History

Wellspring’s roots began in 1968 when five downtown congregations (Emmanuel Lutheran, First Presbyterian, St. John’s United Church of Christ, Trinity English Lutheran and Wayne Street Methodist) plus the YWCA joined together to bring it to life. At its inception, the main purpose was providing summer programs for youth who lived in Fort Wayne’s West Central neighborhood. 

Pastors Bill Moody of First Presbyterian and Arnold Pierson of Trinity English Lutheran played key roles in the formation of the program.  In fact, Reverend Moody was hired as the first executive director and served in that position until 1989.  Andrea Thomas became the second executive director, serving in her position until she retired at the end of 2004.  Francis M. Zirille began his duties as executive director in January 2005.

Initially, the agency was called West Central Neighborhood Summer Program but was later changed to West Central Neighborhood Committee. In 1989, members of the board voted to change the name to West Central Neighborhood Ministry. In June 2004, the name was changed to Wellspring.  One reason for the modification was that the organization was serving a much broader population base than just the West Central area.  Over 80% of those who take part in Wellspring programs live within a two-mile radius of the downtown area.

From the early years, the organization quickly expanded to offer a variety of programs that focus on the educational, social, physical and recreational needs of adults and youth.

In 2011, Wellspring directly impacted the lives of 3,396 individuals through its direct service programs.

Strong community assistance comes from volunteers, financial contributions and in-kind support.  That help comes from 200 individuals, 60 community organizations, sixteen congregations and several companies that assist in implementing Wellspring's major program areas. These include the Older Adult,  Youth Summer Day Camp, Youth After School, Parent Club and Food Bank programs.

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Significant Dates

January, 1968   Rev. Arnie Pierson, Trinity English Lutheran Church, and Rev. Bill Moody, First Presbyterian Church, meet for coffee at Manicos to discuss a possible summer program for West Central neighborhood youth.
Summer, 1968   Five downtown congregations and the YWCA combine efforts to create the first West Central Neighborhood Summer Program with a budget of $800.
October, 1968   West Central Craft Club begins meeting on Tuesdays after school with tutoring on Thursday afternoons (beginning of present day Youth After School Program).
Summer, 1969   Overnight camp is added to the summer program.
June, 1970   Rev. Bill Moody becomes Executive Director of the West Central Neighborhood Committee, promising to stay “at least through the end of 1971”.
1971   Senior Citizens Craft Club (beginning of Older Adult Program) begins meeting in the Wayne Street Methodist building (now Broadway Christian Church)
1974   West Central Neighborhood Committee is formally incorporated and offices move to a renovated storefront at 1012 Broadway.
April, 1980   New neighborhood center is built at 1210 Broadway.
June, 1989   Andrea Thomas is hired as the organization’s second Executive Director, promising to stay “at least four years”.
July, 1989   Name is officially changed to West Central Neighborhood Ministry.
June, 1991   Summer East Side, West Side activities for children and parents begin as a collaboration among West Central congregations, St. Mary’s Catholic Church and in the summer of 1992 Westfield Presbyterian Church (now United Faith Presbyterian Church).
September, 1994   East Side, West Side project expands to year round activities.
October, 1997   New neighborhood center (present Wellspring Center) at 1316 Broadway is dedicated.
November, 1999   East Side, West Side receives National Council of Church Ecumenical / Interfaith Service Award, selected from among 450 ecumenical and interfaith organizations in the United States.
November, 2001   West Central begins a lengthy examination of its internal and external relationships and its place in the Fort Wayne community through a grant from the Institute for Organizational Effectiveness.
2003   Interfaith involvement increases.
2003   West Central Neighborhood Ministry celebrates 35 years of service combining the resources of fifteen congregations representing ten denominations, numerous foundations, service organizations, businesses, and caring individuals
March, 2003   “Food for the Body, Nourishment for the Soul” older adult lunch project begins.
June, 2004   Name changed to Wellspring Interfaith Social Services.
January, 2005   Frank Zirille becomes third Executive Director in agency’s 37 years of service.
November, 2005   Agency’s first fund raising event a success generating $23,000.
January, 2007   Our Place of Wellspring, a program developed to offer support to homeless and transient teens and young adults, begins.
November, 2008   Wellspring named the winner of the Dulin, Ward & DeWald 2008 CARE Award for Responsible Financial Management.
December, 2008   Wellspring has record-setting year in all its direct service programs: Older Adult Program: 334 unduplicated attendees (up from previous high of 313); Youth Summer Day Camp: Daily attendance for six week core program averaged 280 youth (243 in 2007); Youth After School Program: 294 youth involved in 2008 compared to 206 in 2007 with growth triggered by outreach efforts at Study and Bloomingdale Elementary Schools; and Food Bank: 93,702 meals provided which was an increase of 64% over the previous year’s total of 57,225.
October, 2009   Wellspring's Youth Summer Day Camp was named a recipient of the 2009 Indiana Youth Investment Award from the Indiana Youth Institute being cited as an exemplary Indiana youth program.
September, 2010   Wellspring adds Tuesday evening hours (5:00 to 7:30pm) to its Food Bank Program. The Food Bank is now open every day except Sunday.
October, 2010   The Board of Directors, working with consultant Mike Stone, completes its Strategic Framework and sets guidelines for its implementation.
June, 2011   Wellspring puts a greater emphasis on summer learning by extending its seven-week Summer Day Camp Program by one hour per day and the hiring of a Coordinator of Summer Learning.
July, 2011   A record-setting number of youth (548) participate in Wellspring’s Youth Summer Day Camp Program.
December, 2011   Wellspring’s Food Bank, which is open six days a week, reached 964 individuals on an emergency basis in 2011 which was up 64% from the previous year.  In addition, 972 individuals who resided in our designated food distribution area as part of the Associated Churches Food Bank System, were given support on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

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