IndyBar Record Spring 2026

Foundation Update

foundation, on the other hand, maintains a focus on supporting the association through a variety of events, educational opportunities, and scholarships. The foundation’s mantra is that we use fundraising activities, grants, scholarships, CLEs, pro bono services and more to advance our initiatives of justice and positive change. Maybe you have seen this by attending one of our social gatherings (the IndyBar’s Got Talent Show, Block Party, annual Gala, Trivia Night(s), the Lawyer Links Classic Golf Outing, or something else). Or, perhaps you attended a breakfast honoring our Community Empowerment Grant recipients. Who knows, maybe you even volunteered to assist with one of the pro bono services we fund, such as Virtual Ask a Lawyer or our Free Wills Clinic. My guess is you have participated in a foundation event (or an event funded by the foundation) and you didn’t even know it. Again, don’t worry - this can be our secret. While we’re on the topic, let’s talk about our awesome upcoming events. As you may know, we always love to kick off the spring by hosting Trivia Night at the Blind Owl Brewery (hosted by James Bell) on April 23. Then, we’ll cruise right into summer with our Block Party at HQ (brought to you by Hurst Limontes - thanks, guys!) on May 21. After that, we’ll head to French Lick for our Bench Bar Conference….ok, well, that one is actually put on by the Association, technically….on June 11. That is followed by a special Rule of Law Trivia Night on August 5 at Centerpoint Brewery. A few weeks later we’ve got our annual Gala on August 21, which will be held at the beautiful Newfields this year. We’ll wrap up the summer with our Lawyer Links Classic Golf Outing (September 24), which is sold out every year. Then, we’ll kick off fall with our September 30th Empowerment Breakfast and Annual Day of Giving. Finally, we’ll wrap the fall up with one more Trivia Night at Blind Owl Brewery (this one’s hosted by Adam Christensen) on October 22. Lawyer Links Classic at the Country Club of Indianapolis – September 24 Day of Giving/Community Empowerment Breakfast – September 30 Trivia Night in the Fall – October 22 The foundation thrives on the truly incredible support of all of you. If you frequently attend foundation events or services, we hope to see you back at them over the course of the year. If you have rarely done so in the past, we hope you will consider re-engaging this year as we embark on what we believe will be the foundation’s best year yet! Visit IndyBarFoundation.org to learn more. W. Kent Winingham is a Partner at Wilson Kehoe Winingham LLC, an Indianapolis law firm specializing in plaintiff-side medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and product liability cases. He is passionate about client counseling, community involvement, and supporting survivors of traumatic brain injury. Kent earned his undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College and his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Since moving back to Indianapolis to join Wilson Kehoe Winingham LLC in 2017, Kent has tried multiple cases to verdict. His verdicts include cases involving medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, and motor vehicle collisions. Recognized for his leadership, he was named Indiana Lawyer’s Up and Coming Lawyers: Leadership in the Law recipient in 2019 and the Young Lawyer of the Year by the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association in 2020. Outside of the practice of law, Kent enjoys spending his time with his wife, Ashley, and two sons. You can find these events and dates below. Please be sure to join us so I can quiz you on the differences between the association and foundation. Trivia Night in the Spring - April 23 Block Party – May 21 Bench Bar Conference – June 11-13 Special Rule of Law Trivia in the Summer – August 5 Annual Gala Event – August 21

Answering That Question You Were Too Afraid to Ask

BY W. KENT WININGHAM, INDYBAR FOUNDATION PRESIDENT

H

ave you ever thought to yourself: “I don’t understand the difference between the IndyBar Association and the IndyBar Foundation…” but you were too afraid to inquire further? Maybe you are new to the association or foundation, and that question sits in your mind right

now. Or, maybe you have been a member for 20+ years, never really quite appreciated the difference, and at this point you feel like it’s just too late to inquire (sort of like when it’s too late to ask the guy who always remembers your name when he sees you at events what his name is the 20th time you run into him). I’m here to help, and this can be our secret. If you ask Gemini or any other AI platform what it is, it tells you this: “The Indianapolis Bar Association (IndyBar) is a professional membership organization for lawyers focusing on networking, education, and advocacy, while the Indianapolis Bar Foundation (IndyBar Foundation) is its charitable, philanthropic arm. The foundation funds community legal initiatives and scholarships, whereas the association serves as the professional, legal network.” This is not bad, but it doesn’t do justice to the work of, or difference between, the association and foundation. The association is the core entity that the IndyBar Foundation serves. The association is centrally focused on members through policy, education, and resources. The

The Indianapolis Bar Association / Since 1878 - 22