Beneficence

Beneficence is a bronze sculpture at Ball State University showing a hand holding a treasure box and flanked by five Corinthian columns. The work symbolizes education and success and sits at the campus intersection of McKinley and Riverside avenues.

The sculpture was created in 1937 as the final work of renowned sculptor Daniel Chester French after the Muncie Chamber of Commerce commissioned it in 1927. Its completion a decade later reflects the long journey from original vision to realization.

The sculpture was created during the Great Depression and carries the names of about 11,000 donors in a sealed book. This inscription makes it a monument to community support during hardship.

The sculpture sits at the campus intersection of McKinley and Riverside avenues and is easily reached from various university buildings. It helps to visit when the campus is less crowded to take time viewing the work without distraction.

Students enjoy taking photos with the sculpture and many couples traditionally kissed beneath it to test their relationship. These informal rituals have made the work a popular spot for personal moments on campus.

Location: Muncie

Inception: 1937

Creator: Daniel Chester French

GPS coordinates: 40.19827,-85.41028

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:00