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History and Founding
Organization History & Founding
Idea Origination
 In the fall of 2004, a sophomore at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, Kevin R. MacCauley endeavored to bring to fruition an idea that had promise of bringing innovation, education, and community awareness to the forefront of a young academic arena. The idea belonged in originality to a high school obsession with running where at the age of eighteen he ran what is known as "the People's Marathon" or the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C.
As a freshman at Indiana University, running quickly took a back seat to educational matters, such as business prerequisites, a part-time job, and building an understanding for the new feeling of independence.  In that time as a freshman many new relationships were discovered, including one with Samantha Roper, a future finance student at the Kelley School of Business. With her as a friendly adviser and advocate of ambition, a question of how to become involved at Indiana University grew into an answer that hinged upon that one idea, the idea of hosting a monumental running event at one of the largest most beautiful campuses in the nation.
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Idea Appreciation and Reflection
With much discussion and realization about the difficulties of such a task, both business students withdrew the idea as other important academic matters weighed on priorities. Then as quickly as the idea about passed by, a weekend in October 2004 challenged the notion that students are not understanding of the value and privilege of a college education. That weekend Kevin MacCauley began experiencing an infection from a benign cyst above his left ear, which had developed more than five years past. The cyst, which was not cancerous, resulted in difficulty sleeping and brought to mind the often feared, "what if" scenarios in facing cancer at a young age. It was during this weekend alone when he began wondering about other students, other college bound high school students who may be facing or come to face more serious life threatening cancer experiences.
Following that weekend, a few weeks later the cyst was surgically removed while further motivating the young entrepreneur to devote everything to bring a running event to Indiana University. And from personal reflection the mission and cause was clear: to bring the collegiate experience to a cancer survivor who otherwise would have lost that opportunity. The idea consisted of more than a desire to bring just an educational experience to a survivor, rather the to bring the opportunity to offer the invaluable memories of selecting a university to attend, saying goodbye to your parents at the beginning of your first semester, meeting your new roommate, and the pressures experienced in cramming for multiple exams. During the winter break, Kevin MacCauley began developing the first draft for the organization in establishing a registered student organization with the Indiana University Student Activities.
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Organization Established
In the winter of 2005, the organization Indiana University Circle of Life was officially founded. The founding of the organization would be served with Kevin MacCauley as the Chief Executive Officer and President, with Samantha Roper serving the role as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President. During the start of the spring semester, a relationship developed with, Dr. Cynthia Rex, a faculty course coordinator at the Kelley School of Business. From this point forward Cynthia Rex graciously accepted to serve the role as the Executive Adviser for Circle of Life. Cynthia Rex provided invaluable insight and guidance in the development of not only the pillars and foundation for the organization, but also for professional growth in the young business students involved in Circle of Life.
The three based the foundation of Indiana University Circle of Life on three pillars, unyielding work ethic, integrity, and professionalism; with three key educational purposes in mind, establishing and valuing true ethical business practices, building experience in a multitude of business environments, and developing a first class appreciation for the value of professionalism as a future business professional.
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The Beginning of Development
A month later, on a late Tuesday evening, Indiana University Circle of Life hosted the first callout and recruitment meeting for new members. The recruitment called to fill five Councils: Executive, Finance, Greek, Marketing, and Promotions. Two additional Councils would be added a year later, known as Race Logistics and Human Resources.  At the first recruitment meeting, another young ambitious entrepreneur, Myles Grote, joined the Indiana University Circle of Life as a general member. Over the course of the entire spring semester in 2005, Myles would engage heavily in the development of the organization. He quickly climbed the ladder as a serious asset, serving first as a Finance Council member, then Finance Vice President, and eventually accepting the challenge of Chief Operating Officer and Operations Vice President.
With the entire Executive Council in place the Indiana University Circle of Life engaged in a journey for nearly two years, destined to bring the first ever collegiate mini marathon to Indiana University in funding the largest cancer survivor scholarship in the nation. Through unwavering focus the organization developed relationships with the Indiana University Cancer Center, Indiana University Foundation, Indiana University Media Relations, Lance Armstrong Foundation, Kelley School of Business, and a multitude of local and national corporations. It is through the aforementioned relationships in which the founding members discovered the unbelievable lack of funding for cancer survivor scholarships and the importance in establishing an endowment at the Indiana University Foundation. Once establishing the endowment, the founders outlined that in honor of the support from the Indiana University Cancer Center, that the first recipient of the scholarship would be selected from either the Indiana University Cancer Center, Riley's Hospital, the Indiana University Medical. In addition, the first recipient shall be allowed to attend any one of the eight Indiana University campuses.
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Bill Z. Littlefield
In the summer of 2005 Indiana University Circle of Life was graced with the humble leadership and distinct bravery of a professor from the Kelley School of Business, Bill Z. Littlefield. As a professor in the operations decision technology department, Professor Littlefield exemplified belief in the finest sense. With his gracious acceptance, Bill Z. Littlefield was endowed in honor of all those who serve a life in education and for the future students who are recipients of the Bill Z. Littlefield Scholarship for Survivors. Thanks to Professor Littlefield's distinct compassion, the organization had a new sense of belief, a refined vision, and an endowment housed at the Indiana University Foundation to financially support.
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Family, Old National Bank & Incorporation
As the organization evolved many close family relatives to the three executives would serve as the first financial supporters of the cause. Specifically, the support of these family members opened the door for the Circle of Life to begin investing in revenue generating projects and is the starting point for the rapid advancement of the organization's success.
A year later in the spring of 2006, Indiana University Circle of Life developed an invaluable relationship with Indiana's largest bank, Old National Bank. Upon vested interest in partnering as a force in taking on the cause set forth by Indiana University Circle of Life, Old National Bank agreed to a relationship as the sole title sponsor. The partnership provided more than a financial backbone, it brought to the forefront at a state level the need for cancer survivor scholarships and the value in educating young business students through real life business experiences.
For the next seven months the organization evolved into a corporation as permitted by the Internal Revenue Service with the granting of 501(c)(3) status, the addition of thirty plus members, the setting and pursuing of countless agenda items, and ultimately the execution and delivery of the first annual Indiana University Mini Marathon presented by Old National Bank.
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Race Day
On Saturday, September 9, 2006 at roughly eight in the morning the fruits of intense labor for a group of young believers answered the call of those who doubted such a challenging mission. The answer resulted in more than 3,200 registrants for an inaugural event which proved to be in the first year one of the largest running events in the state of Indiana. In addition, the mini marathon featured a five kilometer run, one mile fun run, pre-race pasta party, registration and packet pickup, a Greek Challenge, on course entertainment, pre-race ceremonies, finish line announcements, awards ceremony, alumni event, and a post race concert.
Among the undeniable amount of awareness generated publicly by the organization for nearly two years, the inaugural mini marathon generated nearly $200,000 in revenue and over $60,000 in profit. The proceeds directly benefited the scholarship and investment in the future of the event as a sustainable source of income for the Bill Z. Littlefield Scholarship for Survivors. With a foundation and framework established for an event that was once an idea, the future of Indiana University Circle of Life was in place. And in passing on a corporation, mission, and event it was the hope of the founders that every annual Indiana University Circle of Life Mini Marathon would prove to challenge future generations of young business men and women, running connoisseurs, and heartfelt cancer patients and survivors to always Believe.
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