May 2004 On the Scene

Mindy Winkler is the associate producer for the "Hoosier Millionaire" TV game show, and an on-air traffic reporter. As founder of Mindy and the Fun Company, she has learned how to turn fun into a career.

"It's all about the message," according to Mindy Winkler, who has devoted her life to educating and entertaining children. Winkler is the founder and owner of the Indianapolis-based group Mindy and the Fun Company, which provides positive, educational, and timely musical messages throughout Midwest communities.

The Fun Company is a high-energy, interactive, live performance that combines singing, dancing, and comedy, while educating children on basic life values. Through their musical performances, the group encourages children to read, stay in school, and stay off drugs.

Winkler performed for more than 20 years preceding her work with the Fun Company. As a former cheerleader for the Indianapolis Colts, Winkler understands the responsibility of being a role model.

"There are so many negative celebrities out there who show kids the wrong thing," she says. "It's important to me to show them that you don't have to do drugs or smoke to be cool; being smart is actually cool." Winkler worked in the technology field for five years after earning her degree in telecommunications with a minor in journalism in 1993, and a master's degree in information and communication sciences from Ball State in 1999. She then spent a year with station WB4 as Commander KC before founding The Fun Company.

"My education from Ball State has helped me further my development," says Winkler, who suggests that involvement with her sorority and with a musical group helped her develop many of the leadership skills she uses today.

As Commander KC Winkler reinforced character messages through community appearances, parades, school programs, and television spots aired during children's programming. Through those experiences she recognized the impact the show was having on children. The experience inspired her to continue developing additional ways to reach young audiences.

After the "Commander KC" show ended in 2002, Winkler found encouragement from area principals and teachers to continue her educational program. Mindy and the Fun Company was created while children were still familiar with Winkler's character.

Jan Koeniger, Principal of Valley Grove Elementary School, Anderson, and 1989 Ball State graduate, confirms the positive impact the Fun Company has on its audiences. "It is a great message for kids and they do it in a fun way. They sing, dance, and get teachers and students involved during the program," she says.

Winkler strives to involve the audience in Fun Company performances. "Looking back, as a kid, I remember songs that had a lot of movement and music," she recalls, adding that one method the group uses is parodies of popular tunes like YMCA, Proud Mary, and Stayin' Alive to relay memorable messages, while simultaneously entertaining and involving both children and adults.

Although Winkler is leader of the Fun Company, there are a total of 14 individuals who aid in its success. Each member has the same goal, to reach out to children, helping them learn how to live better lives, while having fun. "They are all in this for the right reasons, not to make money," says Winkler. "It's about the messages."

Eight members of the group are performance characters. They include: Mindy, Cookie, Reid, Recycle Robin, Safety Shelley, Kind Kirby, Careful Cindy, and "Say No" Sue. Six other members help behind-the-scenes: Busy Ben, Captain Kirk, Just John, Creative Art, Miss Maureen, and Grandma Good.

"Working with the kids has been the most rewarding part of my experience," Winkler says. "The children come up to us months, even a year, later and start singing a little bit of the songs, and I just get a chill down my spine, because we are really getting the message out to them."

Mindy and the Fun Company has worked with Riley Hospital, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the Pacers Read with Youth Program, and the Autism Walk. "It's often hard to reach them [autistic children], and they are coming up to us and hugging the group after the show. Parents are amazed," Winkler recalls, "seeing how these kids are adjusting."

Winkler sets goals for herself and the Fun Company and works long hours to achieve them. "I see this [the show] as an opportunity to succeed," says Winkler.

The Fun Company is currently obtaining sponsorships that will enable them to perform free of charge. "If I won the lottery, I would do this free," Winkler says, adding, "I can work on this 80 or 90 hours a week. I enjoy it so much, it doesn't feel like work at all."

Mindy and the Fun Company, now completing its first season, is getting rave reviews from people in all walks of life. Anderson Police Department Officer Tony Johnson is representative of those who find the Fun Company helpful. "This group has a unique way of motivating the children, and that's very important," Johnson says.

Her education, technology background, and sales experience have helped Winkler succeed. Her role with the Fun Company enables her to use all of her past experiences. She develops and manages the shows, chooses all music, writes song lyrics, arranges the choreography, develops and updates the company Web site, writes press releases, and does all the contracts and booking for communities and schools.

"Until I was "Commander KC," it didn't even occur to me that I could have come up with the company a long time ago," Winkler says. "It took these experiences to put it all together."