A Better Fort

Last updated
A Better Fort
Formation2010
Founder Alex Smith
Shane Araujo
Dissolved2014
Type NGO
Headquarters Fort Wayne, Indiana
Region
Downtown Fort Wayne and surrounding neighborhoods
ServicesService opportunities, philanthropic endeavors, innovative projects, and cultural discovery.
Key people
Christine Fisher (Volunteer Coordination)
Sam DiFlippo (Executive Director / Principal)
Website abetterfort.com

A Better Fort was a community organization with a mission to provide positive experiences that make a difference in the lives of individuals within Fort Wayne, Indiana. Their focus was on community empowerment and the retention of young talent. [1]

Contents

Activities

Mission

During the years of 2010 through 2014, A Better Fort had a mission statement to provide positive life experiences that make a difference in the lives of individuals within Fort Wayne, Indiana. The focus is on community empowerment and the retention of young talent. Members can achieve their highest potential through service opportunities, philanthropic endeavors, innovative projects, and cultural discovery. Members prepare to lead the community through service, identity, empowerment, persistence, and education. [2]

#HipHop4theCity

HipHop4theCity was a community driven and collaborative music based project that resulted in the song [3] and music video entitled MY CITY. [4] [5] The project brought together over a dozen local artists, producers and volunteers at the time of its creation and release in late 2011 and early 2012. The music video [6] amassed over 250,000 views and press coverage from both local and national publications. [7] [8] [9] [10]

The project showcased local talent, brought awareness to community involvement, the arts, and civic pride which garnered the attention of national economic development publications and blogs. It also sparked a chain of events pertaining to economic development in Northeast Indiana such as The My City Summit [11] and the My City Pin. [12] Nyzzy Nyce, one of the artists on the project, re-released a national rendition of the song on VEVO entitled MY CITY (National). [13] [14]

#House4aHouse

House4aHouse started as an annual block party with a focus on Electronic Dance Music. The event donates $5,000 per year to a local non-profit organization, and in the first three years donated over $15,000 to the Mad Anthony’s Children's Hope House. [15] In 2014 the event was carried on under the name, the BAALS Music Festival. [16] [17] [18]

#Ball4ACause

The annual charity basketball game [19] features Fort Wayne’s Famous, from entertainment to politics. [20] The two teams go head to head against each other to raise funds and awareness for two selected non-profit organizations in the community. [21]

Zombie Prom

The annual Halloween Zombie Prom [22] and fundraiser takes place during Downtown Fort Wayne’s Fright Night festivities. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Wayne, Indiana</span> City in Indiana

Fort Wayne is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Indiana, United States. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is 18 miles (29 km) west of the Ohio border and 50 miles (80 km) south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 as of the 2020 census, making it the second-most populous city in Indiana after Indianapolis, and the 83rd-most populous city in the United States. It is the principal city of the Fort Wayne metropolitan area, consisting of Allen and Whitley counties which had an estimated population of 423,038 as of 2021. Fort Wayne is the cultural and economic center of northeastern Indiana. In addition to the two core counties, the combined statistical area (CSA) includes Adams, DeKalb, Huntington, Noble, Steuben, and Wells counties, with an estimated population of 649,105 in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen County, Indiana</span> County in Indiana, United States

Allen County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 385,410, making it the third-most populous county in Indiana. The county seat and largest city is Fort Wayne, the second largest city in Indiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne</span> Defunct university in Fort Wayne, Indiana, US

Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) was a public university in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Founded in 1964, IPFW was a cooperatively-managed regional campus of two state university systems: Indiana University and Purdue University. IPFW hit its highest enrollment in 2014, with 13,459 undergraduate and postgraduate students in nine colleges and schools, including a branch of the Indiana University School of Medicine. During its last academic year (2017–2018), IPFW had a total enrollment of 10,414 students. IPFW offered more than 200 graduate and undergraduate degree programs through IU or Purdue universities. The university's 14 men's and women's athletic teams competed in Division I of the NCAA Summit League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Wayne Komets</span> Professional minor league ice hockey team in Fort Wayne, Indiana

The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play their home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This team was previously a member of the Central Hockey League (CHL), the original International Hockey League (IHL), and the second International Hockey League (UHL/IHL). Founded in the original IHL They have won four post-season championship titles in the original IHL in 1963, 1965, 1973, and 1993, four in the UHL/second IHL in 2003, 2008, 2009, and 2010, one in the CHL in 2012, and one in the ECHL in 2021. In all of North American professional hockey, only the Original Six teams of the NHL and the Hershey Bears of the AHL have played continuously in the same city with the same name longer than the Komets.

Ikasucon was an annual three-day anime convention held during July at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The name of the convention has no particular meaning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPTA</span> ABC/NBC/MyNetworkTV affiliate in Fort Wayne, Indiana

WPTA is a television station in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States, affiliated with ABC, NBC, and MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Gray Television alongside CW+ affiliate WISE-TV. The two stations share studios on Butler Road in Northwest Fort Wayne, where WPTA's transmitter is also located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Baals</span> American politician

Harry William Baals was an American politician who was the Republican mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana, from 1934 to 1947, and from 1951 until his death in 1954.

Janette N. Luu is a Vietnamese-American broadcaster. Until October 2009, she hosted CANOE Live, a local TV program on Sun TV in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as Toronto's first-ever Vietnamese TV news anchor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra</span> Orchestra in Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.

The Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The orchestra's primary concert venues are the Embassy Theatre and the Auer Performance Hall at Purdue University Fort Wayne. The orchestra's current music director is Andrew Constantine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Henry</span> American politician (born 1951)

Thomas Christopher Henry is an American businessman and politician who is the 35th Mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana. A member of the Democratic Party, Henry served five terms on Fort Wayne City Council from 1984 to 2004, representing the 3rd District. Prior to his mayorship, Henry served as president and CEO of the Gallant Group, an insurance agency specializing in healthcare consulting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana Mad Ants</span> American professional basketball team of the NBA G League

The Indiana Mad Ants are an American professional basketball team of the NBA G League based in Indianapolis, and are affiliated with the Indiana Pacers. The team plays their home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The franchise won their first and only championship in 2014, when the G League was known as the NBA D-League. In September 2015, Pacers Sports & Entertainment (PS&E), parent company of the Indiana Pacers purchased the Mad Ants. Before 2023, the team was based in Fort Wayne's Allen County War Memorial Coliseum and was known as the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Chuck Surack is an American entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist, and musician, best known as the founder of Sweetwater Sound, a leading retailer of musical instruments and professional audio equipment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Smith (businessman)</span> American businessman

Alex Smith is an American entrepreneur. He is the co-founder & CEO of 3BG Supply Co., an industrial distributor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Music Group</span>

Hurricane Music Group is an American hip hop collective and independent record label formed in 2012. The collective was founded by its most notable member Nyzzy Nyce, an American Rapper from Fort Wayne, Indiana. The collective consists of songwriters, video directors, producers, talent managers, motion and graphic designers. Each member shares similar interests in music, fashion, style, and art. The label is distributed by 3D, a subsidiary of Duck Down Music Inc., a music-marketing and consulting firm with its own distribution network assisting with the navigation of the indie landscape. Releases have garnered national blog and broadcast coverage as well as placements with feature films, network television, and professional sports teams With other artist from Fort Wayne

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BAALS Music Festival</span> Annual event in Indiana, US

BAALS is a music festival which is primarily focused on electronic dance music, dance music and jam bands. The festival takes place in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana and has been organized since 2012. Each year the festival earmarks and donates $5,000 to a local charity, cause or nonprofit. The first edition of the festival took place in 2012 as a downtown block part called House 4 a House. In 2014 the festival expanded to Headwaters Park at which point it changed its name to the BAALS Music Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrea Russett</span> American YouTuber and actress

Andrea Rose Russett is an Internet personality active on Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube. Russett released music for her first time in 2020, making her a published singer-songwriter.

References

  1. ↑ "A Better Fort Presents: #BaaL". Around Fort Wayne 2.0. June 6, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-07-02. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Community Support". Vorderman Volkswagen. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  3. ↑ Katrina Helmer (February 25, 2012). "My City: A Lyrical Movement". 21 Alive. Archived from the original on 2015-01-08. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ Rachel Martin (February 24, 2012). "HipHop4TheCity Premieres Music Video". 21 Alive. Archived from the original on 2015-01-08. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ Steve Penhollow (March 4, 2012). "Song Unites Rappers Around Love of City". Journal Gazette. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  6. ↑ Editorial (November 22, 2012). "For These We Offer Thanks". Journal Gazette. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  7. ↑ Devon Haynie (May 31, 2012). "Can a Rap Video Make Fort Wayne Cool?". City Lab. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  8. ↑ Susan Brake (February 27, 2012). "Hip Hop Music Video Shows Community's Passion For Fort Wayne". The DCI Blog. Archived from the original on November 22, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Fort Wayne: My City". Urbanophile. July 25, 2012. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  10. ↑ Kieara Carr (March 21, 2013). ""My City" Message Grows". Journal Gazette. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  11. ↑ Scott Sarvay (November 2, 2012). "My City Summit Tackles Brain Drain". 21 Alive. Archived from the original on 2015-02-20. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  12. ↑ Michelle Love (October 29, 2012). "Fort Wayne "My City" Pins". One Lucky Guitar INC. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  13. ↑ Kieara Carr (March 21, 2013). ""My City" Message Grows". Journal Gazette. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Fort Wayne Rap Going National - "My City" by Nyzzy Nyce". Indy Latino. November 21, 2012. Archived from the original on 2015-02-20. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  15. ↑ Jaclyn Goldborough (July 29, 2014). "A Better Fort Plans a Pair of Block Parties for Downtown Fort Wayne". The News Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 20, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  16. ↑ O’Daniel Mazda. "The Gears Behind #Baals". Das Fort. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Expectations build for fast-growing music fest". Journal Gazette. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  18. ↑ Dan Stockman (June 7, 2014). "Block Parties Embrace Former Mayor Baals". Journal Gazette. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  19. ↑ Rachel Martin and Jake Perrone (January 19, 2014). "A Better Fort Hosts 2nd Annual #Ball4ACause Charity Game". 21 Alive. Archived from the original on 2015-02-20. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Ball For a Cause". Visit Fort Wayne Indiana. January 19, 2013. Archived from the original on August 15, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Ball For a Cause To Support Turnstone – Saturday, January 18th". Turnstone. Archived from the original on February 20, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Better Fort Presents: The Zombie Prom 2012 OCTOBER 20TH, 2012". Indiana Grind. Archived from the original on 2015-02-20. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Downtown Fright Night Events". 21 Alive. October 19, 2013. Archived from the original on 2015-02-20. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.