Sept. 19, 2017. The Tipp City Foundation held its quarterly meeting in early September. A portion of the meeting focused on the need for multi-year grants, matching grants and impact grants as a way to maximize grantmaking resources for the community. Partnering with local nonprofits, these initiatives are already evident as of this quarter’s grantmaking cycle.
Of the many grant requests considered, some were renewals of perennial programs while others were new. After lively discussion, final selections were made. Positive perspectives, music and recreation were among the projects supported.
Equipment upgrades at the Tippecanoe Family Aquatic Center received the largest of this quarter’s awards. Support of $20,000 over a 2-year period has been committed. Over the Foundation’s 74 years, the pool has a long history of backing through similar grants. As a salute to this long relationship, the inaugural grant from the Jim and June Kyle Family Fund was awarded.
Ultimately, 11 organizations were chosen to receive 12 awards totaling $30,535.61
The following is a list of the recipients, amounts awarded, and the purposes funded.
Bethel Local Schools, $801, packs up the 5th graders and helps send them on an adventure to Camp Kern in Oregonia, Ohio. This grant was awarded through the Bethel Community Fund, established by the Bowman Family in 2013.
Child Care Choices, $1,500, purchases books for the Story Lady, volunteer educators who make more than 180 visits to childcare centers and home childcare providers during the school year. 2018’s emphasis is “Planting Seeds of Positivity”. The theme addresses the need to develop a positive perspective because setbacks and stress are part of everyday life.
Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, $1,720, underwrites the expenses associated with bringing music to Tipp City and Bethel schools. Students will experience live orchestral performances and learn about musical concepts
Miami County Educational Service Center, $450, explores the pumpkin patches of Fulton Farms through the eyes of the students of this early intervention program.
Needy Baskets, $5,000, helps this agency meet an expanding demand at the Holiday season. Baskets for an estimated 200 families containing ingredients for a traditional Holiday meal will be prepared. This grant was awarded, in part, from the August Henke Fund.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley Region, $1,000, aids families as they grapple with their child’s illness during their stay at Dayton Children’s Hospital. Last year, 26 nights of service were provided to families of the Bethel / Tipp City community.
St. John’s Early Childhood Program, $350, provides for a visit from the Dayton Philharmonic String Quartet. “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” will be performed.
Tipp City Music Boosters, $1,675, rallies behind this parent-led organization to purchase a golf cart. Begun in 1926, there has been a Tippecanoe High School marching band every season except for a few during the Great Depression. Behind each of those bands has been the dedicated driving force of parents.
Tipp City Parks Department, $10,000, supports an upgrade to the Tippecanoe Family Aquatic Center with the purchase of play area equipment. This is a multi-year commitment and was paid for, in part, with a grant from the Jim and June Kyle Family Fund, established in 2001.
Tipp City Parks Department, $4,700, launches the partnership between the City and the Foundation to plant a tree grove in recognition of the Foundation’s 75th anniversary. Located in Kyle Park, this grove will honor donors who establish endowment funds. By the end of 2018, the grove will have 40 trees. As the number of funds expands, so will the size of the grove. The Foundation is very appreciative of the enthusiastic support shown by the City to bring this idea to life. This grant was awarded, in part, from the Lucille L. Milner Trees for Tipp Fund, established in 1998 to provide for the planting of trees in Tipp City’s urban landscape.
Tipp City Public Library, $2,339.61, projects movies under the stars via the purchase of a high definition projector, sound system and blue-ray player. Mmmmm….we can smell the popcorn already!
Tippecanoe STEM Education, Inc., $1,000, supports the launch of the FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics program. This regional event will be hosted at Tippecanoe Middle School and will attract over 25 teams from the area.
Since 1943, the Tipp City Area Community Foundations has awarded $2,015,724.44, as of December 31, 2016. Members of the Distribution Committee are Jim Ranft, chairman, Heather Bailey, president, Jim McKee, Claire Timmer and Jackie Wahl. Other trustees include Mary Bowman, Jesse Chamberlain, Joan Creech, Diana Featherstone, Dee Gillis, Dave Grim, Melissa Keller, Bruce McKenzie and Pete Schinaman.
The Tipp City Foundation is a member fund of The Troy Foundation. If you would like information about how to apply for a grant, please contact Jim Ranft at (937) 667-1270. If you would like information about how to make a tax-deductible contribution, please contact Heather Bailey at (937) 667-4499.
For more information visit www.tippfoundation.org or Tipp Foundation on Facebook.