Over $175,000 Grants Awarded in 2024

Over $175,000 Grants Awarded in 2024

By Nancy Bowman

An avalanche of grants wrapped up the fourth quarter for the Tipp City Foundation. Ultimately, 13 organizations received 16 awards totaling $39,683.02. Total grants awarded in 2024 are $177,721.33.

Since 1943, $3,059,850 have been awarded to local causes.

New ideas seeking support include digitizing 155 years of Tipp City newspapers, a piano lab for Tippecanoe High School, and a portable planetarium large enough to hold an entire classroom of students. Read more about these below.

The following is a list of recipients, award levels and the impact these grants will make. Any additional support that donor advisors of the Tipp City Foundation gave through their grantmaking is noted.

RECREATION

Bethel Local Schools, $3,101.77, represents a payment towards the foundation’s 5-year commitment of $25,000 to build a new stadium. The stadium will be used for sports and marching band activities. A Bethel Arts Fund grant.

Miami County Educational Service Center, $850, provides developmentally appropriate playground structures for Tipp City and Bethel Twp. Preschoolers of all abilities to improve gross motor skills and encourage imaginative play.

Tipp Monroe Community Services, $3,600, defrays Camp Kern excursion costs for 100 campers in 2025.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Connections of Tipp City, $300, supports an after-school program for middle and high school students. 

Seeds of Hope OH, $1,980, supports foster and kinship families with the purchase of safe beds for children who have been through the trauma of abuse and neglect.

Troy Literacy Council, $1,533, adults of Miami County benefit from the Council. A Gillis Fund for Self-Sufficiency grant.

We Care Arts, $5,226.53 and award, continues Transition to Work classroom programming in high schools throughout Miami County. A William’s Gift Fund grant. Additional support from the Robinson-Walters Family fund rounds out this request for a total of $6,226.53.

ARTS & CULTURE

Bethel Local Schools, $1,500, builds upon the high school ceramics program with the purchase of clay, glazes, and tools. A Bethel Arts Fund grant.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $4,000, builds a piano lab in the high school. Each semester 20 learners of all skill levels receive lessons. Additional support from the Dave Drake Family Fund rounds out this request for a total of $5,000.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, award, supports the replacement of broken sousaphones with new contra tubas. A Dave Drake Family Fund award. 

Tipp City Parks Department, $1,692, supports maintenance in the Veterans Park. A Veterans Tribute Fund grant.

Tipp City Public Library, award, begins the digitization project for 155 years of Tipp City newspapers. A Wahl Family Fund grant.

Tippecanoe Historical Society, $2,022, underscores the importance of preserving and maintaining older buildings by supporting the Century Homes project. A Century Milestone Fund iho the Lantz Family grant.

NATURE

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $3,527, softens the landscape of the school under construction by planting new trees.  A Lucile L. Milner Trees for Tipp Fund grant.

EDUCATION

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $5,477.72, explores the far reaches of space with the Discovery Dome Digital Planetarium Theater. K-12 students can enhance their comprehension of state science standards all year long through this immersive galactic leaning experience.

HEALTH & SAFETY

New Creations Counseling Center, Inc., $2,000, assists with counseling and psychological services for those with financial need. Additional support from the Community Compassion Fund rounds out this request for a total of $10,000.

Rehabilitation Center for Neurological Development, $775, rejuvenates the sensory garden by adding shade umbrellas, a rainbow viewing station, a caterpillar climbing toy and other sensory-stimulating equipment.

Tipp City Seniors, Inc., $2,098, supports emotional and physical wellness of senior citizens by underwriting programming such as chair yoga. A Senior Wellness Fund grant.

Discretionary grants are made possible because of contributions, of any size, from the public. A full list of the foundation’s 62 endowment funds is available at www.tippfoundation.org. 

Quarterly grant deadlines are February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15 each year. Jim Ranft is available for your grant-related questions at 937-528-2482. Applications are available online at www.tippfoundation.org.

Members of the Foundation are Heather Bailey, Richard Bender, president, Bryan Blake, Mary Bowman, Diana Featherstone, treasurer, Dee Gillis, Joellen Heatherly, vice president, Bruce McKenzie, Glen McMurry, Jim Ranft, distribution chair, Julie Taylor, Andrew Venters, Jackie Wahl, Bill Wendel, secretary and Carolyn Wright.

The Tipp City Foundation is a component fund of The Troy Foundation. If you would like information about how to make a tax-deductible contribution or how to establish an endowment fund, please contact Heather Bailey at (937) 528-2482.

For more information visit www.tippfoundation.org or Tipp Foundation on Facebook and Instagram.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The Tipp City Foundation is a member fund of The Troy Foundation. You can make a difference with your dollars in our community by:

  • Donating online here.
  • Making your check payable to the Tipp City Foundation and mail to P.O. Box 626, Tipp City, OH 45371.
  • Setting up a fund or legacy plan by contacting Heather Bailey at (937) 528-2482.

STAY CONNECTED
We’d love to stay in touch. Stay connected with the Tipp City Foundation by:

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
All marketing activities of the Foundation is 100% underwritten by generous sponsors. Please contact us at info@tippfoundation.org for information on how your business or organization can become our partner in philanthropy. 

  • Silver Sponsor — Thrivent Financial (Matt Buehrer)
  • Bronze Sponsors —Evans Title, J & L Wood Products, Monroe Federal, New Carlisle Federal Savings Bank,
    Park National Bank, Pickrel, Schaeffer & Ebeling, Sibcy Cline – Jackie Halderman, John J. Skolnicki, CPA,
    Tipp Eye Center
  • Friend Sponsors — Captor Corporation, Edward Jones – Neil Nehring, Frings & Bayliff Funeral Home, Greenville Federal, Minster Bank, Turnstone Financial, US Bank
  • Media Sponsor — Tippecanoe Gazette

GOOD NEWS IS WORTH SHARING
Use the links below to share the TIPPing Point with friends and neighbors. Not a subscriber? Sign up here! If there is something you would like to see in future installments, please email news@tippfoundation.org. Your input is welcome and appreciated!

Sensory Classroom made possible through Community Collaboration

Sensory Classroom made possible through Community Collaboration

By Nancy Bowman

A sensory classroom offering resources to help create a nurturing environment in which children can thrive at their own pace has been added at One Hope Learning Center at 1221 W. Main St., Tipp City. The new classroom was made possible through a community collaborative, said Hannah Walker, director, One Hope Learning Center.

The center provides full daycare for children from six weeks until kindergarten; prekindergarten classes and before and after school care for school age children. 

“A sensory classroom is designed to support children, particularly those with developmental delays, sensory processing issues, or other special needs. The space is equipped with various tools and equipment to engage the senses—such as touch, sight, sound and sometimes smell,” Walker said.

“These elements help children regulate sensory input, improve focus and promote a sense of calm. The classroom aims to create a nurturing environment where children can thrive at their own pace,” she said.

This sensory classroom was created in response to a child in the daycare program who was experiencing developmental delays in several areas. This child was ready to transition to an age-appropriate classroom, but the higher child-to-staff ratio in that room made it difficult to meet their individual needs. The existing classroom environment was not developmentally appropriate, yet the child had outgrown the space they were in, becoming frustrated with the lack of growth opportunities, Walker said. 

“Unfortunately, we were faced with the heartbreaking decision to inform the child’s guardian that we could no longer provide care due to the lack of suitable options. This was a difficult moment for both the family and our staff, and it left us asking: ‘How can we better serve children in our community who have similar needs and give them the opportunity to thrive?'” she said.

The answer was a sensory classroom, providing a specialized space where children who face developmental and sensory challenges can continue to grow in a supportive, developmentally appropriate environment.

The classroom is not yet fully open as a dedicated classroom. At present, the room functions as a calm-down room and as a private space for teachers to conduct one-on-one assessments and work with children. Though it is not yet being used as a full-time classroom, the space is already providing valuable support, Walker said.

The room is designed to help children regulate their emotions, improve focus and build skills in a calming and structured environment. Staff is being hired for this classroom to ensure the right team is in place to support the children.

Funding for the sensory classroom has come from various sources including the Tipp City Foundation with a grant of $10,000 over two years, Walker said.

Additionally, One Hope Learning Center supported the project, alongside One Hope Church of the Nazarene. Several other foundations and local organizations recognized the importance of this project and provided further support.

“This collaborative effort demonstrates the shared commitment within the community to create a space where all children can succeed,” Walker said of the overall budget of $100,000.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The Tipp City Foundation is a member fund of The Troy Foundation. You can make a difference with your dollars in our community by:

  • Donating online here.
  • Making your check payable to the Tipp City Foundation and mail to P.O. Box 626, Tipp City, OH 45371.
  • Setting up a fund or legacy plan by contacting Heather Bailey at (937) 528-2482.

STAY CONNECTED
We’d love to stay in touch. Stay connected with the Tipp City Foundation by:

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
All marketing activities of the Foundation is 100% underwritten by generous sponsors. Please contact us at info@tippfoundation.org for information on how your business or organization can become our partner in philanthropy. 

  • Silver Sponsor — Thrivent Financial (Matt Buehrer)
  • Bronze Sponsors —Evans Title, J & L Wood Products, Monroe Federal, New Carlisle Federal Savings Bank,
    Park National Bank, Pickrel, Schaeffer & Ebeling, Sibcy Cline – Jackie Halderman, John J. Skolnicki, CPA,
    Tipp Eye Center
  • Friend Sponsors — Captor Corporation, Edward Jones – Neil Nehring, Frings & Bayliff Funeral Home, Greenville Federal, Minster Bank, Turnstone Financial, US Bank
  • Media Sponsor — Tippecanoe Gazette

GOOD NEWS IS WORTH SHARING
Use the links below to share the TIPPing Point with friends and neighbors. Not a subscriber? Sign up here! If there is something you would like to see in future installments, please email news@tippfoundation.org. Your input is welcome and appreciated!

$3 Millionth grant awarded

$3 Millionth grant awarded

Dayton Literary Peace Prize Author Series a Natural choice for Grant

By Nancy Bowman

When it neared time for the Tipp City Foundation to award its milestone $3 millionth discretionary grant dollar, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Author Series was a natural choice.

The author series, established in 2019, may be one of the foundation’s newer projects but also one its board has seen have a dramatic impact on the community. The foundation itself had been making grants since 1943.

Tipp City’s Helen Pritchard drew the public library into the peace prize author series, and it has been involved since, said Lisa Santucci, the library’s executive director. The library, in turn, reached out to the Tipp City schools to collaborate.

The program was highly visible again this year with a day of activities that included students, staff and the community at Tippecanoe High School. Featured was Alexander Starritt, author of the highly recognized We Germans.

Activities also include a podcast with WYSO Youth Radio with extensive planning including training, transportation, lunch and getting books for all the students. Santucci, who previously worked as an academic librarian at Miami (Ohio) University, said she had the opportunity to see students interact with authors and see how that experience could change them.

“I wanted this to happen in this town, for our school district especially since it’s happening right down in Dayton,” Santucci said of the peace prize program.

For students, preparation can be extensive with reading and discussing the texts along with literary analysis studies of characters and characterization, and analysis of the narrative techniques the author used, said Brenda Mahaney, Tippecanoe High School English teacher. This year about 230 students were involved in the project along with teachers from the history and English departments.

The program is paid for using grants from several sources including the Tipp City Foundation, which provided $6,500.

The community is fortunate to have the program for its students, Mahaney said.

“Living in a small town is a beautiful thing, but it does have its limitations, especially when it comes to developing a robust and multi-faceted view of the world.  People say that books can be mirrors or windows, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize always provides our students the opportunity to look out of a window they might have never previously considered,” she said.

“Our students must be equipped to leave this town and prepared for a world that doesn’t look or think like them and with very different experiences.  These texts and experiences help prepare them to be the leaders and forward thinkers that our world needs,” she said.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The Tipp City Foundation is a member fund of The Troy Foundation. You can make a difference with your dollars in our community by:

  • Donating online here.
  • Making your check payable to the Tipp City Foundation and mail to P.O. Box 626, Tipp City, OH 45371.
  • Setting up a fund or legacy plan by contacting Heather Bailey at (937) 528-2482.

STAY CONNECTED
We’d love to stay in touch. Stay connected with the Tipp City Foundation by:

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
All marketing activities of the Foundation is 100% underwritten by generous sponsors. Please contact us at info@tippfoundation.org for information on how your business or organization can become our partner in philanthropy. 

  • Silver Sponsor — Thrivent Financial (Matt Buehrer)
  • Bronze Sponsors —Evans Title, J & L Wood Products, Monroe Federal, New Carlisle Federal Savings Bank,
    Park National Bank, Pickrel, Schaeffer & Ebeling, Sibcy Cline – Jackie Halderman, John J. Skolnicki, CPA,
    Tipp Eye Center
  • Friend Sponsors — Captor Corporation, Edward Jones – Neil Nehring, Frings & Bayliff Funeral Home, Greenville Federal, Minster Bank, Turnstone Financial, US Bank
  • Media Sponsor — Tippecanoe Gazette

GOOD NEWS IS WORTH SHARING
Use the links below to share the TIPPing Point with friends and neighbors. Not a subscriber? Sign up here! If there is something you would like to see in future installments, please email news@tippfoundation.org. Your input is welcome and appreciated!

Revamped Plein Air event receives grants from Tipp Foundation

Revamped Plein Air event receives grants from Tipp Foundation

By Nancy Bowman

Tipp City Area Arts Council’s revamped Plen Air Event on Oct. 4-5 will give artists the opportunity to highlight the community’s offerings through their artwork.

This event was part of arts council activities of the past but died during the COVID pandemic.

En Plein Air is a French term, literally translated to mean “open air,” and is taken to describe active painting outdoors.  Artists create paintings and renderings in a variety of mediums depicting how their subject appears in natural light, at the moment of creation. The artworks are completed within the day.

The Paint Ohio History Plein Air event will begin with a Plate & Palette Dinner & Demo on Friday, Oct. 4 from 6 – 9 p.m. at the Tipp Center, 855 N. Third St., Tipp City. The registration for the Friday dinner is Saturday, Sept. 27. Register at www.tippcityartscouncil.paint.

Artist registration will be on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 9 a.m. at the Tipp Center, also the location for judging and Wet Paint Sale on Saturday from 3-4:30 p.m.

On Saturday, artists will be working across the Tipp City area from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., including downtown, residential neighborhoods, parks and the riverbank.

“Tipp City has such attractive, historic architecture in both downtown shops as well as its well-preserved homes. The natural settings in and around the city provide artists with a breadth of subject matter choices,” said Marti Goetz and Christine Hirsch, event co-chairs. Lynn Shirk Terrell is the council chair.

A free Children’s Plein Air will be in front of Topsy Turvy store at 115 E. Main St.  from 10a.m. – 2 p.m.

Those interested in participating in the event are asked to visit www.tippcityartscouncil/paint and go to the register button.

The Tipp City Foundation supports the Plein Air Event with $2,286 from the Tiny and Emma Drewing Fund. Added support from the Lucky 13 fund brings this project’s grant total to $3,500.

“It’s a very big project for a small organization to undertake,” said Heather Bailey of the Foundation. “Marti and Christine’s re-invigoration of the event is positive for our region. Marti has served several roles for the council over the years. Christine is relatively new to Tipp City.”

One reason that the foundation wants to support the plein air event is self-serving, Bailey said.

“Our annual report is mailed to homes in 45371 each spring. Pages are embellished by area artists’ work,” Bailey said. “Last year’s report featured Trish McKinney; the 2024 report will feature the work of Susan Kuntz. By photographing the plein air works on easels while artists capture Bethel Township and Tipp City, these images will become the featured work for the 2025 annual report.”

MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The Tipp City Foundation is a member fund of The Troy Foundation. You can make a difference with your dollars in our community by:

  • Donating online here.
  • Making your check payable to the Tipp City Foundation and mail to P.O. Box 626, Tipp City, OH 45371.
  • Setting up a fund or legacy plan by contacting Heather Bailey at (937) 528-2482.

STAY CONNECTED
We’d love to stay in touch. Stay connected with the Tipp City Foundation by:

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
All marketing activities of the Foundation is 100% underwritten by generous sponsors. Please contact us at info@tippfoundation.org for information on how your business or organization can become our partner in philanthropy. 

  • Silver Sponsor — Thrivent Financial (Matt Buehrer)
  • Bronze Sponsors —Evans Title, J & L Wood Products, Monroe Federal, New Carlisle Federal Savings Bank,
    Park National Bank, Pickrel, Schaeffer & Ebeling, Sibcy Cline – Jackie Halderman, John J. Skolnicki, CPA,
    Tipp Eye Center
  • Friend Sponsors — Captor Corporation, Edward Jones – Neil Nehring, Frings & Bayliff Funeral Home, Greenville Federal, Minster Bank, Turnstone Financial, US Bank
  • Media Sponsor — Tippecanoe Gazette

GOOD NEWS IS WORTH SHARING
Use the links below to share the TIPPing Point with friends and neighbors. Not a subscriber? Sign up here! If there is something you would like to see in future installments, please email news@tippfoundation.org. Your input is welcome and appreciated!

$3 Million milestone Passed -Sarah Merritt remembered

$3 Million milestone Passed -Sarah Merritt remembered

By Nancy Bowman

In 81 years, the Tipp City Foundation has awarded hundreds of discretionary grants. Added up, those awards now surpass a total of $3 million. “For a community of this size, that is a heroic milestone,” said president Richard Bender. “The community members are the people that have made this possible through their donations to our endowments.”

Discretionary grants are made possible because of contributions, of any size, from the public. A full list of the foundation’s 62 endowment funds is available at www.tippfoundation.org.

One of the largest awards this quarter was made in memory of Sarah Merritt, Tippecanoe High School class of 2004. The award came at the suggestion of Sarah’s parents, Tom and Tammy Merritt. In an unusual step, the Sarah Merritt Scholarship Fund is now closed, and the assets have been directed to support the high school soccer program, which was instrumental in Sarah’s life.

Ultimately, six organizations received 10 awards totaling $37,810.49. Since 1943, $3,020,167.17 have been awarded to local causes.

Awards support the quality of life in the spheres of arts and culture, health and safety, recreation, social services, nature, and education.

The following is a list of recipients, award levels and the impact these grants will make. Any additional support that donor advisors gave through their grantmaking is noted.

 

RECREATION
Tippecanoe Exempted Village School, $8,244.56, purchases Veo camera equipment for the high school soccer program. Veo cameras automatically record and follow action on the field, allowing users to live-stream, analyze and share game footage. Individual and team development can be studied from the film as well as creating individual highlight reels for college recruiting. Awarded in memory of Sarah Merritt.

 

SOCIAL SERVICES
Bethel Elementary PTO, $3,000, replenishes an account set aside for students who do not have lunch money.

Child Care Choices, $4,000, addresses the region-wide shortage of childcare providers through a campaign seeking solutions to the problem. The project will span an 18-month period.

 

ARTS & CULTURE
Downtown Tipp City Partnership, $2,751.50, solicits individuals to join the Partnership as annual members, which will boost revenue to sustain programs and services.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $1,796.36, updates photography and stop animation equipment for the high school digital media class.

Tipp City Public Library, $1,500, explores the challenge of creating peace through literature via a partnership between the library, local schools, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Additional support from the Robinson-Walters Fund rounds out this request for a total of $3,500.

 

NATURE
Bethel Local Schools, award, connects 2nd graders to the natural world through a garden in the schoolyard. A Robinson-Walters Fund award.

 

EDUCATION
Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $9,870, exposes middle school students to arts-based technology and careers, while creating logos and artwork on state-of-the-art iPads. Awarded, in part, from the Youth of Tipp City Fund in memory of Sara Drexler.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $2,535.84, individualizes support for special needs students, ages 5 – 8, with the purchase of eight iPads and cases. Apps customized to the needs of each learner will be updated by intervention specialists and speech pathologists as the children progress.

 

HEALTH & SAFETY
Zion Lutheran Church, $4,112.23, purchases AED equipment to have at the ready. Awarded, in part, from August Henke Comfort for the Needy and Safety First Funds.

Quarterly grant deadlines are February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15 each year. Jim Ranft is available for your grant-related questions at 937-528-2482. Applications are available online at www.tippfoundation.org.

Members of the Foundation are Heather Bailey, Richard Bender, president, Bryan Blake, Mary Bowman, Diana Featherstone, treasurer, Dee Gillis, Joellen Heatherly, vice president, Bruce McKenzie, Glen McMurry, Jim Ranft, distribution chair, Julie Taylor, Andrew Venters, Jackie Wahl, Bill Wendel, secretary and Carolyn Wright.

The Tipp City Foundation is a component fund of The Troy Foundation. If you would like information about how to make a tax-deductible contribution or how to establish an endowment fund, please contact Heather Bailey at (937) 528-2482.

For more information visit www.tippfoundation.org or Tipp Foundation on Facebook and Instagram.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The Tipp City Foundation is a member fund of The Troy Foundation. You can make a difference with your dollars in our community by:

  • Donating online here.
  • Making your check payable to the Tipp City Foundation and mail to P.O. Box 626, Tipp City, OH 45371.
  • Setting up a fund or legacy plan by contacting Heather Bailey at (937) 528-2482.

STAY CONNECTED
We’d love to stay in touch. Stay connected with the Tipp City Foundation by:

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
All marketing activities of the Foundation is 100% underwritten by generous sponsors. Please contact us at info@tippfoundation.org for information on how your business or organization can become our partner in philanthropy. 

  • Silver Sponsor — Thrivent Financial (Matt Buehrer)
  • Bronze Sponsors —Evans Title, J & L Wood Products, Monroe Federal, New Carlisle Federal Savings Bank,
    Park National Bank, Pickrel, Schaeffer & Ebeling, Sibcy Cline – Jackie Halderman, John J. Skolnicki, CPA,
    Tipp Eye Center
  • Friend Sponsors — Captor Corporation, Edward Jones – Neil Nehring, Frings & Bayliff Funeral Home, Greenville Federal, Minster Bank, Turnstone Financial, US Bank
  • Media Sponsor — Tippecanoe Gazette

GOOD NEWS IS WORTH SHARING
Use the links below to share the TIPPing Point with friends and neighbors. Not a subscriber? Sign up here! If there is something you would like to see in future installments, please email news@tippfoundation.org. Your input is welcome and appreciated!