Al Breyfogle: A Legacy of Community Love
As a young man with a wife and kids at home, Al Breyfogle was laid off from US Steel. It left his family in tough circumstances as the holidays approached. “We had bills and two kids, and it was getting tight,” Al reflects. “We got a call from a lady, and she said our name was on a giving tree, and she had some gifts for the kids. I told her we were fine, and I was sure someone else needed it more. She said nope, she drew our name. I met her and was just floored. Her car was full of gifts, food, and items we needed. She was so humble and said, ‘Sir, someday you will have the opportunity to be a giver and not a receiver.'”
That heartfelt experience and the woman’s powerful words have stayed with Al through the years, shaping his perspective on community and inspiring him to help others in Pulaski County.
A born people person, Al thrives out in the community, meeting neighbors and making friends. Ask him where he volunteers, and you’re in for quite a list. Al lends a hand here at the Community Foundation, as well as with the Pulaski County Tribe, the Cheryl Lyn Welter Foundation, Heartland Church, and he is a member of the Economic Development Commission. His generous spirit extends to sponsoring teams and helping organize golf outings for the Winamac Booster Club, Pulaski Memorial Hospital, the Muscular Sclerosis Outing at Lake of Four Seasons, and several others. He makes monetary donations to many organizations, including the VFW and 4-H. For 28 years, he was a volunteer coach and stat man for the Winamac Warriors football program, where he enjoyed working with local youth.
With family values at his heart, Al’s pride is evident as he talks about his daughter, Tracy, who runs the Day of Giving in Memory of Sharon and Brad Breyfogle–Al’s wife and son–every year. “I am her top volunteer!” he proudly declares. Just this past year alone, through Day of Giving, Al, Tracy, Tracy’s husband Jon, and their army of family, friends, and community supporters provided over 3000 items to the Neighbor to Neighbor Compassionate Ministries & Food Pantry and the Pulaski County Human Services Food Pantry and made a significant donation to CASA of Pulaski County. In years past, they have spread kindness by distributing backpacks to Indianapolis and South Bend homeless populations. They also award two Brad Breyfogle Spirit of Sport scholarships each year and sponsor the Brad Breyfogle Spirit of Sport award, given at The Griddy Awards, Indiana high school football’s annual awards ceremony.
And, of course, they always adopt a family at Christmas—Al’s joyful spirit of giving shines as he talks about it. “I have volunteered to be Santa a few times. Once in particular, a family was really in a bad time. A friend dropped me off behind some bushes and went to the house of the people we were taking Christmas to. The kids started coming out the door, and when I walked around the bushes in total Santa dress, it was unbelievable! The mom was so touched by the food, clothes, and items. The kids were just beside themselves with the presents. This was community giving; I was just the delivery boy through the Day of Giving!”
While the Day of Giving is closest to his heart, Al also has a particular affection for the Pulaski County Tribe. “My wife and I were at the first meeting, and I have continued to try to be as active as I can. We were in charge of the first Welcome Package team, and welcoming people to our county with items and gift cards with a smile was very satisfying! I still help out with this program. I consider myself the ‘gopher’ of the Tribe. It is an amazing organization with hardworking members.”
When Al speaks about our Pulaski County community, his face lights up with a genuine fondness for the people and businesses that make our home special. He notes countless times he has reached out for help from our community and almost always received more than he asked for—a testament to the giving spirit that defines us.
What keeps this community champion going? Al circles back to that pivotal moment when he was on the receiving end of kindness. “I think being out and visible sets an example for the younger people. Even with the simplest task, I hope that someone will remember the time they saw me or received some help or support from something I was involved in. Then, when the time comes for them to give and not receive, they will recall that help.”
Thank you, Al, for all you do for Pulaski County!
Diana Day: Cultivating Community Through Volunteering
When Diana Day thinks about what makes Pulaski County special, her answer is simple and heartfelt: it’s the people. As a board member for both the Pulaski County Tribe and the Pulaski County Farmers Market, Diana has woven herself into the fabric of our community through dedicated service and a genuine passion for supporting local causes. “Pulaski County is peaceful and the ideal setting to raise our family,” Diana shares. “We love having outdoor adventures and living our quiet life in the country.”It’s this appreciation for our rural lifestyle that drives Diana to give back and help preserve what makes Pulaski County so special.
Diana’s volunteerism extends well beyond her board positions. If you’ve attended a youth sporting event in the county, chances are you’ve seen her on the sidelines, clipboard in hand, encouraging young athletes. “I have coached youth soccer, basketball, softball, and baseball,” she explains. “It brings me a lot of joy to watch my kids and their friends learn and grow together in such a fun setting.”
Her dedication to youth sports speaks to Diana’s belief in the power of community connections. Through coaching, she helps build confidence in local children while fostering teamwork and healthy activity—values that benefit our entire community.
As a board member for the Pulaski County Tribe, Diana works with other passionate volunteers to celebrate our local heritage and strengthen community bonds. Her involvement with the Pulaski County Farmers Market reflects another of her core values: supporting local businesses and producers. “Supporting local is important to me,” Diana emphasizes. “I appreciate our local businesses, organizations, and growers and purchase locally whenever I can.” In a time when online shopping and big-box stores dominate, Diana’s commitment to shopping locally helps sustain the small businesses that give Pulaski County its unique character.
What keeps Diana coming back to volunteer? The answer lies in the relationships she’s built along the way. “I have met all of my closest friends through volunteering,” she explains. “Their ability to make the hard work we do so much fun is a huge reason I keep volunteering.” This sentiment echoes what many long-term volunteers discover—that the connections formed while serving alongside others can become some of life’s most meaningful relationships.
But there’s also another deep motivation behind Diana’s commitment to service: her children. “My kids inspire me to give back to the community,” she shares. “They deserve a great place to grow up, and I try to do anything I can to give that to them.”
Like many parents, Diana understands that volunteering isn’t just about improving the community today—it’s about shaping what Pulaski County will become for future generations. “It’s important to me to model the qualities I hope to see in my kids as they grow,” Diana explains. Through her volunteer work, she demonstrates the values of generosity, community spirit, and local pride that she hopes her children will carry forward.
For those wondering whether volunteering is worth their time, Diana offers this simple but powerful perspective: “Volunteering for things you care about is a really rewarding way to serve your community and spend time with friends.”
Her advice cuts to the heart of what makes volunteering so valuable—it’s not just about giving; it’s about receiving the intangible rewards of connection, purpose, and belonging.
Diana Day represents the spirit that makes Pulaski County thrive: neighbors helping neighbors, parents investing in the next generation, and everyday citizens stepping up to nurture the community they love.
Diana is right that it’s the people who make Pulaski County so special—people like her, who choose to give their time and talents to ensure our rural community remains vibrant, connected, and strong for years to come.
Jennifer Mellon: Finding Happiness in Giving Back
In the heart of Pulaski County, Jennifer Mellon has found the secret to happiness. “Giving back in volunteering and serving others is what brings true happiness to our lives,” she reveals. “Volunteering can provide a sense of meaning and purpose, especially when helping those in need.” Not only has Jennifer found that real fulfillment comes from helping others, but she also believes that everyone has the potential to make a difference.
Jennifer gives her time in a variety of places around Pulaski County, including here at the Community Foundation on our Grants Committee, with the Pulaski Animal Center, teaching Junior Achievement at West Central Schools, and helping out with the Francesville Fall Festival. But the place that really has her heart is Francesville First Christian Church.
“At church, I have worked in the nursery, taught preschool and elementary classes, and led a small group for high school girls,” Jennifer explains. “I love working with the youth group at our church to help them determine what to do with their spiritual lives. As a youth leader, I have been able to go on mission trips, be a counselor at camp, mentor students, support service projects, and teach kids about the love of God. It has been so rewarding to watch these students grow and mature and then move on to the next chapter in their lives with a new hope.”
Working with youth of all ages, Jennifer has seen the transformative power that support and encouragement can offer everyone–especially kids. She recognizes that life can be challenging, and she is passionate about lending a helping hand to those who need it most.
Just as she sets an example for the kids she works with, Jennifer says that the importance of volunteering in the community was instilled in her from a very young age. “Volunteering and helping others are just a part of life in my family,” she explains. In particular, she credits her mother-in-law, Darlene Mellon, as an inspiration to her when it comes to giving back in Pulaski County. She describes Darlene as selfless, working tirelessly to improve the county.
“From serving on committees to starting community projects to cleaning the bathrooms at the Fall Festival and picking up trash. Nothing was off limits to make this community better,” she says with love.
Family is a big motivator for Jennifer, and for her, the definition of family extends well beyond Darlene. “I love that Pulaski County is a community where everyone can feel like family. I know and have experienced that this community will be right there to help when times in our lives do not go as planned,” she asserts.
Having that Pulaski County family–that small-town way of life that we all hold so dear–surrounding Jennifer provides a feeling of security. Lending a hand where she can gives her perspective, helping her focus less on the struggles in her own life. She finds solace in knowing that she’s making a difference.
At the end of the day, Jennifer’s message is simple but profound. We all have the power to create the community we want by embracing the spirit of giving back. She hopes that by sharing her story, she can inspire others to embrace that secret to happiness and join her in making Pulaski County a stronger and more compassionate community. Thank you, Jennifer, for all you do!
