Hillforest Awarded $1,000 DCF Proactive Grant

DCF will award 15 proactive grants this holiday season.

DCF Board member Jon Strautman, left, presents a $1,000 grant to Andrew Young, Executive Director of Hillforest Historical Foundation. Photo provided.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - The Dearborn Community Foundation (DCF), Inc. recently awarded a $1,000 Proactive Grant to the Hillforest Historical Foundation in Aurora.

The grant was recommended by DCF Board member Jon Strautman as part of the Foundation’s annual program, through which each of the organization’s 15 volunteer board members recommends a $1,000 grant. The grants to charitable organizations that serve Dearborn County residents are funded through Unrestricted Endowment Funds, established by donors to provide flexibility to address changing needs in the community over the years.

Hillforest is an 1855 Italian Renaissance mansion just blocks from the Ohio River and downtown historic district. Home to industrialist and financier Thomas Gaff and his family between 1855 and 1926, the mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992.

“This stately mansion is a treasure for the county. It has so many stories of Dearborn County history, offering insights to businesses, industry, and families from our past. My grant is for the general needs of the organization,” said Strautman.

Hillforest, 213 Fifth St., is open Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. April 1 through Dec. 31. It is closed Monday and major holidays. On-line address: hillforest.org.

Anyone can make a contribution to an unrestricted endowment at DCF and help make impact grants like the 15 DCF Board members are recommending in 2025.

For a list of the unrestricted endowments and to learn more about the Foundation, call 812-539-4115 or visit the Foundation website at dearborncf.org.