About the Author
Lorene McCormick Burkhart is the owner of Burkhart Network, a company that produces books and products related to the owner’s inspirational written words. Burkhart founded the company, with the tagline Business for Causes, at the age of 73 to combine her passion for writing and philanthropy. A portion of profits from each book or product benefits a community non-profit or related cause.
Burkhart Network combines her past business and personal life-lesson experiences into books and products that have a positive moral story or inspirational theme. Burkhart’s business experience spans 40 years and includes product development, marketing and public relations. During the 1990s, she was the chair and publisher of Metro Magazines and owner of The Register and IN Business. She developed a love for philanthropy as her career developed and progressed, and found she no longer had to rely on each paycheck. In turn, she began giving back to organizations and causes in the Hoosier state, where she was born and raised on a southern Indiana farm.
Burkhart’s philosophy is that everything in life has a positive moral story. She believes that the more you give, the more you get, and now, with the staff of Burkhart Network LLC, applies her (seemingly) boundless energy and ever-creative mind toward developing new projects and products designed to inspire others as well to give back to the community she loves.
Her philanthropic efforts are well noted. In 1990 and 1996, she was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by the respective State Indiana governors, which recognizes her giving of time, treasure and talent in various areas of need including:
Education
Burkhart began her career as a teacher, and as a result, understands and values education and educational institutions. She gave a $1 million gift to establish the Center for Families with the college of Consumer and Family Sciences at her alma mater Purdue University. She has served on many fundraising campaigns for the University as well. These efforts have resulted in numerous awards including an Honorary Doctorate of Letters. She also served as a trustee for the University of Indianapolis for 15 years and received an Honorary Doctor of Humanities.
Women and Girls
As a trail blazer in the corporate world, Burkhart knows and understands the possibilities and potential for all women and girls. She is a founding board member and current emeritus board member of the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana. She has served on a variety of women and girl serving agency boards including Girls Inc., Girl Scouts of America and Big Sisters. She helped to start the Coburn Place (a shelter for abused women and children) annual Designer’s Closet boutique sale, which now raises nearly $50,000 in one weekend. In 1990 she received the Girls Incorporated Touchstone Award that annually honors strong, smart and bold women in the community.
Arts
Burkhart was the first female board president of the Arts Council of Indianapolis. She currently is a trustee at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and has served as a board member for numerous other arts organizations.
Elderly and Health Care
As a member of the Methodist Hospital Task Core, Burkhart founded the Indianapolis Arts and Antiques Show to benefit community health projects. She has served as president of Meals on Wheels, was a founding board member of OASIS for seniors and was a long-time board member of the family support center.
For more information on Burkhart Network books and products visit www.BurkhartNetwork.com.