2018 Charles L. Whistler Award

On November 13, 2018, the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC) and Mayor Joe Hogsett presented Marianne Glick with the 2018 Charles L. Whistler Award during a breakfast ceremony at the Ivy Tech Community College Culinary and Conference Center.

The annual award recognizes individuals who, outside the regular duties of their chosen professions, have brought together the public and private sectors for civic improvement in Indianapolis. Marianne Glick founded Glick Training Associates in 1986 to help organizations enhance employee productivity and effectiveness. After 25 years leading the company, she retired and is now an accomplished artist and President and Owner of GlickArt. Her paintings have been accepted into juried competitions and won awards in Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Florida. She often contributes her paintings to benefit local non-profit organizations.

Glick currently serves as Chair of the Board for the Glick Family Foundation and as President of the Board for TeenWorks. She also serves on the boards of the Gene B. Glick Company, United Way of Central Indiana, Ivy Tech Community College, IUPUI Chancellor’s Advisory Council, Goodwill, Ascend Indiana, and Community Health Foundation. She founded the Executive Women’s Leadership Program and has served as a trustee for Ball State University, Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), the Women’s Hospital, Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, Women’s Fund, and Prevent Blindness Indiana. Through Glick Philanthropies and CICF, Glick has led the Far Eastside Success Initiative, a collective impact strategy addressing societal challenges, including housing, education, and intergenerational poverty, in one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in Indianapolis.

“Through her unique combination of board leadership, philanthropy, and volunteerism, Marianne Glick has embodied the spirit of public-private collaboration the Whistler Award celebrates,” said GIPC Board Chair Mary Titsworth Chandler, Vice President of Community Relations at Cummins and CEO of The Cummins Foundation. “Ms. Glick has consistently worked to make Indianapolis more inclusive and equitable. Her contributions have benefitted the neighborhoods, people, and culture of our city, and her impact on Indianapolis is unmatched.”

“Marianne Glick’s leadership and philanthropy have helped to fundamentally shape the fabric of our city,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “She has expanded opportunity for our young people, enriched our local arts community, and fortified the quality of life for local families – and it’s only fitting that she receives this honor, named after one of our city’s civic pioneers. It is an honor to celebrate all that Marianne has accomplished, by naming her this year’s Charles L. Whistler Award winner and recognizing the influential ways she has helped to build and grow Indianapolis.”

In addition to this year’s Whistler Award, Glick has received the following awards: 2016 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana Community Mentor of the Year, 2014 Sagamore of the Wabash, 2013 IBJ Michael A. Carroll Award, 2012 IBJ Woman of Influence, and 2011 Girls Inc. Touchstone Award. Ball State University presented her with its first honorary alumni award and named her a 2010 Indiana Woman of Influence, as well. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from Butler University. Besides painting, her interests include bike riding, walking, taking exercise classes, and going to the theater. She and her husband, Mike Woods, have been married for 18 years, and she has 3 step-daughters and 5 step-grandchildren.

To view a recording of the award presentation, please click here. To see photos of the event, please visit our Facebook page.