam Circuit Court judge.

-- Kelsey Kauffman, Women's Prison Ministry volunteer.

-- Carl Singer, Getting Ahead facilitator.

-- Bill Wieland, Beyond Homeless board president.

The featured speaker for the evening, which begins with appetizers at 6 p.m. followed by dinner, will be Ruby Payne.

A native Hoosier, Payne holds a Ph.D and is best known for her book "A Framework for Understanding Poverty" and her work on the culture of poverty and its relation to education.

The local musical trio of Bill Hamm, Veronica Pejril and Rick Provine will provide entertainment.

Transformers programs include Bridges Out of Poverty, TALKS, the Reading Improvement Center, Getting Ahead, Circles of Hope, the Women's Prison Ministry and the Putnam County Community Coalition.

Tickets for the event are $25 per person, and can be reserved by calling Gobin United Methodist Church at 658-6010 by April 4.

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