Ohio Co. Community Foundation Awards Grants to 16 Local Non-Profits

The foundation awarded over $73,000 in grants.

(Rising Sun, Ind.) - The Ohio County Community Foundation awarded a total of $73,288.49 in Community Grants to 16 local non-profits during the second grant cycle of 2022. The grants were funded through endowment funds established by donors with a vision to create perpetual, charitable funds to be distributed in the form of grants to non-profit organizations whose services benefit the Ohio County community. Each organization could request up to $5,000. The following organizations received a grant:

• Laughery Valley Fraternal Order of Police # 146 has been awarded $5,000 towards the Cops and Kids Shopping program for Ohio County families. Funded by the Ohio County Today & Tomorrow (OCTT) Endowment Fund and the Mike Padgett Community Fund.
• Red Wolf Sanctuary has been awarded $5,000 towards the construction of a Golden Eagle flight cage. Funded by the OCTT Endowment Fund.
• Rising Sun Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $4,899.82 towards the purchase of a TKO Fire Nozzle, Fire Decon ProPac and a Four Gas Atmospheric Meter for the new Spartan Fire Truck. Funded by the OCTT Endowment Fund.
• People Helping People, Inc. has been awarded $5,000 to purchase canned goods to be distributed from the Rising Sun Church of Christ Christian Outreach Food Pantry. A donation will also be made to the Ohio County Services from the Heart program that provides assistance to needy Ohio County families. Funded by the OCTT Endowment Fund.
• Southeastern Indiana Independent Living Center has been awarded $3,854.82 to purchase assistive medical equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, etc.) to loan to independent residents and to purchase toner for the office printer. Funded by the OCTT Endowment Fund.
• St. John’s Lutheran School has been awarded $2,880 towards new mulch for the school’s playground. Funded by the OCTT Endowment Fund.
• Children’s Advocacy Center of Southeastern Indiana, Inc. has been awarded $5,000 towards the purchase of a printer/scanner/copier/fax machine. Funded by the OCTT Endowment Fund.
• Ohio County Council has been awarded $5,000 to purchase an audio system for the Courthouse conference room. Funded by the OCTT Endowment Fund.
• Rising Sun Ohio County Community Schools has been awarded $5,000 to purchase 6 emergency radios and trauma bags. Funded by the OCTT Endowment Fund and the Dennis & Angie Elliott Endowment Fund.
• City of Rising Sun Street Department has been awarded $5,000 towards the purchase of a Gator Utility Vehicle. Funded by the OCTT Endowment Fund, the Ynez Taylor Community Fund, and the Gene Siekman Memorial Endowment Fund.
• Rising Sun Municipal Utilities has been awarded $5,000 towards the purchase of a Spin Doctor 400 tool for valve and hydrant exercising to maintain the city’s fire hydrants. Funded by the OCTT Endowment Fund.
• Ohio County Youth Development has been awarded $1,800 to purchase meeting chairs, a laptop and the QuickBooks financial program. Funded by the OCTT Endowment Fund.
• Southeast Indiana Youth Orchestra, Inc. has been awarded $4,853.85 towards the purchase of a sound system. Funded by the OCTT Endowment Fund and the Eunice Kittle Performing Arts Endowment Fund.
• Rising Sun First Baptist Church for the Rising Sun After Prom Event has been awarded $5,000 towards the 2023 After Prom. Funded by the OCTT Endowment Fund.
• Rising Sun Church of Christ has been awarded $5,000 towards the replacement of a HVAC system. Funded by the OCTT Endowment Fund.
• Rising Sun SAY Soccer has been awarded $5,000 towards the leveling of the playing field, to purchase soccer equipment and provide training workshops. Funded by the OCTT Endowment Fund and the Donna Moore Community Fund.

Grant funds for the Grant Cycle II Community Grants have been provided by the unrestricted distributions from the following endowment funds established within the Ohio County Community Foundation:

• The Ohio County Today and Tomorrow Endowment Fund, (OCTT) established by the City of Rising Sun and Ohio County.
• The Mike Padgett Community Fund, the Ynez Taylor Community Fund, the Donna Moore Community Fund and the Eunice Kittle Performing Arts Fund were each established by the Ohio County Community Foundation Board of Directors to honor each person for the time they served as an OCCF Board member.
• The Dennis & Angie Elliott Endowment Fund was established by the Rising Sun Regional Foundation to honor Dennis Elliott for the time he served as a Rising Sun Regional Foundation Board member.
• The Gene Siekman Memorial Endowment Fund was established by Angel Siekman Clements and Lane Siekman, in memory of Gene Siekman, who served on the Rising Sun City Council.

Donations to help grow an endowment fund established within the Ohio County Community Foundation can be made in memory or honor of a loved and are tax-deductible in most cases. The Ohio County Community Foundation is located at 330 Industrial Access Drive, Rising Sun. To learn more about the Ohio County Community Foundation, please visit the Foundation website at occfrisingsun.com or contact the Foundation staff at 812-438-9401.