By Nancy Bowman

The Miami County Dental Clinic continues to provide preventative and restorative dental care for county residents including children at its clinic on Troy Town Drive in Troy and through its Traveling Smiles outreach that includes visits to schools and other community locations.

The clinic was founded in 2008 and has been under the leadership of Stephanie Waller, executive director, since 2018.

“Our dental services have remained unchanged over the years. A main objective of the Miami County Dental Clinic is to be a dental home to members of our community who would otherwise not have access to or be able to afford dental care,” she said.

The clinic specializes in routine and emergency examinations, hygiene, extractions, rotary endodontics, amalgam and composite restorations, dentures, partials and crowns. 

Traveling Smiles is a program that began in 2012. It provides care for children, in their school setting, who do not have a dental home, Waller said. 

The staff last summer also set up clinic locations at Lincoln Community Center in Troy and the Piqua Compassion Network to see those children who may not have had the opportunity to participate in the program during the school year.

The Traveling Smiles staff is now moving to the Tipp City schools and at Isaiah’s Place, Troy, where local foster families can receive total care.

What Waller called an “exciting addition to the program” this year is the hiring through the Ohio State University College of Dentistry of pediatric dental fellows to work with the clinic’s team.  Twice a week, a pediatric dental fellow works with Traveling Smiles to provide dental care and oral health education for students. The fellows are fully licensed, practicing dentists that seek to gain experience in working with children prior to continuing their education to become specialized pediatric dentists.  

The partnership is a win-win for both programs, Waller said, adding, “Our young patients are receiving amazing care and these dentists are gaining valuable experience as they prepare for their next career steps.”

Each year, National Children’s Dental Health Care Month is in February.

Among those helping finance the clinic has been the Tipp City Foundation.

"The Tipp City Foundation has been an awesome supporter of the MCDC and our programs. They have graciously provided us with funding to provide exams, x-rays and cleanings for our uninsured patients; funding to help offset the cost of our lab fees and dental supplies; and they completely funded the update and makeover of our current website, www.miamicountydental.org. We are extremely grateful for their generosity and the cheerleading they do for our work,” Waller said.

CONTACT:  HEATHER BAILEY
(937) 667-4499

Total 2022 Grantmaking tops $150,000

During the fourth quarter, the Tipp City Foundation met to vote on the final grant awards of 2022. Applications considered pushed for new technology, advocated for newly considered nonprofits and addressed updated ways to solve perennial concerns.

Ultimately, 12 organizations were chosen to receive 22 awards. Grants totaled $55,920.74 for the fourth quarter and totaled $152,307.98 for the year.

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 included.

ARTS & CULTURE

Bethel Local Schools, $3,778.04, molds a long-lasting clay and ceramics program for the high school. Pottery wheels, clay, tools and glazes will come together to teach students 3D art. Awarded, in part, through the Bethel Arts Fund.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $3,000.00, offers scholarships to 8^th grade students who would like to go on the annual Washington, D.C. trip but aren’t able to without a helping hand.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $2,782.00, picks up the tempo of the high school’s Symphonic Band, Marching Band and Indoor Percussion Ensemble with the purchase of a vibraphone.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $2,000.00, pre-funds the 2023 Stagecrafters Summer Theatre Drama Camp, giving children a two-week experience working both on stage and behind the scenes of a play.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $1,500.00, hires a Mariachi Band to perform in the high school during World Language Week. Arriba!

Tipp City Parks Department, $1,493.00, replaces the gazebo roof in the Veterans Park. A Veteran’s Tribute Fund grant.

Tipp City Public Library, $3,326.00, invests in the space used by young children and their caregivers by purchasing comfortable furnishings.

Tipp City Public Library, $2,000.00, pre-funds the 2023 high school lecture portion of the author series developed through a partnership between the Library, the Schools, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize.

Tippapalooza Music Festival, $2,000.00, supports the 2023 Labor Day concert in downtown Tipp City.

Tippecanoe Historical Society, $863.43, underscores the importance of preserving and maintaining older buildings by supporting the Century Homes project. A Century Milestone Fund iho The Lantz Family grant.

EDUCATION

Bethel Local Schools, $3,224.51, decodes learning for struggling readers in grades K – 2. Eighty-nine book topics, including science, will serve over 100 students. Awarded, in part, through the Radle Family Fund for Science Education.

Bethel Local Schools, award, provides social emotional learning interventions and tools for the youngest students. Robinson-Walters Family Fund advisors awarded a grant of $600.00.

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $1,500.00, pilots technology integration in high school English classrooms through the purchase of a Smart Board with Smart IQ Technology.

ENVIRONMENT

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, $1,000.00, brings “The Rock Man” Mike Manning, a retired geology and earth science teacher, to 3rd grade students to share his enthusiasm for rocks through a series of hands-on activities.

Tipp City Parks Department, $150.00, plants additional trees in the Foundation’s grove at Kyle Park. A Lucille L. Milner Trees for Tipp Fund grant.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Rehabilitation Center for Neurological Development, $5,300, replaces an EEG neurofeedback amp for the Brain Wellness Center. Neurofeedback taught to clients can help 85% of the time with conditions such as anxiety, panic attacks, depression, learning disabilities and ADD/ADHD.

RECREATION

Englewood Little League Challenger Division, $4,560.00, invites Miami Valley kids with special needs to join the fun of baseball. An adaptive field and associated team expenses may be supported. A William’s Gift Fund grant.

Tipp City Parks Department, $5,644.76, leads the way for planned updates in Kyle Park in 2023 and 2024. Awarded, in part, through the Warren E. Miltenberger Parkland Fund and Outdoor Experiences Fund iho Abby Kessler Bowling.

Tipp Monroe Swim Team, $5,000.00, purchases new lane lines for this recreational summer program. Over 130 area swimmers were served last season.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Connections of Tipp City, $4,000.00, supports an after-school program catering to middle and high school students.

The Edison Foundation, $700.00, helps fill the food pantry serving students attending Edison State Community College. Additional support from Dave Drake Fund advisors rounds out this request for a total of $800.00.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley Region, $1,000.00, aids families as they grapple with their child’s illness during their stay at Dayton Children’s Hospital. Last year, 192 residents from the Bethel/Tipp City community benefited from their support. Services include a bite to eat, a place to do laundry, and a private spot for a quick shower…all while staying close to their hospitalized child. Additional support from Dave Drake Fund advisors rounds out this request for a total of $2,000.00.

Tipp City Public Library, $1,099.00, invests in adult literacy learning materials. A Gillis Family Fund for Self Sufficiency 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.

Since 1943, the Tipp City Foundation has awarded $2,713,296.42 through December 31, 2022.

Members of the Foundation are Heather Bailey, Richard Bender, vice president, Mary Bowman, Diana Featherstone, treasurer, Dee Gillis, Joellen Heatherly, Bruce McKenzie, Patrick Reese, Jim Ranft, president and distribution chair, Nathan Rentz, Julie Taylor, Jackie Wahl, secretary, and Bill Wendel.

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 Bruce McKenzie

Most people look forward to springtime, as the days begin to grow longer and warmer, and weekends begin to open up possibilities for outdoor cookouts, reunions, weddings, and so much more. 

It’s also the season when one young couple, by the names of Cynthia and Bill Willhelm, found themselves meeting at a mutual friend’s wedding in the spring of 1969. Neither realized that this was not only the beginning of a long-term relationship, but also the start of a future which would positively impact many throughout their community.

Bill had graduated from Ohio Northern School of Pharmacy in 1966 and had worked at various pharmacies in and around the Dayton area after graduating, eventually partnering with Ken Farst of Ken’s Pharmacy in Vandalia. Cynthia, who had immersed herself in her studies at Wright State University, was soon working as a travel agent at AAA and later at Winters Bank Travel.

In September 1971, Cynthia and Bill were married. The following year, Bill and Ken purchased Smith’s Drugs, in downtown Tipp City, and renamed it Tip Top Drugs. Bill and Ken’s drugstore was one of those small, reliable hometown shops and quickly became a staple in the Tipp City area. Eventually, the Tip Top pharmacy was moved to the southwest corner of Hyatt and Main, where it stood as a pinnacle for many years.

The Willhelms became involved in local activities and soon found their family growing with the addition of son Andy and daughter Courtney. During this time, Cynthia, with Bill’s blessing, decided to stay home as a full-time homemaker to raise their children. Andy, a 1993 graduate of Tipp, and Courtney, a Tipp alumna class of 1995, currently live in the Dayton area with their families.

Bill and Cynthia were fortunate to have many loyal customers throughout the 28 years of Tip Top Drugs. Finally, after a long and thoughtful decision, the time came to sell the business, and that sale was completed in September 2000. Greenville Bank now sits where the drugstore once overlooked Tipp’s main intersection.

Cynthia and Bill felt so blessed that they wanted to give back to the community that had been good to them throughout the years. Working with the Tipp City Foundation, which welcomed this dream, the Willhelms created The Willhelm Family Scholarship Fund in 2021. The fund benefits those who are entering a science, math, or technology field, because both Bill and Cynthia believe those fields enable individuals to be the core of a strong community. Even though it was a new fund, the Willhelms were excited to be able to hand out the first scholarship to a Tipp graduate of the Class of 2022.

Bill and Cynthia passionately believe that every student should have the opportunity to further their education and were motivated by the knowledge that some hard-working students may not qualify for other scholarships. Their focus was to change that as best as they could through the Willhelm Family Scholarship fund. And what better way could they make an impact to the community they have called home for more than half a century? It’s a prescription for a lasting legacy.

See how you can leave a legacy for years to come with a fund through the Tipp City Foundation. Contact us today.

By Nancy Bowman

A number of donors are finding the Advised Funds available through the Tipp City Foundation an attractive philanthropy option.

The Dave Drake Family Fund is intended to reflect Tipp City native Dave Drake’s appreciation for what life offered his family while growing up in Tipp City. The family of four sons and “the best parents” lived in the Westedge subdivision. 

Dave Drake graduated in 1975 in Tippecanoe High School and is a graduate of Miami (Ohio) University. Dave Drake, now of Centerville, credits older brother, Tim Drake, with providing information that led to creation of the Dave Drake Family Fund. Tim Drake started the Drake Family Fund that, in memory of their father, supports Parkinson’s-related activities.

Both funds are Advised Funds, which are defined as keeping donors involved in philanthropy because grant awards are made at the suggestion of their fund's advising body. As long as a donor wants to give money to a bonafide nonprofit anywhere in the United States, this fund can make that distribution.

Dave Drake found the advised fund’s feature allowing him to pick and choose where his money goes to be attractive.

The fund’s goal is to support activities or projects that make an impact on children, or adults, so they have experiences that allow them “to walk away from Tipp City with the same feeling I have,” Dave Drake said.

Sue McGatha of Tipp City started the Robinson-Walters Family Fund using her mother’s maiden name of Robinson and Sue's maiden name of Walters. 

“When I retired, I wanted to find a way to give back.  I have been very fortunate to have had a good life and I wanted to help others,” she said.  “I decided to start a donor-advised fund to honor my parents who worked hard to make certain that their children had what they needed to live healthy lives and to give back to the community.”  

She learned about the advised-funds option from Heather Bailey while exploring possible fund formats.  After working more than 30 years in the behavioral health field, McGatha’s fund description centered on supporting people who have mental health or addiction issues but with a “very holistic, big picture perspective.”  The fund extends beyond supporting people with behavioral health concerns to prevention, education, and safe and healthy environments, she said, including support for activities such as the Tipp City Public Library’s participation in the Dayton Literary Peace Prize project. 

“The fact that donor-advised funds have great flexibility is very appealing to me.  A fund can be as focused as you want it to be or as flexible as you want it to be, she said. 

Karen Beagle of Tipp City started the Ed and Sherry Hartwell Memorial Fund in 2020 to honor her mother and stepfather, who she called “shining examples of kindness and generosity.”

Ed Hartwell served in the Army for many years while her mother always put the needs of others before her own, Beagle said. 

“When they died, I wanted their spirit to live on. I wanted their lives to continue positively impacting others' lives,” she said. 

Knowing the work done by the Tipp City Foundation, Beagle said it was the perfect place to create the fund. 

The purpose of the fund is to support worthy causes consistent with Ed and Sherry’s values. 

“For example, the fund most recently donated money to Ability Found, a 501c3 charity that provides mobility equipment for those in need.  As my mother’s battle with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) progressed, she lost the ability to speak, swallow, and move. Having the resources to purchase a speech-assist device and mobility equipment was vital to her efforts to remain as independent as possible, and I know she would be happy that through her legacy, she has been able to help others in need,” Beagle said.

Creating a fund through the foundation is easy and the foundation is “wonderful” to work with,” she said, adding there is also the positive impact a fund can have on others’ lives.

For information on the Tipp City Foundation and its funds including the Advised Funds option, contact Heather Bailey at 937-528-2482.

By Nancy Bowman

Each fall, the Dave Lightle Invitational cross country meet shines light on a sport the Tippecanoe High School graduate promoted and loved.

Lightle, who died in 2016, ran all four years at the high school and at Dartmouth College and continued running throughout his life.

His family created the Cross Country at Tippecanoe Fund in memory of Dave Lightle fund at the Tipp City Foundation to support Tipp City cross country and bring awareness to the sport, Dave’s brother Mike Lightle said.

“It is our hope that the fund we created will support Tipp City cross country and bring awareness to the sport, as both meant so much to Dave. We also hope to honor Dave and his accomplishments on and off the racecourse,” he said. “As many family members as possible attend the Dave Lightle Invitational, and for us it is a special way to remember Dave.”

Eighteen schools competed in this year’s invitational Oct. 5, said Kregg Creamer, Tippecanoe High School athletic director. The invitational is held on the first Wednesday of October.

“The Lightle Family makes a generous grant each year to help offset the expenses of the event,” Creamer said. This year’s grant of $1,550 covered costs including the automated time system, officials, Port-o-lets and awards, he said.

Running was important to Dave Lightle, his family said.

“Dave was a competitive person by nature. He loved the challenge of beating his own personal records and of competing as part of a team. He, Dave Grimm, Scott Dixon and Jeff Rawlins had a great camaraderie as teammates on the Tipp City Cross Country teams of 1972 through 1975. They constantly pushed each other to excel and excel they did,” Mike Lightle said.

Dave Lightle loved being an unofficial “coach” to the Tipp cross country teams of the ‘90s when his daughter and two nephews ran for Tipp.  He and his wife, Chen Ya, frequently invited the team to their home for pasta dinners the night before a big meet, Mike Lightle said. 

His brother was a “uniquely driven person,” he said. That drive led him, once something sparked his interest, to be driven with passion to see it through. 

“This characteristic led him to holding the world record for pogo stick jumping, starting his own international public relations firm, writing a book on geopolitics, coming close to starting an airline (an effort thwarted by bad timing, as he was attempting to get financing when September 11 brought the airline industry to a halt), and writing a movie script (he was negotiating production at the time of his death),” Mike Lightle said. “That same passion drove him to the finish line in a track or cross country race.”

By Nancy Bowman

The Tipp City Emergency Services Department has a new educational tool thanks to a grant through the Tipp City Foundation.

The Fire Safety House, also known as the “Smoke House,” was purchased with dollars from the Safety First Fund established at the foundation by the late Tipp City Fire Chief Steve Kessler.

The Smoke House was selected during a search to replace the department’s Fire Safety Trailer donated in 1999, said EMS Chief Cameron Haller.

“It was starting to show its age from wear and tear,” he said, noting the trailer also was experiencing leaks, which were becoming costly to repair.

A department member that also works at Troy’s Fire Department suggested Haller look at the inflatable safety Smoke House owned by the Troy department. “It was perfect. It is one level, is accessible by everybody. It runs off electric so we can set it up inside a (fire station) bay, if tall enough, in inclement weather,” Haller said.

As people walk through the house, it gives a verbal lesson and also has interactive elements of a question and answer system. 

The trailer required visitors to bend and crawl and at one point was only three feet in height, somewhat limiting those who could use it.

Although the prime audience for the house is students in second through fourth grades, it is suitable for all ages, Haller said.

The Smoke House is accessible by wheelchairs.

Department member Doug Trent handled the application for funding through the Tipp City Foundation. The foundation committee liked the concept and approved the funding. The budget for the project was $6,500.

The first time the Smoke House was used was at the National Night Out events at Kyle Park in early August.

The house can be loaded into the back of a truck by a couple of people and transported where needed, Haller said.  The project, Haller said, was cost effective and met Chief Kessler’s goal of safety for everyone.

The Smoke House is on hand for the upcoming Fire Prevention Month in October 

Tipp City Fire and EMS will host an open house on Oct. 16, from 1-4 p.m. at the West Main Street fire station.

This year’s Fire Prevention Month theme is “Fire Won’t Wait, Plan Your Escape.”

The month gives the department another opportunity to remind people to have a fire escape plan for their home. 

“Along with your plan, make sure everybody has working smoke detectors and to keep your door shut while you sleep,” Haller said. Having the door shut buys extra time in the middle of the night if someone is trying to wake up in response to a smoke alarm going off.