The following is from an interview of Nora Spitznogle of Second Helpings (and the Gazette!)

"My friend Becky Hopewell introduced me to Ken Honeywell and they told me about a great concert they were hosting - Tonic Ball - the Friday before Thanksgiving to benefit Second Helpings. That was in 2001 and I was a happy concert-goer that year. The next spring Ken and Becky asked me to be part of the committee and that started me down a life-changing path and a wonderful career.

"Even though the Tonic Ball has always been held in Fountain Square it has deep Broad Ripple Roots. The first several years the committee meetings were held in Ken's office in Broad Ripple, the Broad Ripple Brew Pub, CATH coffeehouse, or my backyard. LUNA music sold tickets and Indy's Hostel's John Newton loaned us his drum kit.

"It took a real leap of faith for the bands that performed in the early days - the concept of playing just two songs, at least one covering the band that was being featured, and then jumping off the stage was a new idea. The first year Ken convinced his friends to play and all of us on the committee joined in on the begging after that. I remember reaching out to musicians and sweetening the pot by offering a Broad Ripple Farmers Market gig and to highlight them in my column in this paper. Now it's so popular that we have more interest from bands than openings to play.

"My first three years on the committee I could recite what Second Helpings did - rescue surplus food from the community, prepare and deliver nutritious meals at no cost to other social service agencies, and train unemployed adults in culinary skills - but I'd never been in the building. The first time I was in Second Helpings it hit me like a lighting bolt how amazing the organization was and how much sense the whole thing made. When they had a staff opening for the manager of volunteer services I applied, never dreaming they would take a chance on someone with no nonprofit experience. I'm thrilled they did! Over 11 years later I still love working at Second Helpings and am active in the Tonic Ball committee.

"Over the years the Tonic Ball has raised over $500,000 for Second Helpings and has grown from one venue to five and from ten bands to 80. Insider tip: buy your tickets as soon as they go on sale - most likely in August next year."