by Heather Bailey | Oct 15, 2018 | 2018 Media
Matt Buehrer was awarded the Philanthropist of the Year by the Tipp City Foundation at its Diamond Jubilee Celebration on September 20th at The Willow Tree. His nominator stated, “He’s not only a fine philanthropist—he is one of Tipp’s finest
citizens as well.”
Matt was instrumental in organizing our local giving circle, Give Where You Live Miami County, where he serves as co-chair. GWYL has donated over $120,000 to local charities in Miami County since its inception.
Last year, he organized a Fill the Truck for Texans in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Four semi-trailers were filled with over 120,000 pounds of supplies and sent down to Houston to help the victims. Matt drove one of the semis himself.
But these examples are in addition to the countless moments of generosity Matt has given Tipp Monroe Community Services, Needy Baskets, Pink Ribbon Girls, the InterFaith Community Foundation, and Stand Up to POTS. Webster’s Dictionary defines a philanthropist as “someone who makes an active effort to promote human
welfare,” which is exactly how Matt Buehrer conducts his life.
For more information regarding the Philanthropist of the Year award or the Tipp City Foundation, please visit www.tippfoundation.org.
by Heather Bailey | Sep 12, 2018 | 2018 Media
September 10, 2018 – The Tipp City Foundation’s third quarter grantmaking results are complete. As is often the case, the amount of dollars requested exceeded the amount available to award. Decisions about how to best spread grantmaking dollars across the community had to be made. After lively discussion, quarantined wildlife, Holiday food baskets and supporting families of hospitalized children were among the projects supported. Ultimately, eight organizations were chosen to receive 12 awards totaling $17,726.63. The following is a list of grant recipients, amounts awarded, and the purposes funded. Bethel Local Schools, $1,490, updates communication between the technical crews and directors of concerts and stage performances through the purchase of headset systems. This grant was awarded through the Arts Bethel Fund in the Studebaker Tradition of Giving Back, established in 2014. Bethel Local Schools, $1,026, packs up the 5th graders and helps send them on an adventure to Camp Kern in Oregonia, Ohio. This grant was awarded through the Radle Family Fund for Science Education, which supports conservation activities, established in 2007. Brukner Nature Center, $2,000, shelters quarantined patients at this wild animal preserve during recovery, by supporting a building expansion program. This grant was made in honor of Matt Timmer, former Foundation president, whose love of wildlife was legendary during his tenure. Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, $2,000, tunes eager learners in to musical concepts while listening to live orchestral recitals. Over 540 Tipp City elementary students will be exposed to these professional performers. Downtown Tipp City, $820.63, expands the beauty of oversized seasonal plantings to now include the corners of First and Main Streets through the purchase of planters and related supplies. Needy Basket of Southern Miami County, $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 distributed. 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, 40 families from the Bethel/Tipp City community benefitted from their support. Services include a bite to eat, a place to do laundry and a private spot for a quick shower…all while staying close to their hospitalized child. Tipp City Parks Department, $395, improves the landscape at Veteran’s Memorial Park by replacing ground cover. This grant was awarded through the Veteran’s Tribute Fund, established in 2013. Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $1,500, nails down additional safety supplies to meet growing student demand to enroll in the Homebuilding Class. Students participate in building a “Tiny House,” which will later be sold and the proceeds will be used to fund the course next year. This experience gives students real-world skills for the homebuilding industry. Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $1,100, brings “The Rock Man” Mike Manning, a retired geology and earth science teacher, to 3rd grade students to share his enthusiasm for rocks through a series of hands-on activities. Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $750, fuels the Power of the Pen, an interscholastic writing competition for 7th and 8th graders, designed to help young people find and develop a creative voice that is uniquely their own. Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $645, invites Madcap Puppets to a one-week Artist in Residency program at Nevin Coppock Elementary School. Blending world literature, fine and performing arts and storytelling, kindergarten and 1st graders will have hands-on experiences with an art form dating back to 5th Century BC. The deadline for 4Q grant submissions is December 1. If you would like information about how to apply for a grant, please contact Jim Ranft at (937) 667-1270. Since 1943, the Tipp City Foundation has awarded $2,109,125.44, through December 31, 2017. Members of the Foundation are Heather Bailey, president, Mary Bowman, Jesse Chamberlain, Diana Featherstone, Dee Gillis, Dave Grim, treasurer, Melissa Keller, Bruce McKenzie, Jim Ranft, vice president and distribution chair, Nathan Rentz, Pete Schinaman, Claire Timmer, Jackie Wahl, secretary, and Sarah Worley. The Tipp City Foundation is a member fund of The Troy Foundation. 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. # # #
by Heather Bailey | Jun 19, 2018 | 2018 Media
June 19, 2018 – The Tipp City Foundation’s second quarter grantmaking results are complete. As is often the case, the amount of dollars requested exceeded the amount available to award. Difficult decisions about how to best spread the awards across the community had to be made. Of the many grant requests considered, some were renewals of perennial programs while others were new. After lively discussion, giant metal bug puppets, art workshops and lifelong learning were among the projects supported.
Ultimately, six organizations were chosen to receive seven awards totaling $20,182. The following is a list of grant recipients, amounts awarded, and the purposes funded.
Tipp City Area Arts Council, $3,000, blows the minds of passersby on downtown Tipp City in 2020 by supporting Artworks on Main. The fantasy world of puppeteer Tristan Cupp will come to life with kinetic, interactive sculptures incorporating mechanics, design, engineering, nature and art.
Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $4,725, expands efforts to promote an environment of inclusion, diversity, understanding and acceptance. Customized sessions taught to middle school students will be led by students from grades 9 to 11. Sessions will build upon the past two years’ curriculum, also customized by the National Conference for Community and Justice of Greater Dayton. The grant request read, in part, “We are all different with unique strengths and weaknesses. It is imperative that we teach our youth about understanding, respect and acceptance of all people.”
Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $2,000, promotes Stagecrafters Summer Theatre Drama Camp, giving children a two-week experience working both on stage and behind the scenes of a play.
Tipp City Parks Department, $5,207, continues the partnership with the City to plant a tree grove in recognition of the Foundation’s 75th anniversary. Located in Kyle Park, this grove honors donors who establish endowment funds.
Tipp City Public Library, $1,750, unifies the community while igniting an interest in great books by supporting the Tipp on a Great Read program.
Tipp City Youth Soccer, $500, provides needs-based support to assist families who find it difficult to pay for soccer registration and equipment.
We Care Arts, $3,000, opens the doors for children with profound physical and developmental disabilities to participate in art classes. This learning is available year round as well as in Transition to Work classrooms of Tippecanoe High School.
The deadline for 3Q grant submissions is September 1. If you would like information about how to apply for a grant, please contact Jim Ranft at (937) 667-1270
Since 1943, the Tipp City Foundation has awarded $2,109,125.44, through December 31, 2017. Members of the Foundation are Heather Bailey, president, Mary Bowman, Jesse Chamberlain, Diana Featherstone, Dee Gillis, Dave Grim, treasurer, Melissa Keller, Bruce McKenzie, Jim Ranft, vice president and distribution chair, Nathan Rentz, Pete Schinaman, Claire Timmer, Jackie Wahl, secretary, and Sarah Worley.
The Tipp City Foundation is a member fund of The Troy Foundation. 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.
by Heather Bailey | Jun 19, 2018 | 2018 Media
June 13, 2018 – Life’s most persistent and urgent question is “What are you doing for others?” Martin Luther King
This summer, the Tipp City Foundation collaborated with the Tipp City Chamber of Commerce for their inaugural Teen Leadership Academy. The program, available to Bethel and Tipp City High School “rising seniors”, was an immersive week of activities and experiences to develop leadership skills and insight into what makes Tipp City a great place to live.
The week kicked off with leadership and team building exercises at Aileron. Throughout the week students went behind the scenes and met with local government and law enforcement officials and traveled to the courthouse in Troy to witness our judicial system in action. They had tours of the Bethel Township Building/Fire/EMS department, Upper Valley Medical Center, Health Partners, Tipp City Fire/EMS Department, city infrastructure sites as well as several small businesses and three local manufacturing facilities.
Mid-week, students were immersed in a “Philanthropy Day”, which began with area United Way representatives providing insight into volunteer opportunities and services provided by local non-profit organizations. They gained eye-opening knowledge of the needs that exist in our community by participating in a poverty simulation and researching how one would connect to resources available through area non-profit agencies.
The students then learned about the seventy-five year history of the Tipp City Foundation, its donors and the work it is doing to enhance life in our community. After learning about grant writing and the evaluation of grant proposals, they were given “ownership” of $3,000, provided by the Foundation. The students acted as the grant distribution committee and collectively determined the allocation of the funds in the form of grants to area non-profit agencies. This was no small task as the amount of requests from worthy organizations far exceeded the funds that were available. (A dilemma routinely faced by the Foundation’s actual Distribution Committee.) The impact was real as they came away with a deeper understanding of the level of need and the broad spectrum of support the agency programs provide in our community.
Following the grant discussions, the students enjoyed lunch and conversation with the Tipp City Rotary and spent the rest of the day performing a community service project for the Tipp City Parks District.
The week’s activities concluded in City Park’s historic Roundhouse with a formal distribution of grant funds to representatives from the selected non-profits. Friday evening’s graduation celebration dinner at Randall Residence gave the participants the chance to share their highlights of the week, reflections and testimonials with parents, friends and community leaders. Overall, the teens embraced the opportunities they were given and the program mission of connecting teens to community was achieved.
The Youth Philanthropy project was an idea introduced at a Tipp City Foundation strategic planning session. The long-term goal of the program is to give youth the tools to recognize community needs and become engaged citizens who will plug in and give of their time, share their talents and be passionate about philanthropy and volunteerism throughout their lifetimes.
The Tipp City Foundation is a member fund of The Troy Foundation. If you would like information about how to establish an endowment fund or 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.
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