Indianapolis, Indiana – A long-standing tradition of recognizing service and compassion continued this year as FHLBank Indianapolis named its 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Citizenship Award recipient. The honor was awarded to Dee Bolden, a senior manager in MPP Quality Control, whose years of volunteer work and dedication to community outreach have left a lasting mark both inside and outside the Bank.
The annual award, established in 2000, celebrates an employee who best reflects the ideals associated with Martin Luther King Jr., particularly a commitment to service, equality, and helping others. Winners are nominated by their peers and receive a glass award, a $1,500 donation to a nonprofit of their choosing, and a place on a commemorative plaque displayed at the Bank’s Indianapolis headquarters.
For colleagues who know Bolden, the recognition came as no surprise. Over the years, she has been involved with numerous community initiatives, including volunteer efforts supporting local organizations such as St. Mary’s Child Center, Angel Tree programs, and bicycle-building projects that provide transportation to those in need. Co-workers often describe her as a driving force behind the success of the FHLBank Indy CARE team, a group focused on connecting employees with service opportunities.
Bank leadership praised her commitment, emphasizing how her efforts embody the spirit of the award. “Dee is a true example of what it means to put others before yourself and embody a commitment to make a difference,” President and CEO Brendan McGrath said in a staff announcement. “Her dedication to serving our community exemplifies the values that the Bank strives to uphold. This award is a well-deserved and powerful reminder of the difference one person can make.”
Bolden, who has worked at the Bank for eight years and joined the CARE team in 2018, has played a key role in shaping volunteer programs. One of her most notable contributions involved helping broaden the reach of United Way funding supported by the Bank. Instead of focusing solely on Central Indiana, she worked to ensure that assistance was distributed more evenly across the state.
Her efforts also had a tangible impact in 2025, when she helped coordinate the assembly of roughly 1,800 supply kits for adults and children. The kits included hygiene items, school supplies, and winter clothing, offering practical support to families facing difficult circumstances.
Bolden says the Bank’s culture played an important role in motivating her continued involvement in volunteer work. “I know that is the reason I have increased my volunteering,” she shared. “The Care team provides so much information regarding opportunities that you can’t help but want to join an event.”
As part of the award, Bolden selected Coburn Place as the nonprofit to receive the Bank’s $1,500 donation. The organization provides safe housing and support services for survivors of domestic violence and their children in the Indianapolis area.
For Bolden, the connection to Coburn Place is deeply personal. It was the first organization she volunteered with after joining the Bank in 2018, and the experience left a lasting impression. “I wish there were more charities like them across the states,” Bolden said. “When I have been to Coburn, it feels warm, safe, and homey. I have seen domestic violence and wish I could have told them about a place like Coburn.”
Looking ahead, Bolden says she plans to continue focusing on service and outreach, driven by a belief that small acts of kindness can create meaningful change. “For me, volunteering makes me feel like I can provide a little assistance to those who are in need.”
For Bank leaders, the award serves as both recognition and inspiration. By highlighting employees who give back, they hope to encourage a culture where community engagement remains a shared priority. In honoring Bolden, they say they are celebrating not just one person’s achievements, but the broader idea that service can strengthen communities and uplift lives — one project, one volunteer, and one act of compassion at a time.
