Harrington family donates $1.5 million to United Way of Central Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS – Judy and Michael Harrington have donated $1.5 million to United Way of Central Indiana, a gift that will go toward the nonprofit’s work in the areas of safe and affordable housing and basic needs, United Way announced Thursday.  

The Harringtons’ gift will total $3 million, thanks to a one-to-one match from the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation (Lilly Foundation) for eligible donations from Lilly employees and retirees. The Lilly Foundation is a tax-exempt, private foundation supported by donations from Eli Lilly and Company.    

Michael Harrington worked for Eli Lilly and Company for nearly 30 years and retired in 2020 as senior vice president and general counsel. He is also a former chairman of United Way’s Tocqueville Society and a former member of the Board of Directors.  

“We are incredibly thankful for Mike and Judy’s remarkable gift,” said Fred Payne, United Way’s president and CEO. “Their generosity will have tangible impact in our community, distancing families from poverty and helping people live the lives they’re capable of living.”  

In making their gift, the Harringtons included in the decision-making their three adult children, all of whom have witnessed firsthand the impacts of poverty and lack of safe and affordable housing in their communities.  

Their daughter is a social worker in San Francisco, one son is a Marion County public defender, and the other works for a social services agency in Detroit.  

“Each of them, in their own way, touches the issues of housing, and they’ve shared with us that they think that’s of critical importance, and we share their view,” Michael Harrington said. “We’ve included them in our conversations in each stage as we’ve put the project together.” 

“We're excited about the work that will happen in our community as part of this initiative. We’re really appreciative of the efforts that the staff and leadership of United Way have made to help us put together what we hope is a transformative gift that will address basic needs but will also bring some much needed innovations to the provision of safe and affordable housing in Central Indiana.”