CARMEL, IN – Readers familiar with Synergize will know of the group’s monthly 4:30 Meetups. A professional community fostering lifelong relationships and community impact, Synergize financially supports a local nonprofit at each 4:30 Meetup. Since its inception in 2020, the group’s members have raised more than $100,000 at these events.
On August 24, Synergize held a new event – their first Impact Rally. Instead of supporting a specific nonprofit, the group celebrated impact in Carmel: the hometown of Synergize and many of its members. “Carmel is the birthplace of Synergize and a huge part of why our impact is possible,” Marketing and Communications Coordinator Heather Hunter told the crowd at the event. “This place and the people in it are the reason we’re able to do what we do.”
The event was held at Iron and Ember on the Brookshire Golf Course, with roughly 250 people in attendance. It was sponsored by The Brookfield Group and 5 by 5 Communications. Brian Kelly, CEO of Current Publishing, introduced the keynote speaker, Carmel Mayor James Brainard. Current Publishing is a 2021 Presenting Sponsor for Synergize.
In his Impact Keynote, Mayor Brainard looked back on the history of Carmel and the impact of the city’s improvements on its citizens. “In my first campaign, I knocked on thousands of doors and heard from people all over the city about their hopes and dreams about the place they’d chosen to raise their families,” he said. “And they wanted a place that exuded a sense of community.”
As mayor, he said, he’d needed to “turn this car suburb into a pedestrian-friendly city with cultural institutions, that compliments Indianapolis but stands alone as a city by itself.” He credited the city’s growth with Carmel citizens’ willingness to invest in their community.
Mayor Brainard also gave a nod to the city and county leaders who attended the rally. Keeping a great working relationship, he said, helps everyone in the community. “At the meetings I go to with other mayors, you hear about different units of government fighting and not working together. But in central Indiana – there’s some fun competition, without question – but everybody comes together for the greater good,” he said. Rashad Cunningham, pastor at Mercy Road church, finished the speech with a prayer over the city and the Mayor.
Synergize collects a portion of its members’ monthly dues to donate to each nonprofit they support. Since the Impact Rally celebrated Carmel, the Synergize team asked Mayor Brainard to choose the recipient of this month’s $2,075. He picked the Great American Songbook Foundation, founded by Michael Feinstein.
“The Great American Songbook Museum will bring visitors from all over the world,” said Mayor Brainard. “It tells the story of America through some tough times through the lyrics of those songs. To have a museum that explains that part of our history and culture will have a huge impact for hundreds of years.”
After the Mayor’s announcement and remarks from Allan Sutherlin and City Council member Jeff Worrell, Arron Stanton, Founder of Synergize, surprised Mayor Brainard with the group’s first Synergize Legacy of Impact Award.
“When we thought about possible recipients for our first Legacy of Impact award, Mayor Brainard was the one that stuck out to us the most,” said Stanton. “His life and leadership have created ripples of impact that changed the future of Carmel and made it into the incredible place that it is.”
Synergize honored one more person at the Impact Rally: Brian Bondus, Synergize Legacy Member, who passed unexpectedly a few days before the event. An original member of Synergize, Bondus was a valued friend to many in the group. “Brian was such a huge booster of our community, trying to work with the city to make this a special place,” said Mayor Brainard. “His humor and enthusiasm for life in this city will have ripples of impact for a long, long time.” He will be remembered with love by his Synergize family.
About Synergize
The mission of Synergize is to develop a group giving selfless individuals the opportunity to meet in complete harmony, led by the motive to build transformational relationships with one another and produce ripples that positively change the world. The only rule? No Jerks! Learn more at https://synergizeindy.com/join-synergize/
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