Who We Are
Our Vision
On October 1, 2021, Dylan McGinnis, 24, tragically lost his life to gun violence while selflessly supporting a friend struggling with substance abuse.
A native of Hamilton County, Indiana, Dylan graduated from Westfield High School in 2016. He worked alongside his father for four years as an electrician at SETCO Electric, with aspirations of joining IBEW Local 481 and eventually continuing his father's business. Dylan was an avid sports enthusiast, participating in little league baseball, youth football and rugby. As a young adult, he resided in Noblesville, on Morse Reservoir, where he enjoyed boating and water sports with his family and friends. Known for his generosity and compassion, Dylan never met a stranger and was always willing to help those in need.
Dylan's life was cut short by a violent offender who had been released on a $5,000 bond - despite facing multiple felony charges - by a nonprofit bail organization known as The Bail Project. Funded in part by taxpayer dollars through the City of Indianapolis, The Bail Project operates without regulatory oversight, allowing it to post bail for individuals regardless of the severity of their charges. Once released, these individuals are not monitored or held accountable by the organization.
In response to this tragedy, Dylan's family launched the #Istand4Dylan movement, advocating for legislative reform. They actively participated in every Senate & House committee hearing in early 2022 to support a bill aimed at restricting bail eligibility for violent offenders and repeat felons.
Their efforts contributed to the passage of House Bill 1300, which became las as Public Law 147 in July 2022.
This legislation effectively ended The Bail Project's operations in the State of Indiana. What began as a social media movement has grown into the IstandDylan foundation whose mission is to honor the life and legacy of Dylan McGinnis by providing vocation pathway scholarships to individuals seeking to build a brighter future through career-focused education.
Our goal is to empower aspiring students and vocational learners to pursue education that leads to meaningful employment, personal growth, and community advancement. With every Dylan McGinnis Memorial Scholarship awarded, we strive to cultivate an environment where determination meets opportunity, a place where Dylan McGinnis' values of compassion, commitment, and excellence continue to inspire and drive progress for future generations.
