2025 is closing with the largest tally of dollars awarded by the Tipp City Foundation in one quarter since its founding in 1943. Though there were more requests than available dollars to award, the board challenged themselves to make the largest impact with the amount on hand. 

Among the broad range f grants awarded are a very imaginative project for 2^nd grade students at Bethel, a new cooking course for young families and three local food pantries. Ultimately, 21 organizations received 22 awards totaling $74,841.68.

Since 1943, $3,243,489.50 has been awarded to local causes.

The following is a list of recipients, award levels and the impact these grants will have. Support that donor advised funds of the foundation gave towards requests is noted with an asterisk (*).

ARTS & CULTURE

CISV Midwest Chapter, award*, covers the cost of a storage unit holding bedding and other supplies to host an every-3-year international UNESCO-approved cross-cultural youth summit. *A Lucky 13 Fund award. 

Downtown Tipp City Partnership, $3,200, highlights local people, history and creative culture through free weekly podcast episodes in a series called Downtown Lowdown.

Tipp City Parks Department, $1,829, supports the veteran memorial street pole banner displays coming to County Road 25A. A Veterans Tribute Fund award.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $1,552, revamps the high school video production course with new technology. A Youth of Tipp City Fund imo Sara Drexler award.

Tipp City Public Library, $1,000*, explores the challenge of creating peace through literature via a partnership between the library, local schools, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. *Additional gifts from the Wahl Family Fund and the Robinson-Walters Family Fund round out this request for a total of $3,500.

EDUCATION

Bethel Local Schools, $3,610, imagines 2^nd graders as pioneers as they plan, plant and harvest next season’s garden. Science and reading curricula come together for their study of The West. Food harvested will be shared with Bethel Hope, an area food panty supporting neighbors in need. A Radle Family Fund for Science Education award.

Miami Valley Career Technology Center, $3,335, updates classrooms where skilled trades such as welding, plumbing, HVAC and automotive repair are taught. A Koerner Family Fund award.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $3,500, supports listening skills through the purchase of Redcat, an audio enhancement system that amplifies teachers’ voices in 4^th grade classrooms.

HEALTH & SAFETY

The Centered Foundation, $2,020, launches Cooking and Nutrition Made Easy, hands-on classes for parents and young children. Courses are taught in a four-part series.

National Night Out a fund of The Troy Foundation, $995.68, strengthens the police-community partnership to stop crime. The theme for the 2026 events in Tipp City and Bethel Twp. will be, “Get the Facts-Stop Crime in its Tracks”. A Safety First Fund award.

New Creations Counseling Center, Inc., $3,000*, 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 $6,000.

Pink Ribbon Good, $3,000, supports Tipp City-area individuals (and their families) who have been diagnosed with breast or gynecological cancer by providing nutritious meals, rides to treatment, cleaning supplies and peer support.

Rehabilitation Center for Neurological Development, $1,739.50, replaces the emergency paging system at this center serving children and adults diagnosed with brain conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, birth trauma, autism or conditions that impact development.

Tipp City Fire and Emergency Services, $11,901, enhances firefighter safety and operational efficiency with new equipment to handle ongoing maintenance of fire hoses. A Safety First Fund award. 

RECREATION

Englewood Little League Challenger Division, $2,350.33, invites Miami Valley kids with special needs to join the fun of baseball. A William’s Gift Fund award.

Miamibucs, $2,350.33, cheers on the “I Can” Triathlon for children with different abilities and their buddies. A William’s Gift Fund award.

Tipp Monroe Community Services, award*, offsets the cost of the annual 5^th grade excursion to Camp Kern in Oregonia, Ohio, for 100 local students. *A Tipp Giving Fund award.

Tipp Pride Association, $15,000, fulfills our commitment to help build a new stadium in City Park. This represents the final payment towards a $75,000 grant originally awarded in 2018, which marked the foundation’s 75^th anniversary.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Bethel Hope ($6,000*), Needy Basket of Southern Miami County ($2,401.50) and New Path, Inc., ($2,000), addresses the pinch felt by the hungry during the government shutdown and the temporary suspension of SNAP benefits. Awarded, in part, from the August Henke Comfort for the Needy Fund. *Additional support from the Community Compassion Fund.

Eagles’ Wings Stables, Inc., $2,350.34, builds brain / body connections for people using this equine-assisted therapy program. A William’s Gift Fund award.

Partners In Hope, $1,707, encourages adult self-sufficiency through classes such as GED and financial management basics. A Gillis Family Fund for Self-Sufficiency award.

We Care Arts, award*, continues Transition to Work classroom programming in high schools throughout Miami County. *A Lucky 13 Fund award.

Discretionary grants are made possible because of contributions, of any size, from the public. A full list of the foundation’s 67 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, Diana Featherstone, Dee Gillis, Joellen Heatherly, Glen McMurry, Jim Ranft, distribution chair, Julie Taylor, treasurer, Jackie Wahl, Julia Watson, Bill Wendel, secretary / vice president, 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, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Now in its 82nd year, the Tipp City Foundation increasingly receives grant requests for higher dollar amounts. As foundation assets grow, larger grant awards are possible more often. Some requests are so large that awards need to be given over several years.

The March grant cycle saw several instances where awards will be spread out. Pickleball courts at Kyle Park and the new Miami County Animal Shelter are among the multi-year awards recipients.

New ideas seeking support this quarter include a Tippopoly board game, and free entrance to the annual Tippapalooza concert. Read more about these below. Ultimately, 17 organizations received 22 awards totaling $58,952.83.

Since 1943, $3,118,802.83 has been awarded to local causes.

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

SOCIAL SERVICES

Miami County Partners for Animal Welfare, $5,000, commits $50,000 towards the building of a no-kill animal shelter and adoption center. This is the 1^st of 10 payments. Awarded, in part, from Bethel Community Fund. Additional support from Walter E. Caton Fund and Robinson-Walters Family Fund rounds out this request for a total of $9,085.

New Path, Inc, award, helps up to 250 families with financial support during times of personal downturn. A Community Compassion Fund award.

Robinson Foundation of The Troy Foundation, $500, remembers the philanthropic impact and leadership of Thomas Robinson, a Miami County leader, with a memorial gift.

Tipp City Church of the Nazarene, $5,000, expands existing daycare and preschool options to include special needs children. This grant supports the remodeling of the building to accommodate the specialized equipment required. This is the final payment towards a multi-year commitment. Awarded, in part, from Hidden Picture Puzzles by Liz Ball Fund and the H. E. “Tiny” & Emma Drewing Fund.

ARTS & CULTURE

Bethel Local Schools, $2,500, lifts up the voices of the Bethel High School choir as they perform on a global stage….Walt Disney World. This grant helps to underwrite the cost of the trip. A Bethel Arts Fund award. Additional support from Walter E. Caton Fund rounds out this request for a total of $3,000.

Downtown Tipp City Partnership, $5,000, provides seed money for a project to raise dollars to fund small business grants. The fundraising project will customize the traditional Monopoly board game into Tippopoly. Game boards will be available for purchase in late 2025

Project T.I.P.P. (Teens Impacting and Promoting Philanthropy), $5,000, gives teens grantmaking responsibility in conjunction with the Tipp City Chamber of Commerce’s Teen Leadership Academy.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $254, sparks the creative imagination of high school students contributing to Inferno, a literary journal published annually. A Live Loud Like Carson: A School Spirit Fund award. Additional support from Walter E. Caton Fund rounds out this request for a total of $1,100.

Tippapalooza, Inc., $3,000, eliminates the entrance fee to this annual music festival. Held in downtown Tipp City, this is a family-friendly celebration of local music.

EDUCATION

Miami County Educational Service Center, award, recognizes valedictorians and salutatorians of Miami County at an annual banquet held for them and their most influential teachers. A Walter E. Caton Fund award.

Miami County Educational Service Center, award, guides students through the YouScience Initiative as they explore academic and career options. A Walter E. Caton Fund award.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, award, purchases heart models and stethoscopes for 4^th grade science classrooms. A Tipp Giving Fund award.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $698, replaces heavily worn competition buzzer sets used by the Academic Quiz Team. Last month the Tippecanoe High School Academic Quiz Team wrapped up their MVL regular season with a perfect 18-0 record and a championship title!

HEALTH & SAFETY

The Edison Foundation, $5,000, supports the building of classrooms dedicated to the field of nursing at Edison State Community College. This is the 2^nd of 5 payments, which will total $25,000. Awarded, in part, from Bethel Community Fund.

Health Partners Free Clinic, $1,755, updates the check-in process with signature pads and scanners. This paperless system will be more secure and private for patients.

Funded, in part, from Bethel Community Fund. Additional support from Walter E. Caton Fund rounds out this request for a total of $2,755.

Miami County Dental Clinic, $3,360, assures that the operations of this clinic stay in compliance while ensuring a positive workplace for dental staff and clients. Over 30% of clients are senior citizens. Awarded, in part, from Senior Wellness Fund.

New Path, Inc, award, purchases cleaning supplies to sanitize donated durable medical equipment to prepare it for clients in need. A Community Compassion Fund award.

Tipp City Fire and Emergency Services, $1,987.60, promotes safety education by updating hands-on equipment used to teach safety essentials. A Safety First Fund award.

RECREATION

Bethel Local Schools, $1,898.23, completes our 5-year commitment to help build a new stadium at Bethel Schools. The total awarded was $25,000. A Bethel Community Fund award.

Tipp Pride Association, $7,500, honors our commitment to help build a new stadium in City Park. This is the 8^th of 10 payments, which will total $75,000.

Tipp City Parks Department, $10,000, volleys financial support towards building pickleball courts in Kyle Park. This is the 1^st of 5 payments, which will total $50,000. Awarded, in part, from Jim & June Kyle Family Fund, Outdoor Experiences Fund in honor of Abby Kessler Bowling, and Warren E. Miltenberger Parkland Fund.

Troop 586 Tipp City, $500, purchases new (and replaces old) equipment used in the robust activities of a Boy Scout Troop, serving youth ages 11 through 17.

Discretionary grants are made possible because of contributions, of any size, from the public. A full list of the foundation’s 65 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, Diana Featherstone, treasurer, Dee Gillis, Joellen Heatherly, vice president, 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.

By Nancy Bowman

The annual Tippapalooza Music Festival coming downtown Aug. 31 will not only highlight area talent but, in a less obvious way, the support of this and other events by the Tipp City Foundation.

Grants provided by the foundation are being used for a new stanchion fencing system to help secure this and other event venues, and stacking tables and chairs for use by attendees. These items will then be available for borrowing by area nonprofits for other public events.

The Tippapalooza Music Festival was the recipient of a $1,982 grant for the safety stanchions used to keep a gathering safe. Another grant of $6,227 to the Downtown Tipp City Partnership (DTCP) purchased the tables and chairs.

“The lightweight, durable tables and chairs will be an invaluable resource for DTCP, especially during our events. By owning these items, we eliminate the need to rent, which helps reduce event costs and allows us to allocate those funds elsewhere,” said Tasha Weaver, executive director of the DTCP.

These items will be used throughout the year including the DTCP’s upcoming Tunes Tour Beer Crawl, HarvestFest  and the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting.

Tippapalooza, in its 13^th year, is grateful for the foundation support, said Bill Wendel, a Tippapalooza founder and spokesperson.

“The stanchion system will give us a more professional, safer and flexible border for our festival. And in the spirit of supporting the local community, we are making the system available for use to any local non-profit for use at their events,” he said.

The foundation has supported the festival in the past as a financial sponsor.

Tippapalooza will be held on South Second Street between Main Street and Dow Street. The doors open at 5 p.m. and music starts at 6. The featured acts this year are Colin Richards and Spare Change, The Tyler Cochran Trio, Freya’s Felines and The New Old-Fashioned.

Proceeds will benefit Dream Pet Rescue and its mission to rehome cats and dogs. There will be food trucks and adult beverages served by Chaffee’s Brewhouse. This is a family friendly, all-ages event, Wendel said. Presale tickets can be purchased for $10 at www.tippapalooza.com; tickets are $15 the day of the show. Those attending are invited to bring lawn chairs and their dancing shoes.

Tippapalooza was created by a group of local friends and music fans with the desire to promote local talent and to benefit local charities. This is the festival’s 13^th year highlighting talented musicians from the Miami Valley and supporting local charities.

The popularity of Tippapalooza continued to grow over the years until it was established enough to focus on and hire professional musicians. Since 2017 it has only featured professional artists from the Miami Valley who write and record their own music, Wendel said.  The event was moved to the downtown in 2023.

By Nancy Bowman

An addition to the offerings at the Tipp City Public Library is designed to help children develop creativity, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

The MagnaTiles Light Table was purchased by the library with a $1,385 grant from the Tipp City Foundation.

“They can learn shapes, colors, patterns, letters and explore how two primary colors make secondary colors. Children can learn about the principles of construction. The light table offers a fun, engaging environment for children to explore,” said Wendy Torrence, children’s librarian.

The light table adds another learning opportunity in the children’s play area that already includes books and computers.

Children can create from their imaginations and develop more controlled fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination. The light table is portable, allowing it to also benefit toddlers and preschoolers during Storytimes, which are held in the downstairs library  Meeting Room, Torrence said.

Patrons have been very complimentary about the table, she said.

“When I walk into the children's area, I see tall towers, houses and acrylic shapes overlapped and spread around like walkways. Our Storytime children have gleefully written in the sand on top of a colored acrylic panel and made flowers using assorted materials,” Torrence said.

"Parents engage in the building process with younger children and observe as older children work their magic with the tiles. Not a day goes by that the light table is not used.”

The library will purchase additional MagnaTiles and acrylics for the light table and will use it more during Storytimes, such as when programs explore veterinary care and examine X-rays. “The children's department works very hard to create a positive environment for learning and to offer programs that encourage children to have fun, learn and grow,” Torrence said.

She began her professional life as an educator and spent 10 years teaching high school, middle school and preschool. She has been a librarian for 11 years in school and public libraries.

“I greatly appreciate the support of the Tipp City community and love engaging with families who attend our library events,” she said. “I believe the public library has something to offer every citizen, and I encourage those who are not our patrons to walk through our doors and experience the quality of our services.”

For more information on the Tipp City Public Library, visit tippcitylibrary.org.

Joellen Heatherly’s interest in local philanthropy helped lead her to service on the board of the Tipp City Foundation.

A Tipp City native, Heatherly participated in her first foundation board meeting in March.

“For some time now, I have routinely contributed to a variety of the funds linked to the Tipp City Foundation and believe firmly in supporting philanthropy locally.” Heatherly said. “Tipp City is a big part of my past and I hope to invest in a more inclusive future while retaining our small-town appeal.”

Heatherly said she sees herself working as a connector to bring people and resources together where it makes sense.

“I also consider myself to be a ‘big picture’ thinker who respects those who plan ahead and foresee how the decisions we make today impact future generations. I have good common sense, the ability for critical thinking and can conduct myself respectfully, even with difficult people,” she said.

She has focused her career in the area of public service, specifically adults with disabilities. Heatherly retired in 2019, then re-entered the workforce the same year. She now works for the State of Ohio as a vocational counselor, assisting people with developmental disabilities get jobs in their communities.

After serving four years on the Tipp City Exempted Village Schools Board of Education, Heatherly chose not to seek re-election last fall. After that high profile service, she said she “was searching for healthy functioning outlets to share my strengths.”

“The Tipp City Foundation is a community minded group of people with diverse values who seek to invest in Tipp City and the people who reside in surrounding communities. I have volunteered with several local nonprofits in Tipp City and also Miami and Montgomery County,” Heatherly said.

She is married to Jim Heatherly. Both are active in the Tipp City schools and the community. Jim Heatherly owns his own business and is a former football coach and umpire assignor in the area.

Both of their adult children graduated from the Tipp City schools. Their daughter is a Montessori teacher in Tennessee and their son is a medical cannabis cultivator in Dayton.

She said family and friends have inspired her willingness to give back to the community.

“My parents and in-laws were role models for civic inclusion and volunteerism. I also credit my high school civics teacher-turned lawyer, Tom Cochran; my professional mentor, Sue Curtis; and consider several past school board members as mentors,” Heatherly said.

She said she would also like people to know that, ‘I am proud of our community and the residents who want better for current and future generations.”