Jack Surface

As the community engagement manager here at Allies Inc, my role is to connect people with Allies Inc and see how they feel led to join in on our mission of educating, empowering and connecting. As I’ve gone out into the community the past couple of months and met many community members, there have been a few that have really made an impact on me.. One of these people is Jack Surface.  

 

 I am a part of a networking group that Jack founded called the HOPE Group. The mission is to bring businesses together who have the like minded goal of serving the community. Jack has since passed from COVID-19 earlier this year and I dearly miss him but the HOPE group continues to meet faithfully every Tuesday morning. When I first met Jack he was always up for a good joke, loved to pick on me (in the most loving way) and that man loved to fish and golf! Jack owned the local Midas stores in Anderson and Muncie and was a great business owner. I was often late to the HOPE group and Jack would always make a point to bring attention to the fact that I was late and therefore paying for everyone’s meal because of it. Like I said, he was always up for a joke! 

 

One Tuesday morning I saw the walls come down for Jack. There wasn’t much joking with me that day, but instead a sense of urgency and heroism. He was focused, calm, kind, thoughtful and teary. This was the day I told him about the mission of Allies Inc. I shared stories of the girls at Allies Inc. who are survivors of sex trafficking. I explained how a child can end up being trafficked, the lack of choices these children may have and what Allies Inc. is doing to combat sex trafficking and support survivors in Indiana. Jack was moved by the mission and I saw Jack change from a passive supporter to an advocate who would do anything for the girls in the Allies programs. Jack spent time and energy along with the rest of the HOPE group to coordinate the annual golf tournament with proceeds going to Allies Inc. 

 

Jack became ill with COVID shortly before the golf tournament and ended up in the ER for several weeks, passing shortly after the tournament. Though Jack was in the hospital, he was still advocating for Allies Inc. and raising money and encouraging sponsors to commit. It is with tears in my eyes I share that the last organization that Jack poured into was Allies Inc. Even from the hospital while fighting for his life, he was an advocate. 

 

I will always remember Jack and he holds a very special place in my heart. He believed in me when I was new to the community engagement role. Jack believed in Allies Inc. and cared deeply for those we serve. I am happy to say that the HOPE group was able to raise $6,200 to be donated to Allies Inc in his honor. I just know Jack would be so happy and proud.

Thank you for the profound impact you had on my life Jack.

-Caitlin Wuethrich