First Merchants joins Indiana Basketball HOF as Corporate Partner
(NEW CASTLE) – The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame has gained First Merchants as their newest corporate partner as the new title sponsor of the annual Hall of Fame Golf Classic.
First Merchants assumes title sponsorship of the event that was created and sponsored by Ameriana Bank for the past 25 years. In December, Ameriana merged to become part of First Merchants Corporation.
The golf classic has been a significant fundraiser for the Hall, raising over $547,000 in 25 years to support operation of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame museum in New Castle.
“First Merchants is excited to continue the tradition of support to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and the annual Hall of Fame Golf Classic,” notes Mark Hardwick, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of First Merchants Corporation.
“We appreciate the support of First Merchants and look forward to the relationship,” says Jerry Peirson, Secretary and Corporate Partner Chairman of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
The First Merchants HOF Golf Classic will be played on Monday, July 18 at Pebble Brook Golf Club in Noblesville. The event pairs five golfers with a Hall of Fame Ambassador for an afternoon round, followed by dinner, awards and a featured speaker.
Registration for teams, hole sponsors and dinner reservations is available now through the Hall of Fame website at https://www.hoopshall.com/forms/first-merchants-hall-of-fame-golf-classic-online-registration/.
First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ: FRME) is a financial holding company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. The Corporation is comprised of First Merchants Bank, which also operates as Lafayette Bank & Trust, First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors as divisions of First Merchants Bank. First Merchants Corporation is the 105th largest financial services company in the country, as well as the largest financial services holding company headquartered in Central Indiana. With more than 100 banking locations throughout 27 Indiana counties as well as two in both Illinois and Ohio, providing customers with broad financial services delivered locally by bankers who are known and trusted in their communities.
The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, established in 1962, seeks to enhance the role of basketball in Indiana by honoring those high school basketball players, coaches, officials and others who gained fame on the hardwoods of Indiana and in subsequent years have reflected honor upon themselves and the Indiana basketball community. Since 1990, the organization has maintained a 14,000 square foot museum in New Castle dedicated to the history of basketball in Indiana.