News Release

FORT WAYNE — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana will host its 49th Annual Gourmet Dinner at 6 p.m. May 17 at the Grand Wayne Convention Center, 120 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne.

This dinner will benefit the agency and its mission to help local children reach their potential through professionally supported one-to-one mentor relationships. Since its establishment in 1973, the Annual Gourmet Dinner has grown to be one of the area’s premier charity events with a guest list including more than 800 of the community’s most notable business leaders.

The Annual Gourmet Dinner offers its guests a reception, followed by a multi-course gourmet meal, keynote speaker and grand prize giveaway. The 2022 keynote speaker is the Indiana University head coach of the men’s basketball team, Mike Woodson. Ticket prices start at $300.

In addition to the keynote speaker for the evening, Big Brothers Big Sisters will announce its annual Don Wolf Award recipient. Established in 1999, the Don Wolf Award is given to an individual who exhibits an exceptional commitment of service to children in our community. The founder and long-time CEO of Do it Best Corp., Wolf coordinated the launch of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in northeast Indiana in 1972. Past recipients of the Don Wolf Award include Senator Dan Coats, Jim Kelley, Dale ‘Mr. Mac’ McMillen, Sr., Louis Delagrange, Rick McCampbell, Richard and Harriet Inskeep, Tyler Lehman, Dr. Mike Mastrangelo, Jerry Henry, Keith Busse, Tom Kelley, Don Schenkel, Pizza Hut, Dick and Deanna Freedland and Rod Schoon. 

Woodson is a former professional basketball player with 10 years in the NBA. He started his college career at Indiana University under legendary coach Bob Knight and was the team’s highest scorer in his junior year before moving on to the next season, where the Hoosiers won the Big 10 championship and advanced to the 1980 Sweet Sixteen.   

Woodson has played for the New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets and Kansas City/Sacramento Kings. He coached the Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers before coming home to IU, where he’s been head coach since 2021. Woodson brought the Hoosiers to the semifinals of the Big Ten championship for the first time since 2013.   

For tickets and reservation info, contact Shelley Schwab RSVP is required:  (260) 203-3332 or [email protected].