Press release from the Ohio County Community Foundation

(Ohio County, Ind.) - The Ohio County Community Foundation recently awarded a total of sixteen Community Grants during the second grant cycle of 2012. The grants were awarded to local non-profit organizations whose projects and programs benefit Ohio County. Grants are awarded in the areas of Community Development, Education, Scholarships, Health, Human Services and Cultural Affairs. Each applicant may request up to $5,000. The Foundation staff hosted an award reception on Thursday, December 6, 2012 in the Foundation office located at 591 Smart Drive, Rising Sun. Representatives from local non-profits receiving a grant were present to accept their grant award payment.

The grants for Grant Cycle II were funded from distributions of the unrestricted endowment funds of the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund, established by the City of Rising Sun and Ohio County; the Galbreath Vineyard Endowment Fund, established in memory of Ralph & Evelyn Galbreath by their children; the Dr. Art Jay Endowment Fund, established in honor of Dr. Arthur Jay, former Board and Committee member of the Ohio County Community Foundation; the Amado Mauricio, MD Memorial Fund, established in memory of Dr. Mauricio by his grandson, Jeremy Dilts; and an Anonymous Donor Advised Fund. The funds were established by donors wishing to provide lasting, charitable grants that benefit the residents of Ohio County. A total of $65,665.39 in Community Grants was awarded during Grant Cycle II.

The following non-profit organizations were awarded a Community Grant:

The Ohio County Historical Society was awarded $5,000 toward expenses for the 2013 Rising Sun Quilt Festival. The Quilt Festival will be held in March of 2013 in downtown Rising Sun. The grant was funded from distributions from the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund and the Dr. Art Jay Endowment Fund.

The People Helping People Inc. was awarded $3,000 to purchase canned food to be donated to the Rising Sun Church of Christ Christian Outreach Food Pantry for distribution to needy families in Ohio County. The grant was funded from distributions from the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund and an Anonymous Donor Advised Endowment Fund.

The Ohio County Cass Township Trustee was awarded $5,000 to repair drainage issues causing soil erosion and damage at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery located in Cass Township. The grant funds will also replace worn cemetery signs in four Cass Township cemeteries. The grant was funded from distributions of the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund.

The Dearborn County Clearinghouse was awarded $2,500 to provide food, clothing and assistance to needy families in Ohio County. The grant was funded from distributions from the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund and an Anonymous Donor Advised Endowment Fund.

The Rising Sun Medical Center was awarded $5,000 toward expenses for the 2013 Health Fair. The grant was funded from distributions from the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund and the Amado Mauricio, M.D. Endowment Fund.

The Dearborn County Prosecutor’s Office was awarded $2,873.71 to purchase an audio and video system for the Ohio County Courtroom to present evidence during trials. The grant was funded from distributions from the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund.

The Rising Sun Church of Christ Childcare Ministry was awarded $5,000 to purchase replace a worn refrigerator and purchase a changing table and art and classroom supplies. The grant was funded from distributions from the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund.

The Southeastern Indiana Independent Living Center was awarded $800 to print marketing brochures to inform the public of the services they provide to the elderly and disabled persons. The grant was funded from distributions from the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund.

The Rising Sun Cemetery Association was awarded $4,991.68 to purchase flag holders and four planter urns to enhance the entrance of the Rising Sun Cemetery. The grant was funded from distributions from the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund.

The American Legion Post #59 was awarded $3,000 toward the publishing of the book “A Generation’s Journey-From Southeast Indiana to Southeast Asia” regarding Vietnam Veteran’s from Ohio, Dearborn, Switzerland, Ripley and Franklin counties who died in the Vietnam War. The grant was funded from distributions from the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund and an Anonymous Donor Advised Endowment Fund.

The Ohio County Public Library was awarded $4,500 to present three nationally acclaimed authors and their books to community members and primary, secondary and middle school aged students during the National Library Week in April 2013. The grant was funded from distributions from the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund and an Anonymous Donor Advised Endowment Fund.

The Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation was awarded $5,000 to upgrade technology in the classroom through the purchase of a white board and peripheral components to be installed in a middle school classroom and to purchase the equipment needed to install a previously purchased white board in an elementary classroom. The grant was funded from distributions from the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund and the Galbreath Vineyard Memorial Endowment Fund.

The Laughery Valley Fraternal Order of Police No. 146 was awarded $5,000 toward the FOP Cops and Kids program (formerly Shop with a Cop) that will allow Ohio County children to interact with police officers on a positive level and shop at Wal-Mart for Christmas. The grant was funded from distributions from the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund and an Anonymous Donor Advised Endowment Fund.

River Valley Resources, Inc. was awarded $4,000 to fund class and testing fees, a scanner and classroom supplies for Ohio County residents to complete GED classes at the Education Center of Rising Sun. The grant was funded from distributions from the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund.

The RSOC Senior Citizens Housing, Inc. was awarded $5,000 to rent a bus and purchase tickets to take 55 senior residents to dinner and a play at the Derby Dinner Playhouse in Clarksville, Indiana to boost their moral during the winter months. The grant was funded from distributions from the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund.

The Shiner Pride Band Boosters, Inc. was awarded $5,000 to purchase a new equipment trailer to haul and store equipment, uniforms, props, backdrops and electrical equipment used for the marching program. The grant was funded from distributions from the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow Endowment Fund.

The mission of the Ohio County Community Foundation (OCCF) is to build, manage and distribute a lasting source of charitable funds for Ohio County.  OCCF fulfills this mission by assisting donors to establish endowments that provide charitable funds for Ohio County. Only the interests from the funds are distributed in the form of grants. This allows the funds to grow indefinitely to increase the capacity for the funds to further impact the community through future grant distributions.

Anyone can make a contribution to any endowment fund established within the Foundation by submitting their donation to the: Ohio County Community Foundation, 591 Smart Drive, PO Box 170, Rising Sun, IN 47040. Gifts may be made in memory or in honor of a friend or loved one. Donations to OCCF-administered funds are tax deductible in most cases. To receive information concerning Endowment Funds or the Grants Program administered by the Ohio County Community Foundation, please call Stephanie Scott, Program Coordinator 812-438-9401 or visit the Foundation website at occfrisingsun.com.