Tipp City Foundation welcomes Two New Members

Tipp City Foundation welcomes Two New Members

by | Oct 28, 2021 | 2021 Media

Two active community members have joined the board of the Tipp City Foundation.

Richard Bender and Julie Taylor were welcomed to the board during its September meeting.

Bender is chief financial officer of the United Way of Miami County. 

Julie Taylor is a substitute clerk at the Tipp City Public Library and previously worked for 10 years as a medical technologist for CompuNet Clinical Laboratories. “My biggest and best job is mom!” Taylor said

Richard Bender 

Bender was born in Bryan, Ohio, and grew up in Edgerton, Ohio. After graduating from Edgerton High School, he graduated from Columbus Business University.

“After graduation I took a job with a finance company which transferred me to Troy and the rest is history!” he said. He moved to Miami County in 1976 and to Tipp City/ Monroe Township in 1982. 

Bender and his wife, Cheryl, have been married since 1989 and will observe their 32nd anniversary in December.

“I consider Tipp my home. I’ve been involved in many aspects of the community. I enjoy  this community. There are so many people who contribute to making it great,” Bender said.

He served as branch manager of Beneficial Finance System in Troy from April 1976 to July 1982 before joining Star Bank, N.A., Troy, in roles including branch manager and consumer loan manager.

Bender worked at MainSource Bank, formerly known as Peoples Savings Bank, in Troy from November 1993 to September 2010 in roles including vice president/director of technology and market president.

He joined the United Way of Troy in September 2010, serving as executive director, until summer 2018 when the county United Ways merged into one organization known as the United Way of Miami County.

Serving on the Tipp City Foundation board will be a way to continue his involvement in the community, Bender said.

“I love working with nonprofit agencies and I’m looking forward to learning more about all the foundation does in the community,” he said.

Bender said he thinks his range of community involvement will help him as a foundation board member.

He is a member of Ginghamsburg Church, serving as a youth ministry leader since 1989; member of Troy and Tipp City Rotary clubs; and served on Habitat for Humanity, the Troy Area Chamber of Commerce and the Troy Dollars for Scholars Board. He served as a Future Begins Today lunch buddy from 1999 to 2020.

“I believe this diverse involvement gives me a broad knowledge of needs / services in the area. My career in banking and the United Way provide me with financial analysis skills and how the process of funding agencies works,” Bender said.

 

Julie Taylor

Taylor has lived in Tipp City for 22 years.

A native of Buffalo, N.Y., she has lived in New York, Colorado, Michigan and Ohio. She attended high school in Urbana and college at Bowling Green State University. Following college, she moved to Dayton and worked as a medical technologist. This is where she met her husband, Dan. He is a general surgeon with Miami County Surgeons.

The couple came to Tipp City after a search for a community in which to raise their children with quality schools, a community feel and still be close to grandparents.

Her community involvement began with the schools and her children. She was involved with P

ALS (Parents Actively Linked with the Schools) at Broadway Elementary and served as volunteer coordinator of the Broadway Fun Fair. Taylor also was a member of the Tippecanoe Athletic Boosters and with the Parents Who Care. She is a trustee on the Tippecanoe Educational Endowment. The family attends Christian Life Center where they have helped the Hands Against Hunger effort.

Taylor said she was interested in the Tipp City Foundation because she was raised in a family that encouraged service and volunteering.

 “I have followed their example. The Tipp City Foundation is a wonderful foundation that supports the local community,” she said.

“I consider myself the ‘worker bee.’ Tell me a project, what needs to be done and I will be there to help accomplish that goal. I will be continuing with the social media presence that the Foundation has by helping with Facebook, Instagram and Twitter”

The Taylors have been married 27 years. They have three children, 

Michael (24), Alex (22) and Katie (20). All attended Tipp City Schools. 

Today, Michael is a DPT with Steppin’ Up Physical Therapy in Fort Wayne, Alex will graduate in December from the University of Dayton in mechanical engineering and Katie is a junior at High Point University, N.C., majoring in interior design and participating in cross country and track.

Julie and Dan Taylor enjoy traveling, currently attending Katie’s cross country meets around the south.

Support the Tipp City Foundation

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 – Dunaway Family Foundation; Dungan & LeFevre; Ever-Green Turf & Landscape; Gibson Law Offices; Monroe Federal Savings and Loan; New Carlisle Federal Savings Bank; Pickrel, Schaeffer and Ebeling; Unity National Bank
  • Friend Sponsors – Captor Corp.; Edward Jones (Neil Nehring); Frings & Bayliff Funeral Home; Minster Bank; RSM US; 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!

Foundation Recognizes Donors

Foundation Recognizes Donors

by | Oct 4, 2021 | 2021 Media

The Tipp City Foundation hosted its annual donor reception earlier this month, an event to both thank and interact with those whose support is key to the foundation’s success.

“We are an all-volunteer organization, without paid staff or an office. We don’t have a visible way for the community to keep us on top of their mind,” said Heather Bailey of the Tipp City Foundation. 

“Saying ‘thank you’ in person each year gives us visibility with the people who sustain us. This gathering is often the only way to put a face to the names of the Bethel and Tipp City people who send us gifts each year,” she added.

The donor reception is held in different venues with the Staub Farm hosting this year’s event.

Among those donors are Susan and Patrick Langley.

Susan Langley said she thinks she first learned about the Tipp City Foundation through the former Tipp City Herald newspaper and from some friends who mentioned the foundation.

“We have always thought that giving to local organizations, as well as those with broader appeal, was extremely important. How better to see our donations at work than to have the control under those we know and trust!” Susan Langley said on behalf of herself and husband, Patrick.

“We are impressed by the range of funding chosen by the Foundation knowing that it affects so many individuals in our local communities,” Susan Langley said.

Mike Porto and his wife, Gail, have lived in Tipp City nearly 40 years, raising four children through the Tipp City schools.

“We have always felt like this was a true community and have tried to be good and active citizens,” Mike Porto said.

He was uncertain when or how they became aware of the foundation and its work. 

Gail and Mike Porto have supported the foundation for the past 10 to 15 years, he said.

“We give to the Tipp Foundation because we believe in its purpose.  We like the idea of supporting local interests and local people,” Mike Porto said. “We have a vested interest in making Tipp City the best place it can be because this is our home and our future.”

The importance of the donors to the foundation cannot be overstated, Bailey said.

Bob and Deb Keppel also learned about the foundation and its work through the local newspapers, initially the Tipp City Herald. 

“We have been impressed and grateful for the impact the Foundation has had on our community. We also have friends who have established funds within the foundation that support causes that are near and dear to our hearts,” they said.

The Keppels, who have supported the foundation for several years, said not a week goes by that they don’t think or say that they are grateful to live in Tipp City. Deb was not raised in Tipp City but has lived in the community for 44 years since marrying Bob.

“This is our home, and we want to see it grow and thrive. We are pleased to see the many types of worthy agencies that the Foundation supports – schools, arts, hunger relief, drug recovery programs – to name a few. We believe the Foundation does an excellent job of distributing the funds to deserving individuals and projects,” the Keppels said.

Support the Tipp City Foundation

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 – Advanced Machinery Companies; Dunaway Family Foundation; Dungan & LeFevre; Ever-Green Turf & Landscape; Gibson Law Offices; Monroe Federal Savings and Loan; New Carlisle Federal Savings Bank; Pickrel, Schaeffer and Ebeling; Unity National Bank
  • Friend Sponsors – Captor Corp.; Edward Jones (Neil Nehring); Frings & Bayliff Funeral Home; Minster Bank; RSM US; 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!

THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD Foundation Surpasses 2.5 Million Grantmaking Mark

THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD Foundation Surpasses 2.5 Million Grantmaking Mark

by | Sep 29, 2021 | 2021 Media, Media

By Nancy Bowman

From humble beginnings in 1943, with Ed Timmer’s endowed gift of $1,300, the Tipp City Foundation has grown.  Endowed assets now surpass the $7.5 million mark. Yet more important is the yardstick that measures grantmaking back to the community.

As of September 2021, the Foundation has surpassed $2.5 million in total grantmaking. A grant to the Tipp City Fire & EMS Department was the award that put the Foundation’s lifetime giving past the special milestone.  The lifesaving equipment that will be bought with this grant is detailed below.

Available grantmaking dollars are determined through a formula that ensures that the principal is preserved while making the interest available for area nonprofits.

A broad range of grant requests submitted for third quarter review stood out because of the variety of services brought to our citizens. For the first time in 18 months, no grant requests served a need borne from the pandemic. 

Ultimately, 8 organizations were chosen to receive 16 awards.  Quarterly grants totaled $30,917.91.

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

ARTS & CULTURE
Bethel Local Schools, $1,240.13, purchases Boomwhacker xylophones for elementary music classes.  Used in combination with Orff instruments purchased with a Foundation award in 2020, students will be able to play as an ensemble. This is a Bethel Arts Fund grant.

Downtown Tipp City Partnership, $112.00, spruces up the exteriors of downtown properties identified by the Façade Improvement Program. This is an Urban Stewardship Fund grant.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $400.00, spreads a layer of tarp protection on the gym floor while spreading the joy of Indoor Percussion Ensemble in 7th – 12th grades. Additional support from Lucky 13 Fund advisors rounds out this request for a total of $800.00.

Tipp City Public Library, $967.88, invests in the space assigned for teens by purchasing comfortable furnishings.

EDUCATION
Bethel Local Schools, $592.29, blends 1st grade literature with science concepts. Hands-on materials purchased with this grant include fertilized eggs and incubators. Additional support from Lucky 13 Fund advisors rounds out this request for a total of $992.29.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $796.76, takes learning outdoors into a newly restored garden at Broadway Elementary School with the purchase of durable portable tables. This is a Youth of Tipp City Fund imo Sara Drexler grant.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, award, funds the 3rd grade field trip to Ohio Caverns. The Tipp Giving Fund advisors awarded the entire grant request of $1,365.00.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $1,300.00, expands the skill sets of students enrolled in the Homebuilding Class. Originally promoted as a class to build a tiny house, skills will now expand to landscaping. A wet saw and auger are among the tools purchased through this grant.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $1,000.00, 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, $689.00, supports the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) students through the purchase of blazers. Students will represent Tipp City at State and National leadership conferences while wearing these red jackets. FCCLA is a new organization in Tipp City Schools.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, award, pairs up the industrial arts, visual arts, and intervention classes, to move the current sensory garden to a larger, more accessible space. The Wahl Family Fund advisors awarded the entire grant request of $230.00.

ENVIRONMENT
Tipp City Parks Department, $1,131.00, plants sweetgum and red maple trees in Windmere Park. This is a Lucille L. Milner Trees for Tipp Fund grant.

RECREATION
Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $2,571.85, updates the playgrounds at Broadway, Nevin Coppock and LT Ball schools with ADA accessible swings.

Tipp City Parks Department, $2,767.00, adds benches and trees for the Miles Park neighborhood to enjoy. This is a Warren E. Miltenberger Parkland Fund grant.

Tipp City Preschool Learning Center, $5,000, supports the replacement of well-worn playground equipment on the grounds of the Tipp City Church of the Nazarene.  The Learning Center is open to families of all faiths.

HEALTH & SAFETY
Tipp City Fire and Emergency Services, $3,925.00, purchases thermal cameras to perform searches for victims inside of structures during fires, as well as to locate victims during missing persons incidents.  This is an award from the Safety First Fund, founded by Steve Kessler, fire chief from 1998 – 2018.

SOCIAL SERVICES
Rehabilitation Center for Neurological Development, $5,925.00, replaces a hydraulic lift chair used for movements / exercises vital to the success of Brain & Body Integration participants. This organization provides services to children and adults who are disabled or physically or mentally disadvantaged with brain injuries. This is the first award from the William’s Gift Fund.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley Region, award, aids families as they grapple with their child’s illness during their stay at Dayton Children’s Hospital. Last year, over 60 families from the Bethel/Tipp City community benefited from their support. The Tipp Giving Fund advisors awarded the grant request with $2,500.00.

We Care Arts, $2,500.00, 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 4Q grant submissions is December 1. Jim Ranft is available for your grant-related questions at 937-528-2482. Applications are available online at www.tippfoundation.org. 

Support the Tipp City Foundation

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 – Advanced Machinery Companies; Dunaway Family Foundation; Dungan & LeFevre; Ever-Green Turf & Landscape; Gibson Law Offices; Monroe Federal Savings and Loan; New Carlisle Federal Savings Bank; Pickrel, Schaeffer and Ebeling; Unity National Bank
  • Friend Sponsors – Captor Corp.; Edward Jones (Neil Nehring); Frings & Bayliff Funeral Home; Minster Bank; RSM US; 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!

Brukner Nature Center Uses Tipp City Foundation Grant To Purchase Promotional Material

Brukner Nature Center Uses Tipp City Foundation Grant To Purchase Promotional Material

by | Sep 8, 2021 | 2021 Media, Media

By Nancy Bowman

Brukner Nature Center has a new way to promote its offerings thanks to the Tipp City Foundation.

A grant for $1,709 received in 2020 was used to buy materials to increase the nature center’s presence in surrounding communities through participation with a booth at public events, volunteer fairs and other activities.

Due to COVID-19 the materials were first used this year at a downtown Troy nonprofits night on the Public Square’s Prouty Plaza, said Deb Oexmann, executive director, Brukner Nature Center.

“We used the money to purchase a tablecloth, table runner with our logo, monitor with portable battery power to show videos, and a rolling tote to carry it all in,” Oexmann said

“We also used some of the funding to create some new videos to share not only at these events but also with our members, on our website and Facebook page.  Some funding was also used to create fun stickers to pass out at events to engage kids and their families,” she said.

The Brukner staff loves the new booth and materials although there hasn’t been a lot of time so far for public feedback, Oexmann said. The stickers already are a big hit with the children, she said.

The public relations campaign for Brukner Nature Center is an ongoing effort. “The more people who learn about us and our mission, the more memberships grow, the more wildlife myths are busted and the more friends and partners we create!” Oexmann said.

The center continues to be a popular destination. Its trails remained open during closings forced by COVID-19. The restrictions didn’t stop people from taking in the center’s outdoor offerings – Oexmann said a 20 percent increases in visitation was experienced in the past year and a half.

The center has been closed some this summer as its new driveway and parking lot project is underway. The areas are being paved with concrete. “I am so thankful for the support of our members, community foundations and our Board of Trustees.  This project was by no means the least expensive fix for our aging drive but it is by far the best environmentally friendly option,” she said.

Upcoming events at Brukner Nature Center include its annual fundraiser, The Art of Nature, scheduled for Oct. 3. An online auction is planned for members with some of the larger items available at the Oct. 3 auction.

Work on the annual Arts and Crafts Show on Dec. 3 is underway. Vendor applications are now being accepted. Everything offered at the show must be handmade or somehow related to nature, Oexmann said.

For more information on Brukner Nature Center, visit www.bruknernaturecener.com.

Support the Tipp City Foundation

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 – Advanced Machinery Companies; Dunaway Family Foundation; Dungan & LeFevre; Ever-Green Turf & Landscape; Gibson Law Offices; Monroe Federal Savings and Loan; New Carlisle Federal Savings Bank; Pickrel, Schaeffer and Ebeling; Unity National Bank
  • Friend Sponsors – Captor Corp.; Edward Jones (Neil Nehring); Frings & Bayliff Funeral Home; Minster Bank; RSM US; 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!

Century Home Project recognizes homes at least 100 years old

Century Home Project recognizes homes at least 100 years old

by | Aug 3, 2021 | 2021 Media, Media

By Nancy Bowman 

The number of Tipp City homes whose history can be documented at least 100 years is growing, as is the effort to recognize those structures.

The Century Home Project was created by and in tribute to Paula and Phil Lantz, who came to the community in the early 1970s and made it their home.  After Phil Lantz passed in January 2017, Paula worked with Heather Bailey, the Tipp City Foundation and the Tippecanoe Historical Society to create the Century Home program as a tribute to him.

Homes that are confirmed by official documents to being at least 100 years old qualify. The homes will be awarded a brass Century Home plaque along with a framed award featuring the home.

Phil and Paula Lantz came to Tipp City in 1973 from Lima to be closer to his new job in Moraine. While heading home after checking out possible places to move in Kettering and Oakwood, they made a chance stop in Tipp City for gas.

Paula Lantz said she and her husband were attracted by the community’s charm and its houses. “It was such a unique spot in the world,” she said. “It has been a wonderful place to live. This program is another little piece that makes our community special.”

They ended up finding a home and over the years lived in four in the community.

The Century Home Project slowed the past year or so due to COVID-19 but again is in action.

Lantz is working on the project with Jackie Wahl of the Tippecanoe Historical Society. Houses in both Tipp City and Monroe Township can qualify for the recognition.

To promote the program, hangars were placed on doors of some houses that appeared to meet the century age criteria. Several applications were received and more are being taken.

A change in the program now has the Century Home Project volunteers verifying the age of homes using records now more readily available at the Miami County Courthouse. In the past, applicants were asked to provide that information, which could have been a deterrent for some owners.

“They may really love their old house, but don’t have the time to dig into public records,” Wahl said.

There is a $20 application fee.

Lantz said the project continues to evolve as the women work on the quickest, easiest way for those with a Century Home to apply. She is not aware of another program like it.

The project is a positive for the community, Wahl said. “It is one of the feel good things that help celebrate our community,” she said.

For more information on the Century Home Project, email info@tippecanoehistoricalsociety.org.

Support the Tipp City Foundation

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 – Advanced Machinery Companies; Dunaway Family Foundation; Dungan & LeFevre; Ever-Green Turf & Landscape; Gibson Law Offices; Monroe Federal Savings and Loan; New Carlisle Federal Savings Bank; Pickrel, Schaeffer and Ebeling; Unity National Bank
  • Friend Sponsors – Captor Corp.; Edward Jones (Neil Nehring); Frings & Bayliff Funeral Home; Minster Bank; RSM US; 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!