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2024 IGB Foundation Support Your Sport Awards Night

2024 Scholarship Winners (1)

Indiana Girls Basketball Foundation is a nonprofit organization that exists to support female basketball players on and off the court.

The first initiative of the IGB Foundation is the IGB Scholarship Program. The program is designed to award scholarships for those players who have a goal to attend college and best represent IGB on the court, in the classroom and around the community. 

Why

Girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys in middle school. The scholarship program provides extra motivation or carrot” to keep girls engaged in a team environment.  

IGB Foundation Events (Bingo, Golf Outing and Gala) help support the IGB Foundation Scholarship Program. This past March 2023, Emily Mattingly, attending Indiana Wesleyan University, was the inaugural recipient of the IGB Foundation Scholarship. Our goal is to increase the scholarship program each year and your support is appreciated!

Interested in becoming an IGB Foundation Sponsor

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Events

Golf Outing

2024 Date Coming Soon!

2023 Bingo Night

Saturday, November 4th

How the IGB Foundation Scholarship Program Works!

In 2025 the IGB Foundation will award $15,000 in College Scholarships!

IGB Lady Baller will submit an application that includes:

  1. Bio
  2. Recommendation Letters
  3. Report Cards
  4. 3 Minute "Pitch" Video
  5. Community Outreach Hours

The IGB Foundation Board will determine Scholarship Winners and present the recipients at the Annual IGB Support Your Sport Awards Night.

Applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

  1. High School senior who participates in the IGB Program
  2. Past winner of the Scholarship Program who attends college
  3. Past IGB Lady Baller who attends college

Please let us know if you or your Lady Baller is interested in applying for the 2024 Scholarship Program. Deadline to submit application is January 31, 2025

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IGB Foundation Board

Board Director: Matt Shade

Matt lives in Noblesville, IN. Married 22 years to Kasey Shade. Son (Jack) and daughter (Ashlynn). Graduated from Indiana Wesleyan in 1995. Founder and President of FitLivin, Founder and Inventor of Push Up Machine and Co-Founder and Operations of Indiana Girls Basketball. State champion assistant coach at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory 2000. IGB 2030 Shade AAU World Champion head coach 2021 and 2022. US Amateur National Champion head coach 2022 and 2023. 

I fell in love with girls’ basketball when I looked into my daughter’s eyes and could see an unrivaled passion for the game of basketball. At this point, girls basketball was not well organized. It was either with boys or an after thought. I knew we could do better. We created IGB in 2017 and dedicated the platform 100% to girls’ basketball. Since 2017, we have touched thousands of lives through the Circle, IGB Spring/Summer teams, Lil Ballers, Summer Camps, Open Gym and Community Events. The IGB Foundation and Scholarship Program completes the vision of mentoring strong, confident female leaders on and off the court. The. Leadership of the IGB Foundation Board, combined with the passion of IGB families, will ignite a community we have not seen in girls’ basketball. Live Your Dream. 

Board President: Lisa Mezera

Lisa has been married for 15 years to my husband, Troy, and have 3 daughters, Haylee, Mckenzee and Chloee. Lives in Fishers, IN and attend Heartland Church where she is a 6th grade girls small group leader.  Lisa has worked/volunteered for non-profits for 13 years planning and coordinating fundraisers and events.  Basketball has been in her life for as long as she can remember.  Lisa started playing at the YMCA, continuing through school ball and then onto Roncalli High School on the Southside of Indianapolis.  Lisa then played at Tri-State University (now Trine University) in Angola, IN.  Lisa attended TSU for 2 years and then finished her bachelors degree at Ball State University. In college she helped run summer basketball camps for the local grade schools, she has coached YMCA teams, HSE Rec Teams, and a 2028 IGB team.  Lisa also helps with the Lil’ Ballers program at IGB, teaching  pre-schoolers to 2nd graders the fundamentals of basketball!  When she is not in the gym she likes to travel and spend time with family and friends.

It is an honor to serve on a board that I feel passionate about!  Having three basketball playing daughters myself, being able to help provide a resource for young female athletes who have the desire to continue their education at the collegiate level and show true leadership on and off the court is something that is very important to me. This foundation allows not only the financial opportunity of a scholarship for the college aged athlete, but also the ability to provide a “real” role model for the younger athletes.  The IGB program works like a family, encouraging the older athletes to be involved with the younger ones for this purpose.

The support this foundation provides goes way beyond financial.  It helps build character, morals and leadership skills.  Being a part of shaping young lives in this way is an amazing opportunity and I can’t wait to see how this foundation grows!

Board Member: Alissa Hankee

Married to Patrick, daughter Kirby (9 yr old) and son Brendan (8 yr old). Alissa lives in Indianapolis. Kirby and Brendan attend St.Simon the Apostle Catholic School. Alissa graduated with a BS in Biology from University of Evansville 2005, BS in Physician Assistant studies from Southern Illinois Carbondale 2007, Masters of Physician Assistant 2009 University of Nebraska. Alissa is a Physician Assistant and works for IU Health Infectious Diseases.

I am very excited to be a part of the IGB Foundation. Basketball to me was my life growing up but taught me so much about work ethic, mental toughness, teamwork, communication that I use to this day in my professional life. For me basketball paved my financial way through college but I am happy to be a part of this great foundation that will help the growth of future women and provide them with scholarship opportunities for them to work towards their professional goals and be successful. 

Board Member Delcia Mendez

Delcia Mendez is a Bronx, New York native that currently resides in Noblesville, IN.  She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Spanish Literature (cum laude) from Cornell University; a Master’s Degree in Comparative Literature from Michigan State University; and a Masters of Art in Teaching from University of Indianapolis.  She has taught at the collegiate level and currently teaches Spanish at Noblesville High School.

Although not an athlete herself, Delcia’s experience with youth basketball started with her two daughters.  Her daughter, Dani Mendez, plays on the Noblesville Girls Basketball Varsity High School team and her daughter, Joelle Mendez, plays with the Noblesville Girls Basketball Club.

I am excited to help build the scholarship program.  With my life’s dedication to education, I look forward to rewarding hard-working athletes for their work in the classroom, while continuing to encourage their participation in basketball.

Board Member: Peter Williams

Pete and his family reside in Carmel, IN. He has been married to Carrie for 17 years. They have 3 daughters, Maria, Juliana and Nicolina. Through their shared interest in fun and sports, Pete and Carrie first met while playing coed flag football.

Pete shared, “It is an honor to join the IGB foundation board. IGB offers a distinctive and unparalleled opportunity for leadership development exclusively focused on and dedicated to empowering girls and young women. This program goes far beyond the confines of a stereotypical AAU season; it is a comprehensive, year-round curriculum that is shaping the leaders of tomorrow. I am excited to support IGB and help advance this important mission.”

Williams works in various capacities, including CIO @ Butler University and co-founder, investor, advisor, and board member, across multiple organizations and industries. Pete also served as a specialist coach for a Marian University football team that reached the NAIA national championship contest.

Peter earned undergrad and graduate degrees at Ball State University and was a member of the 1996 MAC championship football team.

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