Todd Zimmerman and Eric Moeller have several things in common. They both serve on the Fishers City Council. They both are fathers of young children. They also share a concern to help Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools.
Both men decided to put their money up and contribute $500 each to support HSE students. The question then was, how to go about it.
Contact was made with Freedom Kolb, Executive Director of the HSE Schools Foundation. She had a suggestion.
“With a student you’re impacting one person, if you contribute to a classroom or teachers, you’re impacting 20-30 kids year after year,” Moeller said. The duo took Ms. Kolb’s advice and began to plan.
Zimmerman said this is a partnership between the city and the schools, and both councilmen knew students would be deciding which project would be funded. The idea was to “have the students become the ones that are decision-makers,” Zimmerman said. “When (the students) are empowered to do that, a lot of times you are more invested in it.”
The city and schools have cooperated in the past and the two councilmen see themselves as building on that long-standing relationship, which you do not see in every community around the state of Indiana.
“Not only are we picking up that torch and carrying on with it, but we’re trying to take it 5 or 10 yards down the field,” said Moeller.
As politicians who often ask for money, both men felt it was important for them to put up their own money to fund this project.
The first foundation award went to Fishers Elementary School for a hydroponic garden. The project combines science and project-based learning, while reinforcing the importance of a healthy lifestyle and tackling social issues like water conservation and the impact of pesticides on ecosystems.
Zimmerman said he and Moeller are hoping to start something here, leading by example. “Hopefully, people go ‘Wow, that is cool, we want to be part of that,’” Zimmerman said. They admit little knowledge about hydroponic plants, but hope to learn from the students participating in this project.
Moeller has a background in finance, but has a different return on investment measure here. “It’s going to be years and years and years of students learning from this one investment,” Moeller said. “This one funding of one project, it’s going to impact hundreds and hundreds of students.”
Zimmerman is looking to start a legacy that will last over time, to last beyond their political careers.
Todd Zimmerman and Eric Moeller are trying to start something – a community movement to support local schools, teachers and students. If you have any interest in joining them, contact either councilman, or get in touch with the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation.