By Nancy Bowman

A new Tipp City Foundation fund honoring a woman who taught 35 years at Broadway Elementary School will provide money for the school’s principal to use to benefit students annually.

The fund was created by Don McAlexander in recognition of his late wife, Nancy McAlexander.

Tina Smith, principal of Broadway Elementary School, said the fund is unique and provides appreciated added resources for the school.

“Nancy is a former educator, so this fund comes from a place of deep understanding of what our teachers and students need. The purpose of the fund is simple and powerful: to support elementary education in Tipp City Schools in ways that directly benefit students,” Smith said. “We don’t yet know the dollar amount we’ll receive each year, but we do know it will begin in January and will be used exclusively for our youngest learners.”

Dedicated to elementary education, the fund allows the school/leaders to consider instructional materials, hands-on learning tools, literacy and math resources and enrichment experiences that go beyond the general operating budget.

“Our goal is to use these dollars to expand opportunities for students and strengthen the work happening in our classrooms every day,” Smith said. “We’re also eager to explore ways the fund can support innovation in teaching — whether that’s updated classroom technology, new curriculum supports, or programs that help teachers meet students’ individual needs. This kind of flexibility is rare, and it will absolutely make a difference.”

Nancy McAlexander died in October 2024 at age 80. She taught at Broadway Elementary School from 1968 to 2003. She volunteered for the Clothesline in Tipp City, Life Essentials in Dayton, Miami County Adult Basic Literacy, Needy Basket of Southern Miami County, and spent many years volunteering for the Victoria Theatre Association in Dayton.  

She and her husband, who worked in computer programming, enjoyed traveling with family and friends in Corvette Troy and the National Road Corvette Club.

“We’re honored that the McAlexanders chose to support our elementary students in such a thoughtful and lasting way. Every principal — and really every teacher — loves a gift that goes directly to kids,” Smith said “This fund will allow us to say ‘yes’ more often to opportunities that enrich learning. We are grateful, excited and already thinking about the possibilities this opens for our students.”

More information about the Tipp City Foundation is available at www.tippfoundation.org.

Today, we introduce Dr. Jim Ranft. Many of us know Dr. Ranft from his work at the Tipp Eye Center, but on the Tipp City Foundation we know Jim as the highly capable Chairman of the Distribution Committee. Jim has served on the Tipp City Foundation since 2003.

Jim’s favorite quote:
“Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations” ~Monty Python The Meaning of Life

A person in Jim’s life who has shaped his perspective:
My former business partner and founder of The Tipp Eye Center, Andy Davidson. His philosophy that the practice will succeed if you take care of your patients with compassionate personal attention and give back through community service.

The people who inspire Jim now:
The individuals in the community who quietly contribute their time and skills to help improve the community. The people I observe in the community that give their time and talents to make our community better. My fellow board members at the Tipp City Foundation are a great example.

The advice Jim would give to a young person today:
“Do not mistake people’s reality for their social media presence. Be an influencer in your community by the example you lead in day to day personal interactions, not by trying to have the most likes.

Jim’s favorite thing to do in his spare time:
Traveling to new places to see natural wonders. Hanging out at Hilton Head Island beach, reading books and reconnecting with his kids. Cheering on the Buckeyes.

What serving on the Tipp Foundation means:
The Foundation provides a way for me to “give back” by supporting the long and short term needs of our local charitable organizations. The work we do provides a legacy of local philanthropy that allows our donors to take care of our own for years to come. I am very proud of our work over the last 22 years to grow the assets and expand the reach of the foundation.

By Becky Gulden

It may come as no surprise to parents with young children, but according to Child Care Choices, families in Miami County are paying four times more than what the federal government considers sustainable for childcare and that’s if they can find quality childcare at all.

That’s why Child Care Choices has started a new community initiative called Child Care IS Education.

Karen Stienecker, Food Program Director at Child Care Choices, says the goal is to raise awareness about the childcare crisis in Miami County and engage local stakeholders in creating solutions.

“It is no secret to us that Miami County, along with the rest of the nation, is experiencing a severe and extended crisis of childcare. This crisis has resulted in hardships in many areas of our community and economy. From lost productivity due to parents having to call off from work to care for their children, to a dramatic decline in kindergarten readiness due to an understaffed and underappreciated care force,” said Stienecker.

One barrier to quality childcare is the cost. According to Stienecker, the federal government states that to have a thriving economy the amount a family pays for childcare should not exceed 7 percent of their income. Currently in Miami County, a family with children under the age of 5 is spending 28 percent of their income on childcare, and 45 percent of Miami county families state that they cannot afford childcare.

Another issue is the scarcity of childcare centers. According to Stienecker, there are only seven childcare centers per 1,000 children under the age of 5, and many families can’t find open spots.

“At Child Care Choices, we receive calls from parents on a regular basis begging for help finding care for their children. These parents, many who live in Tipp City, share their stories of how they are on the waitlist of every childcare center in the area and how none of them can take their children at this time. This is even more difficult in cases where the children have special needs or qualify for publicly funded childcare. It breaks our hearts at the end of these phone calls when we must tell the families that there is not a solution to their problem,” said Stienecker.

Of the spots available, most of them are only half-day preschool or before- and after-school care, leaving parents needing full-time care with few options. And for parents who work second shift, there are currently no overnight spots in Miami County, so families needing care at that time must travel to either Sidney or Dayton and most of those spots are already filled.

Another issue is staffing. Providers are struggling to stay staffed because childcare workers earn far less than comparable jobs. Stienecker says workers earn on average $12 an hour versus nearly the $20 an hour they could be making at fast food restaurants.

To help find solutions to this multi-faceted problem, the Tipp City Foundation has invested $4,000 in grant money to the Child Care IS Education campaign. Jim Ranft, distribution chair of the Tipp City Foundation, explains why Child Care Choices is so important for the community.

“Child Care Choices plays a significant role in children’s education by promoting early literacy and kindergarten readiness,” said Ranft. “The organization visits childcare centers and in-home providers to provide preschool-aged children with books and enrichment activities, fostering a love for reading and learning at an early age. Child Care Choices advocates for high-quality childcare environments, which significantly improves readiness for kindergarten. Our most recent grant to Child Care Choices is earmarked to address the critical shortage of affordable, high-quality childcare in Miami County.”

The money will be used to support activities focused on the Tipp City and Bethel Township area including production and distribution of early learning kits for parents, businesses, and childcare providers. They also held several events to build relationships with local families and spread the word.

“These funds help ensure the campaign effectively educates and mobilizes local stakeholders toward lasting childcare solutions,” said Stienecker. “Receiving support from the Tipp City Foundation means the community recognizes childcare as a shared priority and a form of essential education. The grant affirms that local leaders believe in investing in families, the workforce, and children’s futures.”

Success of the campaign will be measured in the following ways: increased collaboration and communication between parents, businesses, and childcare providers, community engagement outcomes such as participation in stakeholder events and distribution of Early Learning Kits, and long-term sustainability with programs continuing beyond the 18-month campaign and supported by businesses and donors.

If you want to learn more about the Tipp City Foundation and how to support community campaigns like this one, visit https://tippfoundation.org/ or call 937-528-2482.

By Nancy Bowman

Members of the Zion Lutheran Church are thrilled to receive a Tipp City Foundation grant to buy a device they hope never gets used.

An Automated External Defibrillator, or AED, was purchased by the downtown Tipp City church last year using a $4,112 grant from the foundation. The grant paid for the device, a trauma bag, and training for 10 people, said Annette Calicoat, office manager of Zion Lutheran Church.

The AED has been conveniently located between the church sanctuary and its Fellowship Hall, which hosts weddings, funerals, church services, and community events.

“Having an AED on hand can make a critical difference in emergencies. Just like that spare tire, it’s all about preparedness,” said Richard Bender, president of the Tipp City Foundation.

“Knowing that a device is readily available can provide peace of mind, especially in places where people gather.  It’s great to see more public spaces recognizing the importance of having these lifesaving tools accessible.”

The grant was sought for the church, and the community that uses it, Calicoat said.

“The majority of our congregation are senior citizens and the likelihood of someone having a heart attack is higher with this population. The possibility of saving a life increases exponentially when an AED is available for use because effective CPR can begin immediately. Every minute without hands-on CPR reduces the chance of survival by 10 percent,” she said.

“In addition, because our church is centrally located in the heart of downtown Tipp City, our facility is utilized for many community activities and organizational meetings.”

Among meetings are community organizations such as a Scout Troop, church groups including women fellowship and committee meetings and gatherings such as blood drives, Relay for Life meetings, Vacation Bible School and activities including Bunco.

“The community room at the Zion Lutheran Church is definitely one of those places that people gather. I’ve attended community meals, funerals and Give Where You Live Miami County has our quarterly meetings there,” Bender said.

“For me, as a board member of the Tipp City Foundation, it’s inspiring to see how past donations have such a meaningful impact on our community. It’s rewarding to witness the positive changes that result from the contributions we have received,” he said.

In addition to the funding for the AED to Zion Lutheran Church, the Tipp City Foundation provided funding in 2023 for AEDs to Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County and to the Tipp City Seniors, Inc.

Next year is Zion’s 200^th anniversary and many special activities are being planned to celebrate.

With this kind of traffic, having an AED available is crucial, Calicoat said. “We were thrilled to be recipients of such a generous grant that provided for its purchase but, we hope we never have to use it!”