Official page of the TCP Memorial Benefit Fan Club™ & Indiana Elvis FANtasy Fest • Longest-running Elvis Presley Enterprises™ sanctioned event (since 1993) • Rooted in Indiana’s first Elvis festival (1978) • Raising money in Elvis’s name OFFICIALLY LICENSED BY ELVIS PRESLEY ENTERPRISES
Our History
1978 — The Beginning
The Taking Care of Presley Memorial Benefit Committee was founded in 1978 by K
ay Lipps, Paul Lipps, and Shirley Lyday with a shared goal: to honor Elvis Presley’s memory by giving back to the community, inspired by Elvis’ own charitable and humanitarian spirit. During those early years, the committee also brought fans together through fan club meetings, gatherings, and benefit-driven activities—building the relationships and momentum that would later help inspire what became Indiana Elvis FANtasy Fest. The plaque was displayed in a wall case in the arena’s ticketing area and remained there until Market Square Arena was imploded. Today, it is preserved alongside other MSA memorabilia at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
1993 — A Festival Is Born
In 1993, the first annual Elvis FANtasy Fest was held in Portage, Indiana, raising funds for Porter County Special Olympics. What began as a fan-driven tribute quickly grew into a cherished annual celebration of Elvis’ music, legacy, and generosity—bringing fans together year after year to celebrate, remember, and give back. Over the decades, the event has donated more than $500,000 to support Special Olympics athletes and programs. Over time, the festival has welcomed special guests with direct ties to Elvis Presley’s world, including members of his inner circle and touring family: Joe Esposito (close friend and member of Elvis’ Memphis Mafia), Sam Thompson (longtime friend and bodyguard), Dick Grob (head of security), Al Dvorin (Elvis’ iconic concert announcer), D.J. Fontana (drummer), Charlie Hodge (guitarist, vocalist, and stage companion), and The Sweet Inspirations (backing vocal group). The festival has also hosted members of Elvis’ medical care team, including nurses Letetia “Tish” Henley Kirk and Marian J. Cocke.
2002 — A Lasting Tribute
With contributions from fans, the TCP Memorial Benefit Committee commissioned a commemorative marker containing a time capsule filled with notes and remembrances submitted by Elvis fans. The marker also recognizes Presley’s final Market Square Arena concert on June 26, 1977, and was originally placed along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail in 2002 on the concert’s 25th anniversary. The marker was later moved for safekeeping during construction of 360 Market Square, a 28-story Flaherty & Collins development with apartments and businesses. Flaherty & Collins Properties and Kay Lipps of Indiana Elvis FANtasy Fest joined for the marker’s rededication at 360 Market Square on June 26, 2018—the 41st anniversary of Elvis’ performance at the former Market Square Arena.
“It was important to honor and acknowledge the history of the site,” said Jim Crossin of Flaherty & Collins. The marker includes a Paul Lipps photograph of Presley wearing his “Aztec sundial” jumpsuit from that final 1977 Market Square Arena concert. It is currently located at 320 E Market St, Indianapolis, IN 46204. The time capsule is scheduled to be opened on June 26, 2102, and includes fan letters, a cassette recording of the final concert, a Graceland catalog, and a book of Elvis tour photographs by well-known Elvis photographer Keith Alverson.
2025 — Honoring the Roots, Looking Ahead
In 2025, Kay and Paul Lipps’ son set out to do something deeply personal: surprise his mother by bringing back the spirit of what started it all. Inspired by the early fan club gatherings, charitable efforts, and lifelong friendships formed through the original TCP Memorial Benefit Committee, he created the TCP Memorial Benefit FAN Club—not as a replacement, but as a continuation of a legacy built by his parents and sustained by generations of Elvis fans. The renewed FAN Club honors Elvis Presley, the charitable mission that has defined the event for decades, and everyone who has been part of the journey—from the earliest supporters to the fans who continue to return year after year. Going forward, the TCP Memorial Benefit FAN Club will be the organization that supports and presents Indiana Elvis FANtasy Fest, strengthening the mission, growing the community, and carrying the legacy into the future. As Indiana Elvis FANtasy Fest approaches its 34th year, the TCP Memorial Benefit FAN Club is officially launching—welcoming a new generation of fans into a legacy that began in 1978. Membership details, perks, and ways to join will be announced soon. ELVIS™, ELVIS PRESLEY™ and ULTIMATE ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTIST CONTEST™ are trademarks of ABG EPE IP LLC. Rights of Publicity and Persona Rights: Elvis Presley Enterprises, LLC © 2016 ABG EPE IP LLC
