Annual Fishers Tri Kappa Donut Festival Returns Sept. 29

Photography Provided by Fishers Tri Kappa

A sampling of decadent donuts and freshly-roasted coffee drew a big crowd to last year’s Fishers Tri Kappa Donut Festival, and this year the local sorority hopes to attract even more people by adding one key ingredient — sprinkles.

“You had me at Sprinkles,” is the phrase Fishers Tri Kappa is printing on T-shirts for this year’s fundraising event, which will take place 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sept. 29 at Saxony Hall in Fishers. There, attendees will find sampling stations from several bakeries and coffee shops from the area, live music from Klarc Whitson of the popular local group The Doo! Band, lots of donut-themed games, and, of course, sprinkles.

Sprinkles aside, what really makes this event special is the proceeds will fund grants for teachers at Hamilton Southeastern Schools. After all, Tri Kappa is an Indiana-based Greek sorority with a mission to “bring women into close, unselfish relationship for the promotion of charity, culture and education.”

The Fishers Tri Kappa Donut Festival aligns perfectly with that mission. Last year, Fishers Tri Kappa member and donut festival Vendor Chairperson Jenny Shoemaker says the sorority raised $3,000 from the donut festival and more than $8,000 overall that went toward grants for Hamilton Southeastern Schools teachers. The grants, ranging from $300 to $1,000 amounts, were awarded through the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation and have been used for special projects that will benefit many students throughout the 21-school district.

Those projects include drawing and painting projects, an Explore the World teacher grant, support of the Black Student Association, the Exceptional Learners program, wellness programs and nature trails behind Fall Creek Elementary School, says Executive Director of the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Education Foundation Justin Hirnisey.

“Without this generous support form Tri Kappa, many of these innovative, teacher-led projects that directly impact student learning in the HSE School district would not have been possible,” Hirnisey says.

In addition to funding grants through the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation, Fishers Tri Kappa serves the community in several other ways including Adopt-a-Road, a Geist Half Marathon water stop, a Prom Dress Resale project, volunteering at Riley Children’s Hospital and hosting a photography contest for intermediate level students at Hamilton Southeastern schools. The sorority also donates funds to several charities including Special Olympics, Peyton Riekhof Foundation for Youth Hope, Third Phase, Indy Snack Attack, the Roy Holland Backpack for Kids program and many more.

Confirmed vendors for the 2018 Fishers Tri Kappa Donut Festival include Taylor’s Bakery, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, The Well Coffeehouse and Titus Bakery, but Tri Kappa plans to add several more to the lineup leading up to the event.

Those interested in tickets can email Fishers Tri Kappa at fisherstkdonutfestival@gmail.com or visit the group’s Facebook page facebook.com/fisherstkdonutfestival. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for kids and T-shirts are $12.