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‘Great Day TV:’ Remembering the Eskenazi couple’s legacy of generosity and compassion

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‘Great Day TV:’ Remembering the Eskenazi couple’s legacy of generosity and compassion


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Each and every week, “Great Day TV” shares information, entertainment, and news you can use.

During this week’s segment, host Patty Spitler is joined by News 8’s Stacy Schooler and Dr. Lisa Harris from Eskenazi health, to honor and remember the philanthropists behind a $40 million gift to Eskenazi Health, Lois and Sidney Eskenazi.

They are being honored for their contributions to public health care following their recent passings. Sidney was 95 years old at the time of his death and Lois was 92.

The donation marked the largest gift ever given to a public health facility at the time it was made. Dr. Harris says the couple’s generosity was fueled by Sidney’s childhood experiences as a resident of the south side of Indianapolis, where the hospital served as his family’s primary source of medical care.

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Harris recalled the first time she and Ernie Vargo, president and chief executive officer of the Eskenazi Health Foundation, met with the couple and their daughter, Sandy. Harris described a four-hour conversation dominated by Sid’s stories of hard work, humility and compassion while Lois interjected with warmth and wit.

“The love that they shared was palpable,” Harris said. “Everything we would get to know about them was there in that first conversation.”

Lois was described as a woman who valued individual dignity and made everyone feel important. Harris said the couple lived below their means and Lois had no interest in expensive items.

“As Sid began to do well, he wanted to buy Lois nice things and she had no interest in that,” Harris said. “She wanted to keep it simple.”

When the gift was first announced, the family met with hundreds of hospital staff members who wanted to express their gratitude. Harris remembered Lois wearing a white jacket that day that became covered with makeup from the many employees who hugged her. Harris noted that the family treated the hospital staff as part of their own family.

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Dr. Harris said the hospital will maintain the standards set by the couple.

“The way we honor their legacy is that we continue to work hard and we continue to care,” Harris said. “We continue to work hard and care and that is what they would want.”



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Indianapolis, IN

BSU co-hosts celebrity look-alike contest with other Indianapolis universities – The Butler Collegian

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BSU co-hosts celebrity look-alike contest with other Indianapolis universities – The Butler Collegian


College students from all across Indianapolis came together to sing, dance and have a good time. Photo by Mason Buysse.

On March 27, the Black Student Union (BSU) co-hosted a celebrity look-alike contest alongside Indiana University Indianapolis (IU Indy), Marian University and University of Indianapolis (UIndy). The event consisted of seven choreographed lip-sync routines and several impromptu performances from audience members. Celebrity impersonations included Rod Wave, GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion and more. 

Jayla Myers, a sophomore biology and Spanish double major, serves as the vice president of programming for BSU and helped host the event. Last year, she was the first-year chair for the logistics committee. Myers credited IU Indy for coming up with the idea for the event and inviting the Black student organizations at other universities across Indianapolis.

“We’re in really hard times right now, especially as a community,” Myers said. “We wanted to come together and have an event citywide, across all the BSUs, and [provide] a place for people to express themselves through the music that they listen to day-to-day.”  

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Zimmya, a first-year nursing major at UIndy, participated in the event as a performer. She is a member of Let’s Link, an organization serving Black and Brown students at UIndy. After seeing similar events online, she was inspired to replicate them in real life. She also enjoyed working with the other schools. 

“Everyone [was] very welcoming,” Zimmya said. “[They have] a good spirit, good vibe. It was really easy to collaborate and put it all together.”

As far as her performance went, Zimmya’s chosen celebrity look-alike was Rod Wave. She said it was an easy choice to perform her favorite song by her favorite artist. She rated the overall experience a 10 out of 10. 

“This is one of my first events, planning something with other schools,” Zimmya said. “It’s been pretty cool. It seemed hectic at first, but once everybody got their roles of what to do, it became pretty simple.”

Amiia Burnett, a sophomore speech, language and hearing sciences major, will serve as BSU’s communications liaison for the 2026-27 school year. She also participated as a contestant in the celebrity lookalike contest alongside first-year sports media major Amaya Nichols, where they performed as Megan Thee Stallion and GloRilla. 

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“I’m glad that we were able to do it,” Burnett said. “It was fun to get our energy out and have these fun, upbeat dances.”

Burnett enjoyed getting to know the students from other universities. 

“I felt very welcome,” Burnett said. “It was a big group of people that got along nicely.” 

Myers is also involved with Butler’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People as the organization’s treasurer and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

“I love being able to cultivate a community on Butler’s campus,” Myers said. 

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With Butler being a predominantly white institution, Myers stated that her favorite part of BSU is trying to make sure the Black student population stays united and builds a comfortable, welcoming community. 

While this is the first celebrity look-alike contest hosted by BSU, there are other events put on annually, such as Kwanzaa and a variety of events during Black History Month. Myers urges Butler students to attend BSU events. 

“People love to say that Butler doesn’t have a Black community or isn’t trying to foster Black community, but you can’t show up to a neighborhood and ask to be a neighbor when you’re not a good neighbor,” Myers said. “You have to show up to events in order to cultivate a community.”

Burnett also agreed that having a Black community on campus is important to her. 

“Being able to be in [Black] spaces, you’re around people that relate to you and understand what it feels like,” Burnett said.

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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis Colts GM Suggests Team Could Make Surprising Anthony Richardson Decision

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Indianapolis Colts GM Suggests Team Could Make Surprising Anthony Richardson Decision


When the Indianapolis Colts signed quarterback Daniel Jones to a multi-year extension, it was viewed as a foregone conclusion that former first-round pick Anthony Richardson would be traded this offseason. It now appears another option is on the table.

Speaking to repoters this week at the NFL annual league meeting, Colts general manager Chris Ballard said there’s a “scenario” where the team keeps Richardson into the 2026 season.

Indianapolis Colts Urged To Trade for Pro Bowl Edge Rusher

“There’s definitely a scenario there. He’s a good dude and he’s talented. I mean, I still want good for Anthony, man. I still think he’s got a lot in him. He’s had some freaking bad luck, but I still think Anthony has got a lot of ability and he’s maturing and growing.”

Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard on if the team may keep Anthony Richardson

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Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, appeared in just two games this past season with 14 combined offensive snaps. In October, he suffered an orbital bone fracture during pregame warmups when a resistance band he was using snapped and struck him in the face.

At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, the Colts granted Richardson’s agent permission to seek a trade. Various reports have connected the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, and Green Bay Packers to the dual-threat quarterback.

However, Kansas City has since acquired quarterback Justin Fields from the New York Jets. Meanwhile, the Packers are among the teams interested in signing free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins to serve as a backup next season.

There may not be as strong of a trade market for Richardson as his representation hoped for, or Indianapolis might not be satisfied with the draft-pick compensation clubs are offering for him. With Jones recovering from a torn Achilles, it’s clearly possible that the Colts keep Richardson through training camp and see if he could be a starting option until Jones is ready.

Matt Johnson is Senior Editor of NFL and College Football for Sportsnaut. His work, including weekly NFL and college … More about Matt Johnson
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Greenfield native carries UConn to Final Four with game-winning three-pointer

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Greenfield native carries UConn to Final Four with game-winning three-pointer


INDIANAPOLIS — UConn Huskies Basketball player Braylon Mullins is making his hometown of Greenfield, Indiana, proud.

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Greenfield native carries UConn to Final Four with game-winning three-pointer

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Mullins’ three-point shot gave UConn the upset over Duke during Sunday night’s Elite Eight matchup in Washington, D.C., landing UConn a spot in the Final Four.

Mullins graduated from Greenfield Central High School in 2025 and became the school’s first-ever and only Indiana Mr. Basketball.

“It’s big play Bray. Like you knew that once he got the ball in that moment, he wasn’t going to shy away. He wasn’t going to be afraid from that moment,” Luke Meredith said.

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Meredith coached Mullins for six years. He says Braylon taking UConn to the final four is no surprise. He averaged 32 points per game in high school and was a hometown legend before Sunday.

“He’s Greenfield’s own. I mean, that’s what makes him so special is we talk a lot about just a kid from Greenfield, a normal, regular kid that went to a public school and didn’t go the prep route and stayed here and committed here, so there’s a real sense of pride here at Greenfield,” Meredith said.

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Greenfield Central High School

Meredith says Braylon has made the shot a million times in his driveway at home. He is so proud that the world got to watch this time.

“It’s just a sense of pride. I met him here every single day for four years at 7:15 in the morning, so an hour before school, and that’s the foundation of success occurs when no one else is watching, so no one saw him putting that time,” said Meredith.

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Braylon’s brother Cole is a senior at Greenfield Central. He says his brother has undoubtedly made his family proud.

“I think it’s crazy just to see. Like, it’s his first year as a freshman, so being able to go to the Final Four in your first year is special,” Cole said.

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Meredith says that regardless of what happens next, this wave of pride through his hometown will be remembered for years to come.

“It’s pretty incredible, life-changing for him, and you know, to put Greenfield Central on the map,” said Meredith.

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UConn plays Illinois in the Final Four on Saturday, April 4, at 6:09 p.m. in Indianapolis.
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