MUNCIE, IN—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County has announced that Katherine White received the 2026 David Sursa Leadership Award to recognize her dedicated service to Animal Rescue Fund “ARF.”
ARF nominated Kathy White in recognition of her exceptional leadership and service to the Muncie community. Katherine “Kathy” White’s nearly three decades of leadership at Animal Rescue Fund of Muncie (ARF) reflects a deep and enduring commitment to both organizational excellence and community impact.
“I can honestly say that next to me, I don’t know anyone who has more empathy and respect for dogs and cats than Kathy,” wrote ARF’s founder Terri Panszi in Kathy’s nomination. “She truly believes in the ARF mission, and she lives the vision.”
As a founding board member since 1998, Kathy has provided consistent guidance through periods of growth, transition, and increased community need. Her service has spanned virtually every leadership role on the board, including president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer, demonstrating both her versatility and her willingness to step forward wherever the organization required support. This longevity has ensured continuity in mission, values, and governance, helping ARF evolve from a grassroots effort into a cornerstone of animal welfare in Delaware County.
Kathy’s impact is particularly evident in the financial strength and stability ARF enjoys today. With her background in accounting and a strong commitment to responsible stewardship, she has played a central role in establishing sound financial practices, building reserves, and guiding strategic investments that have enabled the organization to expand its services. Her leadership has helped position ARF to meet the growing demand for animal care, sheltering, and adoption services while maintaining transparency and accountability to donors and the broader community. Through her steady oversight, ARF has been able to plan not just for immediate needs but for long-term sustainability.
Equally important is Kathy’s role in shaping ARF’s culture and strengthening its volunteer-driven model. She has fostered an environment grounded in compassion, collaboration, and shared responsibility, inspiring generations of volunteers, staff, and fellow board members to stay engaged and committed. Her thoughtful leadership style, marked by humility, consistency, and a deep respect for others, has built trust both within the organization and across the community. She has helped cultivate strong partnerships and a broad base of support that reflect ARF’s reputation as a responsive and reliable nonprofit organization.
“None of these things would have been possible without solid advice and guidance from Kathy… She was one of the driving forces behind the success of ARF,” wrote Terri.
Kathy White’s legacy is one of quiet but transformative leadership. Her decades of service have not only sustained ARF’s mission but expanded its reach and impact, improving the lives of thousands of animals and the families who welcome them home. Through her unwavering dedication, she exemplifies the very best of volunteerism by giving her time, expertise, and heart to create a lasting difference. It is this sustained commitment, strategic vision, and genuine care for the community that make her an outstanding selection for this year’s honor.
Much like David Sursa did for The Community Foundation, Kathy has blazed the trail for ARF, generously offering time, talent, and treasure and setting an example of a strong nonprofit leader.
The David Sursa Leadership Award was established in memory of the Foundation’s first leader. As Founding President, David Sursa blazed the trail for The Community Foundation. His visionary leadership contributed significantly to the Foundation’s success and the generous support it has provided to our community. The annual program rewards, recognizes, and encourages extraordinary nonprofit leadership by a board member displaying the characteristics and commitment to the community expressed by Mr. Sursa during his lifetime.
Additionally, in David Sursa’s honor and to commemorate the award, The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County awarded $2,500 to the ARF.
For more information about the David Sursa Leadership Award, please visit The Community Foundation’s website at cfmdin.org or contact Marcy Minton, President & CEO, at mminton@cfmdin.org.
Founded in 1998, ARF rescues, shelters, and adopts out homeless dogs and cats. In addition, ARF supports pets and their families by offering low-cost spay/neuter services, a pet food pantry, and a dog park.
About The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County
The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County helps people, supports place, and encourages possibility in Muncie and Delaware County. With an endowment of over $100 million, the Foundation has distributed more than $68 million in grants and scholarships to date.
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