The Tipp City Foundation and the city of Tipp City are partners in making Tipp City “a desirable community in which to live or raise a family,” said City Manager Tim Eggleston.

This cooperation and the resulting offerings has become even more important during the months of COVID-19.

“The foundation helps the community in providing matching funds for local parks projects that may otherwise not have taken place, such as equipment for the dog park and pool equipment for the little kids at the aquatic center,” Eggleston said.

The long-running partnership not only allows the city to offset project cost, but gives staff the ability to spend city money saved on an unexpected project, or move a needed project up on the ever-existing list.

“These types of funds have not been available in any of the communities I worked in,” Eggleston said of his previous jobs. “It is a blessing for sure,” he said.

Parks are essential in providing recreational opportunities for a community, open space to serve as a buffer between different land uses and habitat for wildlife, Eggleston said. 

“They allow us a place to get away from the stress in our daily lives. During COVID, parks give parents relief from the kids and a place for kids to get rid of pent up energy,” he said.

Grants from the foundation for park improvements add “immeasurably” to the community’s quality of life, said Jim Ranft, OD, of the Tipp City Foundation board.

“During the grant making decision process we like to fund projects that touch a large group of people, getting a lot of bang for our buck. Parks grants are unique in that we can touch all age groups and demographics,” Dr. Ranft said.

Through its grants, the foundation board has been able to diversify recreational opportunities locally with projects such as the disc golf course and the ADA accessible water features at the Family Aquatic Center, he said. 

“It is also an opportunity to stretch our tax dollars with charitable giving.  I believe these grants are also an economic development tool for the city, making Tipp City a more desirable community to live in and attracting visitors to our local businesses.”

Living in Tipp City without the benefits offered by the foundation would be much different, Eggleston said.

“I venture to guess that if the Tipp City Foundation was not here, a lot of projects and programs would not have taken place, and what a loss that would be,” he said.

To learn more about the Tipp City Foundation and how it impacts the community, visit www.tippfoundation.org.

Listed below are recent grants from the foundation and from its endowment funds:

Recent Tipp City Foundation grants to the city parks:

SEPTEMBER 2020
$1,754, rallies man’s best friends at the popular dog park in Kyle Park, as they romp on new exercise equipment.  A jump bar, A-frame unit and stairways will be added.

JUNE 2020, 
$4,500, repurposes an area near the Nature Center by building a 12’ X 24’ open-air picnic shelter. With easy access from the bike path, this will make a welcome rest stop. Additional support from Lucky 13 Fund advisers rounds out the request for a total of $5,000.00. 

MARCH 2020 and DECEMBER 2019
$1,839.32 and $904, to maintenance and upkeep at Veteran’s Memorial Park. 

DECEMBER 2019
$2,650 to purchase new playground equipment for Kyle Park.

SEPTEMBER 2020, DECEMBER 2019, JUNE 2018 and MARCH 2018
$3,060, $3,096, $5,207 and $4,793, continues the partnership with the City to plant trees in Kyle park.

DECEMBER 2018
$2,542, expands the walking path around City Park with a 180-foot addition.  

Endowment Funds in the Tipp City Foundation that exclusively support parks or outdoor life:

Lucille L. Milner Trees for Tipp Fund – 1998 — For more than 70 years, Mrs. Milner enjoyed the beauty, shade, fragrance and texture added to Tipp City’s parks and streets by its urban forest. Her desire to help ensure the same beauty for future generations led her to establish this fund for the purchase of trees for planting in the parks and along the streets. Plantings are coordinated by Tipp City and its Parks Advisory Board.

Warren E. Miltenberger Parkland Fund – 2008 — This fund supports the out-of-doors that he held dear through the acquisition, upkeep, maintenance, and preservation of public parkland or other natural areas. 

Outdoor Experiences Fund iho Abby Kessler Bowling – 2017 — Outdoor recreation and education, as well as parks in Tipp City and Monroe Township, receive support from this fund. Abby, a retired teacher and nature enthusiast, encourages people to explore the great outdoors through the creation of this fund.

Veterans Tribute Fund – 2013 — Public spaces set aside to salute military veterans receive grants from this fund for maintenance and upkeep. This fund is an extension of a commitment to honor those who have served our country, which began in 2005 by a band of volunteers who laid the groundwork for the Veterans Memorial Park at the corner of West Main and Hyatt Streets.

(Grants/Endowment information courtesy of 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
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