Our Story

Joseph’s Legacy Lives on in the Joseph Maley Foundation

Joseph Maley was born on July 6, 1990. He lived with a myriad of disabilities, and was the eldest son of John and Vivian Maley. Over the next decade, Joseph would become the oldest brother to four siblings – Tony, Dominic, Frank, and Gino.

As the younger Maley boys entered school, they were looking for ways to talk to their classmates about Joseph and how he navigated the world. Vivian Maley stepped in, developing Disability Awareness in 1998, which would eventually become the Foundation’s first education program.

Joseph Maley passed away from leukemia at the age of 18. In his memory, Vivian, John, and their sons established Joseph Maley Foundation with the mission to “serve children of all abilities”. Through the Foundation and the work Vivian created in 1998, we continue to honor Joseph’s legacy of acceptance for ALL.

Some of Our Foundation Highlights

2008

Our first service program is established with the creation of a Junior Board of Directors. Comprised of high school students, members serve as ambassadors for the Foundation, cultivate servant-leadership skills, and learn what it means to sit on a nonprofit’s Board of Directors. LEARN MORE.

2009

2009 Puppets

Puppets, our second education program, is created. Wanting to utilize the powerful impact of kids teaching kids, training of eighth grade students on how to use the puppets begins. Our Puppets program currently has 53 puppeteers from eight area schools. LEARN MORE.

2009 Marathon

Our first event, the Run, Walk, Roll 5k, is held in July. Open to participants of ALL abilities, this event remains a yearly tradition. Originally held at Eagle Creek Park, the Run, Walk, Roll is now held at IUPUI’s Michael A. Carroll Stadium.

2010

Seeing a need for adaptive recreational activities for children and their families to play together, our second service program, Joseph Maley Fitness is developed. Currently, the program offers several adaptive activities: run2gether, tri2gether, and our seasonal Family Fun Days. LEARN MORE.

2011

The Joseph Maley Foundation facilitates a High School Diversity Panel to explore topics of inclusion and belonging. This provides high school students the opportunity to be heard, as well as learn from the unique experiences of others. The panel discussion plants the seeds for future high school curriculum within Foundation programming.

2012

The first Joseph Maley Enrichment Center opens its doors! This facility allows the Foundation to host camps, events, Board and Junior Board of Director meetings, as well as serving as a work space for staff.

2013

Family Support, our third service program, begins with Individualized Education Program (IEP) assistance. Families who have a child with a disability and need help navigating the IEP process are paired with a pro bono attorney. The program has grown to include the Sibling Support initiatives. LEARN MORE.

2014

Expanding on Family Support, the Foundation hosts the first parent panel including attorneys, administrators, educators, and parents to discuss the educational rights and needs of youth with disabilities.

2015

Josh Maley Foundation students pair session

In response to the increasing mental health needs of our youth, the Junior Board of Directors drive the initiative to develop our third education program: Hope. Hope teaches students how to advocate for their own well-being, as well as that of their peers’. LEARN MORE.

2016

Vivian and John Maley are awarded the David M. Hamacher Public Service Award from the Indiana State Bar Association Appellate Practice Section, in recognition of their community impact and leadership.

2017

The first Sibs Summer Camp was held in 2017, and gave siblings of children with disabilities an opportunity to meet with peers who were navigating similar life experiences. Sibs Support programming directly addresses the unique social and emotional needs of this population. LEARN MORE.

2018

In November, the Foundation hosts our first Butterfly Ball, a gala event that brings our community together to celebrate the growth and trajectory of Joseph Maley Foundation.

2019

2019 Award

Vivian Maley receives the James Pauley Lifetime Service Award from the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Disability, for her work promoting inclusion and independence of persons with disabilities in the Indianapolis community.

2020

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Joseph Maley Foundation pivots in-person programming to a virtual e-learning space. This change, and the corresponding change in workplace needs, translates to a move to a smaller Enrichment Center. (7176 Lakeview Pkwy W. Dr, Indianapolis)

2021

The Foundation announces a new mission statement: “Celebrating differences and cultivating an inclusive community through education and service of youth in Greater Indianapolis.”

2021 AYA

With our new mission, the Foundation, recognizing that there were infinitely more ways to educate and serve the youth of our community

As You Are, our fourth education program, is launched. Focusing on family and gender diversity, the program teaches youth that they belong as they are. LEARN MORE.

2021 podcast

A culmination of a years-long goal, Chrysalis – A Joseph Maley Foundation Podcast – is realized. This podcast celebrates the beauty of change with stories of growth. LEARN MORE.

2022

Our Family Support program hosts the first Family Fun Day, in conjunction with a reimagined Sibling Support Workshop series.

2023

The Foundation debuts our Young Professionals Board, providing students and professionals age 21 to 30 with an opportunity to learn and explore service on a nonprofit’s Board of Directors.

2024

To date, our impact numbers show that the Foundation has served over 500,000 youth across programming since our establishment. We look forward to serving more youth with each passing year.