One of the biggest surprises – and announcements – from Mayor Tom Henry’s State of the City address had little to do with city government at all.Two well-known Fort Wayne philanthropists were honored Wednesday for their years of service to the local United Way.
Ian and Mimi Rolland received the Bill Latz Award for Leadership during a celebration at the Lincoln Financial Group Event Center at Parkview Field.
The award is given periodically to volunteers who have provided extraordinary leadership and service to the United Way.
Recipients have provided more than 20 years of service, been major donors for many years and have made other significant contributions to the umbrella organization, which helps fund local social-service agencies.
Ian Rolland, a former CEO of Lincoln National Corp., has served as a board member, board chairman and campaign chairman for the United Way.
And during his tenure at Lincoln, Rolland advocated for workers to support the organization and donate, said Mary Tyndall, United Way spokeswoman.
Rolland’s wife, Mimi, has served as an advocate and a donor for the organization for years, Tyndall said.
“Her main passion is providing quality child care for the young. That’s a big part of the United Way’s work as well,” Tyndall said.
Mimi Rolland has also worked on behalf of many of the United Way’s partner agencies as well, Tyndall said.
The Rollands worked to establish the East Wayne Street Center and are also active patrons of the arts and support historic preservation efforts.
They took an active role in keeping a collection of Lincoln letters, documents and artifacts, previously housed at the Lincoln Museum on East Berry Street, in Indiana after the museum closed.
Mimi and Ian Rolland are both United Way Tocqueville Society members, recognizing those who invest a minimum of $10,000 annually to the local United Way.
