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.

By Nancy Bowman

A year following the passing of Tippecanoe High School student Carson Robbins, an endowment fund is being established to continue honoring him and to support activities building positive connections among local school students.

Robbins died April 14, 2023, following a brief illness. A healthy athletic senior at Tippecanoe High School, Carson experienced his first seizure and passed away two months later. He was diagnosed with NORSE, a rare epileptic condition that tends to affect healthy young adults and children with no history of epilepsy.

“Carson loved life big. He was a loyal friend, brother and son. Everyone’s biggest cheerleader. No one was a stranger. He was mischievous and fun. He certainly wasn’t perfect, but he was perfectly ours and we miss him every single day,” said his mother, Carrie Robbins.

The Live Loud Like Carson: A School Spirit Fund was suggested by two of her friends, Becky Jones and Amanda McDowell, said Robbins

“They wanted to find a way to continue to honor Carson. The endowment fund was a perfect match for what we were wanting to accomplish. Carson is forever 17 - right in the prime of sharing his pride and spirit for Tipp City,” she said. “With this endowment fund we can continue to share that spirit with the youth of Tipp City. We are incredibly blessed to have a big group of supportive friends that are helping Becky, Amanda and myself as we navigate through this fundraising process.”

The Live Loud Like Carson Fund was kicked off earlier this month with a basket raffle during the Jeep Cruise In in downtown Tipp City. “The fundraiser was very successful, and we are grateful for all that contributed,” Carrie Robbins said of the fundraiser held at the Eagles.

A T-shirt and bracelet sale will be launched soon along with a LIVE LOUD Like Carson Family Fun Day, which will be held Aug. 17 at Tipp Eagles Park. Activities will include a kickball tournament, cornhole tournament and a kids zone. More details will be released soon, Robbins said.

Plans also are being made for an annual fundraiser to be held for his birthday each year in April.

The endowment fund will support activities that build positive connections among students at Tipp City Schools, aimed at fostering a positive environment for students of all ages. The awards are not limited to sports (which was Carson’s main love) but academics, fine arts and youth programs among others. “We want everyone aged K-12 to have the opportunity to be touched by Carson’s fund,” Robbins said.

Those interested in donating to the fund can do so at the Tipp City Foundation website at TippFoundation.org.

Summer and Safety prominent in Grant Requests

Through the 19 grant requests received in the Q2 Tipp City Foundation gifting cycle, a couple of themes stood apart. Summertime fun and community safety were broadly represented in the requests.

Grants are made possible because of contributions of any size from the public. Donations are held in an endowment and only the interest is spent.

As is often the case, more grant dollars were requested than the amount available. The variety and innovation represented in the applications speaks to the broad visions area nonprofits.

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

Ultimately, 12 organizations received 13 awards totaling $37,841.66. Since 1943, $2,982,356.68 have been awarded to local causes through grantmaking.

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.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Bethel Hope, $2,500, adds summer safety and recreation supplies to 25 families receiving ongoing nutrition support from this agency. Additional support from the Robinson-Walters Family Fund rounds out this request for a total of $3,000.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami Valley, $1,750, matches local youth on a waiting list with mentors.

Connections of Tipp City, $2,000, supports an after-school program for middle and high school students.

We Love Birthday Parties, $1,245, supports children in foster care or in struggling homes by throwing them each a small birthday party. Summer parties needed for affected Tipp City children are expected to be over 70. Parties include healthy food and an age-appropriate gift.

ARTS & CULTURE

Brukner Nature Center, $1,368, purchases technology updates in the Heidelberg Auditorium and Meeting room. Once updated, this room will be appealing for public rental, which will help the nature center become more self-sufficient.

Tipp City Public Library, $5,400, offers Freegal ad-free streaming music service to the menu of items that patrons can check out of the library.

Tipp Monroe Community Services, $5,083, updates music stands and chairs for the growing Tippecanoe Community Band. The band plays up to 10 public concerts each year.

RECREATION

Miamibucs, $1,901.47, provides two adapted tricycles for individuals who cannot ride a typical tryke. A William’s Gift Fund grant.

Tipp City Enrichment Program, $3,000, enhances the summer activities offered to more than 70 children attending this extended care program. This year’s activities will include goat yoga, a magic show and a trip to Boonshoft Museum of Discovery.

EDUCATION

Tipp City Exempted City Schools, $3,334.22, buys classroom book bins to store next year’s ELA curriculum. 

HEALTH & SAFETY

Health Partners Free Clinic, $2,500, pays for the first year of VolunteerHub software and training, which will improve operation efficiency. Volunteers are one of the clinic’s greatest assets; in 2023, over 1,500 volunteer hours supported this county-wide agency.

Tipp City Exempted City Schools, $5,159.97, improves building safety for injured persons in times of an emergency by purchasing Evac+Chairs. Each chair reduces the number of adults needed for a safe exit. A Safety First Fund grant.

Tipp City Fire and Emergency Services, $2,600, instills a culture of citizen readiness before emergencies hit. Through public programs, the EMS will roll the Emergency To Go Bags program. A Safety First Fund grant.

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.

The Tipp City Foundation recently awarded over $24,000 in scholarships. These awards went
to graduating high school seniors. Of the 63 endowment funds within the Foundation,
18 represent scholarships.

Often these funds commemorate inspirational values of the scholarship founder; when this is the case, applicants are measured against those standards. Winners are determined through a vetting process led by an independent body of judges. To read more about the stories behind each of the scholarship funds or to apply for future scholarships, visit www.tippfoundation.org.

Graduates from Tippecanoe, Bethel, Miami East and Lehman Catholic are represented.

Ernest Clay Back Scholarship for History – Ava Brooks

Lester & Cleon Bowers Family Scholarship – Fletcher Harris

Marlene E. Chapman Memorial Scholarship – Ava Longo

Jeanette C. Gaston Memorial Music Scholarship – Molly Dunn

Gilmore Family Scholarship – Keenan Melton

Sarah Gross Scholarship for Sportsmanship – Megan Landis

Life is a Journey - Don't Stop Believing Scholarship – Daria Lee

Katherine G. Lobo Memorial Scholarship – Roman List

McKee Family Matthew 5:16 Scholarship – Emmily Morando

Sarah Merritt Memorial Scholarship – (not awarded for 2024)

John and Louise Miller Memorial Scholarship – Daisy Horner

Robert E. Nessle Memorial Scholarship – Jenna Herzer

Elizabeth Spano Scholarship – Laney Cleckner

Tipp City Rotary Club Scholarship – Leda Anderson, Allison Cartwright, William Riehle

Tippecanoe Alumni Scholarship – Ava Longo

Wenzlau Family Scholarship – Evan Liette

Willhelm Family Scholarship – Landon Luginbuhl

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) 528-2482.

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

Carolyn Wright, Andy Venters join City Foundation Board

By Nancy Bowman

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

Andrew Venters and Carolyn Wright were welcomed by the board at its March meeting. During that meeting, the foundation board also saw the advancement of Richard Bender to president, replacing Jim Ranft, and Joellen Heatherly to vice president. Dr. Ranft will remain as chairman of the foundation Distribution Committee, overseeing grant making.

Wright grew up in Bethel Township. and graduated from Bethel High School in 1990. Following college, the family decided to move back to the community to raise their children.

“I value my community and want to represent Bethel by supporting innovation, creativity and connection” through the foundation’s work, she said of her interest in serving on the foundation board.

“I appreciate the value our community places on our school, and the way that neighbors take care of neighbors.  I love the beauty of our backroads and the sense of rootedness I feel here,” Wright said.

A social worker, she said she thinks she brings compassion, curiosity and a systematic approach to problem solving to the foundation’s volunteer board.

She is a clinical social worker with a private therapy practice in Troy and a cofounder of the Therapy Collaborative, a group of mental health providers serving the county and surrounding areas.

Wright has been married to Todd for 32 years. They have two children, Benton and Eiliana, who graduated in the Bethel classes of 2016 and 2018, respectively. Both live in Asheville, N.C. Her mother, Mary Walsh, lives across the street from Wright and remains her biggest supporter, she said.

Wright has served as a Bethel Township trustee, Bethel varsity swim coach, created and organized the Bethel 5K from 2012-2016, has worked as a poll worker, worked on multiple school levies and is a volunteer for the National Conference of Community and Justice.

Venters and his wife, Heather, moved to Tipp City in summer 2007. Born and raised in Somerset, Ky., he attended Miami University and went to law school at the University of Kentucky.

“I've long admired the foundation as an institution that gives people an outlet for their generosity, and which helps make Tipp City a great place to live.  It's an honor to be a part of it,” Venters said.

One of the first things he and his wife noticed about the community was “what a generous and friendly place Tipp City was,” he said. “It has been a wonderful town to raise our kids in, full of people who provide great examples to them to follow. Like every town, there are things that can be improved, but those first impressions have mainly held true over the years.”

Venters said he thinks he brings to the foundation good judgment and has a good grasp on the community’s needs. “I hope to help the foundation make sound decisions,” he said.

He is a magistrate in the Miami County Probate and Juvenile Court. He previously was an attorney with firms in Troy and Sidney for about 15 years and served as a public defender in Shelby County.

Heather Venters is an occupational therapist, working for the Montgomery County Educational Service Center. She has worked through the ESC in the Trotwood school district for 11 years. They have three children, ages 14, 12 and 10.

Venters served on the Tipp City schools board of education for four years and on the board of zoning appeals. He teaches Sunday School at Tipp City Global Methodist Church.

Bender is a graduate of Columbus Business University and worked in the banking industry before joining the United Way of Troy in 2010 as executive director. After retirement, he has remained active in the community including joining the foundation board.

He and his wife, Cheryl, live in Tipp City.

Heatherly is a Tipp City native, who said an interest in local philanthropy helped lead her to service on the foundation board.

She focused her career in the area of public service, specifically adults with disabilities. She is a former member of the Tipp City schools board of education.