RCCF Announces 2025 Impact: A Year of Growth and Local Investment

Over $700,000 in grants were awarded to local nonprofits in 2025.

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(Ripley County, Ind.) - The Ripley County Community Foundation is proud to announce a year of incredible impact in 2025, thanks to our amazing community! Your contributions have empowered vital work throughout Ripley County, and we could not have done it without the community’s support. We are excited to share a few highlights of what we accomplished together last year:

Investing in Local Nonprofits

Over $700,000 in grants were awarded to local nonprofits in 2025. These grants supported a wide range of organizations, from those providing essential services to those enriching the lives of Ripley County residents through arts and culture, education, health & well-being, and the environment and natural resources programs.

Empowering the Next Generation

108 scholarships were distributed to deserving students this year, totaling $152,911. These scholarships helped alleviate financial burdens and made educational opportunities a reality for Ripley County students.

Empowering Families Through Collective Giving

The Women’s Giving Circle, now nearly 200 women strong, flourished in 2025 and continued its meaningful and collaborative work by supporting programs that:

• Strengthened women’s healthcare access through the Southeast Indiana Health Clinic, ensuring free, high‑quality care for women who otherwise could not afford it.
• Helped feed local children during school breaks through Summer Food for Kids, providing meals at a time when many families struggle.
• Gave vulnerable youth transformational, confidence‑building experiences at Englishton Park.
• Supported survivors of domestic violence through Safe Passage, our region’s essential shelter and service provider.
• Enhanced youth development and family wellness programs at the YMCA.

These efforts directly touched hundreds of households, offered safety in moments of crisis, and expanded opportunities that will shape futures for years to come.

Ripley Youth Outreach Drives Youth-Led Impact

Ripley Youth Outreach (RYO) empowers teens from area high schools to become leaders in their communities and drive social impact. In 2025, through a partnership with Infamous Few of Ripley County, RYO provided Christmas gifts to 25 children in need and awarded the $10,000 Change Ripley

County Grant, which supported a youth -led project, giving young people the platform to make meaningful change in the community.

High School Athletes Unify to Turnover Hunger

Through the Turnover Hunger Program, the Batesville High School and Milan High School football teams raised over $18,000 for the Weekend Backsack Program. All five public elementary schools in Ripley County benefit from this initiative, ensuring children have nutritious food each weekend.

Celebrating Local Community Arts

The inaugural Ripley County Film Fest, promoted filmmaking as a creative outlet of the future. Beyond showcasing local filmmakers, the festival celebrated the charm and history of our community’s single-screen theaters—treasured landmarks that connect generations through the shared experience of cinema.

Another highlight of the year was Chalktoberfest, which expanded to include an adult category for the first time. This vibrant event brought together artists of all ages to transform sidewalks into colorful works of art, encouraging creativity and community spirit in a fun, interactive setting.

Fostering Health & Well Being

In partnership with Margaret Mary Health, The Christ Hospital Health Network, Franklin County Community Foundation, and other local supporters, the Ripley County Community Foundation helped to bring ‘Project Heart ReStart’ to Indiana. This initiative resulted in 74 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) being placed in every police cruiser in Ripley and Franklin Counties—equipping law enforcement with life‑saving tools.

This initiative represents a remarkable example of community collaboration. Through generous contributions from hospital partners, local foundations and donors, as well as support from ZOLL, Cintas, the City of Batesville, county health departments, and others, $148,000 was raised to bring this program to our community. The immediate goal of this initiative was to place an AED in every patrol car in Ripley and Franklin County, but thanks to the overwhelming generosity from these partners and community members, an endowment fund has been established to ensure sustainable care, maintenance, and ongoing support for these critical tools for years to come.

Honoring Our Veterans

In a moving ceremony, 4910 wreaths were laid on local veterans’ graves to honor their service and sacrifice. Each live, balsam veteran’s wreath is a gift of respect and appreciation and placed on a headstone as a small gesture of gratitude for the freedom Americans enjoy. For centuries, fresh evergreens have been used as a symbol of honor and have served as a living tribute renewed annually. When each wreath is placed, the service member’s name is said out loud, ensuring their memory lives on.

A special highlight of the 2025 Wreaths Across Ripley County program was when the junior high students from Batesville Middle School, East Central Middle School, Jac-Cen-Del Junior High School, Milan Junior High School, South Ripley Junior High School, St. Louis Catholic School, and St. Nicholas Catholic School made more than 350 wreaths and placed them on veterans’ graves.

Fostering a Love of Reading

The Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program continues to grow, with 786 students currently enrolled and receiving high-quality books each month. Research shows that children who are exposed to books from birth develop stronger language skills, increased school readiness, and higher overall academic success.

Thanks to local partners Southeast Indiana YMCA, Batesville Memorial Public Library, Osgood Milan Public Library, and the Tyson Library, the love and appreciation for reading will flourish in 2026.

Triple Your Impact: Give Today and Multiply Your Generosity

The Ripley County Community Foundation is proud to participate in the Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) IX initiative, a powerful opportunity to multiply local generosity. Through GIFT IX, donations made to the Foundation’s community granting funds are eligible for a $2 match for every $1 donated. Matching dollars are available on a first‑come, first‑served basis, allowing donors to triple their impact while ensuring greater resources are available to support local nonprofits. This initiative strengthens our ability to respond to emerging needs, invest in community priorities, and build a more resilient future for Ripley County.

The Ripley County Community Foundation is located at 13 E. George Street, Suite B, Batesville. To learn how you can invest in the future of Ripley County, or to leave your legacy, contact the Ripley County Community Foundation at (812) 933-1098 or visit www.rccfonline.org.