With the 2023 Kids’ Chance National Conference in a few short weeks, our hosts at Kids’ Chance of Indiana (KCIN) are getting prepared.

“Indianapolis has been widely redeveloped over the last decade and is better than ever,” said Kristin VanSoest, the newly-elected president of KCIN.

Hosting the Super Bowl in 2012 brought many changes to the city — including a new stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium, where the opening reception will be held on Thursday, May 4, one block from the hotel. Pedestrian areas have been added to several streets, residential condos and apartments have sprung up downtown, industrial buildings have been renovated into hip places to live, and there are restaurants aplenty.

All 21 members of the KCIN board are excited and anxious to meet their Kids’ Chance colleagues. The board will be working the registration table throughout the conference, welcoming the Kids’ Chance community to Indy. Members of the Conference Coordinating Committee include Cindy Ellis, Diana Wann, Molly Czernik, Darren Dye, Sally Ferguson, and Judy Pippin.

When asked what the best thing about the KCIN board was, Kristin remarked, “We’ve got great synergy and have really gotten to know each other. Our committees are doing well, and the best part is that we all work together.

First time visiting Indianapolis? There’s plenty to do in the city before, during, and after the conference. Taxman Brewery, the District Tap, and Kilroy’s Bar & Grill are an easy walk from the hotel. The legendary “Circle,” Indianapolis’s most recognizable landmark, is just two blocks away. The Eiteljorg Museum of the American West and the Indiana State Museum are located just beyond the “Circle.”

If you’re a runner, consider registering for the Indianapolis Mini Marathon 5k, which will take place right outside the hotel on Saturday, May 6. Country music fans may want to purchase tickets to the Thomas Rhett Concert on Saturday at nearby Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Indiana Pacers play.

In 2022, KCIN awarded nine scholarships to students totaling nearly $80,000. 

About Kids’ Chance

Kids’ Chance of America is a 501(c)(3) organization that represents a collection of state-level nonprofit organizations that provide scholarships and support to the kids of workers who have been injured on the job. Cumulatively, since their inception in 1988, Kids’ Chance organizations have awarded over 9,300 scholarships totaling over $33 million dollars. To learn more about Kids' Chance, visit our website at www.kidschance.org.

‍