Press release from the Rising Sun Regional Foundation

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $278,680 in 17 new grants at its June 23, 2010 meeting.  These grants included:

• $40,000 to the City of Rising Sun toward a project to both replace and improve storm water drainage along its North Main Street for efficiency and safety purposes;
• $20,000 to the Rising Sun-Ohio County Community School Corporation toward the funding of one year’s participation in the regional Alternative Classroom program (AC/DC Program) for high-school and middle-school students undergoing short-term, out-of-school suspensions;
• $10,000 to the Rising Sun Medical Center toward exam room modifications to better serve its medical staff;
• $7,857 to the Ohio Circuit Court for the purchase of scanning and viewing software to allow off-site backup of all publicly filed court documents;
• $3,600 to Rising Sun/Ohio County First toward its special 2010 promotional brochure and banner program;
• $3,900 to the City of Rising Sun toward the 2010 summer/fall sessions of the Rising Sun Arts Academy for primary and elementary school students in the region;
• $2,700 to the American Legion Auxiliary Post #59 in Rising Sun toward the purchase of new PA system equipment for both its public events and other community events and festivals;
• $7,290 to the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #146 toward the purchase of a remote-controlled, 360 degree spherical camera system to be used by the Indiana State Police South Emergency Response Team for its high-risk operations;
• $8,000 to the Aurora Riverfront Beautification, Inc. toward its 2010 “A Roar of Thunder” regatta;
• $23,000 to the Aurora Soccer Association toward the development of a new soccer complex in Aurora;
• $40,000 to the Town of Milan toward matching funds for an Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs Community Focus Fund grant for storm drainage improvements in the town;
• $36,320 to the Town of Osgood toward matching funds for several state and private foundation grants for improvements to the town’s wastewater treatment plant and wastewater collection system;
• $12,013 to the Friendship Regional Sewer District toward the purchase of two floating aerators and the installation of electrical feeds for its waste stabilization lagoons;
• $40,000 to the Town of Holton toward major improvements to the town’s aging sewer system;
• $6,000 to the Town of Versailles toward the purchase of a lawn mower to be used primarily for landscape maintenance at its new Sports Complex;
• $8,000 to Milan Rescue 30 toward the purchase of a new ambulance; and
• $10,000 to the American Legion Post #337 in Sunman toward the improvement of its driveway and parking lot utilized for many public community events. 

In announcing the awarding of these new grants, foundation President Marianne Wiggers stated that, “even after 13 years of grantmaking, the foundation is still presented with the challenge and opportunity to assist with a number of major community infrastructure grants as was the case in this grants cycle.”  “These are especially attractive grant proposals,” she added, “when highly leveraged by substantial state, local community, and other foundation funding.”       

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun in conjunction with the development of the Grand Victoria Casino and Resort by the Hyatt Corporation.  The foundation began its grantmaking program in early 1997 after the Grand Victoria Casino opened for business in September 1996.  The Grand Victoria makes monthly contributions to the foundation based on a percentage of its adjusted gross revenue.