Recent Grant Recipients

The Rush County Community Foundation awards Community Grants in two cycles annually, in the summer and fall.  Our grantees from recent cycles include:

2023:

  • Boys and Girls Club of Rush County
    • $24,995 will upgrade their game room with an iWall, which is a large interactive display controlled entirely by the players’ own strength, speed and endurance.
  • City of Rushville Parks
    • $5,290 to expand the disc golf course at Riverside Park.
  • Firefly Children & Family Alliance
    • $5,000 to purchase diapers for From the Bottom Up Diaper Pantry
  • Gleaners Food Bank
    • $15,000 t to provide 120,000 pounds of shelf-stable food and 50,000 pounds of fresh produce to Rush County residents experiencing food insecurity through the school-based pantries at RCHS and Milroy Elementary..
  • Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department
    • $28,725 will purchase a set of TNT extrication tools to replace the outdated ones and equip the Engine Truck. READ MORE
  • Heart of Rushville
    • $5,150 to install locally designed artwork on traffic control boxes along Main Street.
  • Manilla Community Volunteer Fire Department
    • $15,000 toward the purchase and installation of a tornado siren.
  • Posey Township Volunteer Fire Department
    • $10,000 to replace 4 20-year-old Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs)
  • Rush County Community Assistance Food Pantry
    • $7,083.42 was granted as necessary to make up the difference between their request and available dollars from the Ewing Fund. RCCA will be able to continue providing milk to those they serve.
  • Rushville Public Library
    • $3,489.42 to purchase two laptops and a printer to provide free tax preparation assistance to those who qualify.
  • The Open Resource
    • $24,000 to expand and continue their Digital Navigator program.

2022:

  • City of Rushville Fire & Rescue
    • $10,279.99 to purchase the Ambu Man Advanced Training Manikin. The realistic attributes of this manikin will heighten their training experience.
  • Firefly Children & Family Alliance
    • $5,000 to purchase diapers and supplies for the From the Bottom Up Diaper Bank, providing budget relief and great benefit to Rush County families. Packs including diapers, wipes, a children’s book and resources for adults are available at Rush County food pantries during their operating hours.
  • Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana
    • $12,500 to support the school-based pantries at Milroy Elementary and Rushville Consolidated High School. The need for food assistance in our community is immense.
  • Manilla Volunteer Fire Department
    • $7,000 for two sets of turnout gear and boots
  • Milroy Elementary School
    • With support from the Milroy Economic Development Corporation, MES received $12,620 to create the Milroy Community Walking Path as part of their Project Based Learning initiative. Once the path is complete, it will be open to the Milroy community, providing a wonderful new benefit to all. READ MORE
  • Rush County 4-H Horse and Pony
    • $10,000 for new sidewalks around the restrooms, office, and concession stand that will provide accessibility for all members and their guests READ MORE

2021:

  • Carthage Volunteer Fire Department
    • $3,727.95 for additional grain bin rescue tools and training READ MORE
  • Girls Inc. of Shelbyville/Shelby County
    • $7,500 to provide monthly subscription boxes for 50 Rush County girls ages 6 – 10. The boxes will provide fun, educational activities centered on literacy and math. Girls Inc. help girls live healthy and active lifestyles so that they are less likely to engage in risky behavior and succeed in both school and life. READ MORE
  • Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department
    • $29,009.88 to buy four air packs, which allow firefighters to breathe while in toxic smoke conditions
  • Milroy Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
    • $10,500 to paint a large-scale community mural READ MORE
  • Rush County Bicentennial
    • $10,000 toward the year-long celebration
  • imagine:nation, the arts & cultural council of Rush County
    • $11,200 to create an art gallery and classroom in the Booker T. Washington building and bring a national touring production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing to Riverside Park Amphitheater READ MORE
  • The Open Resource
    • $16,190 to start a digital navigator programming to provide free classes and devices to help bridge the digital divide for Rush County residents READ MORE
  • Henry Henley Public Library
    • $7,875 to upgrade the electricity and install venting for the restroom and a cleanout for sewage repairs

2020:

  • The Children’s Bureau, in cooperation with First5, a program supporting Early Learning in Rush County, and the Rush County Community Assistance food pantry
    • $9,000 to establish a diaper pantry in Rush County
  • Town of Glenwood
    • $10,000 for the purchase of a tornado weather siren
  • Posey Township Volunteer Fire Department
    • $9,500 for the purchase of an additional hydraulic rescue tool to compliment two tools already purchased READ MORE
  • Shares, Inc.
    • $6,962.38 toward the purchase of computer equipment, computer applications, and prevocational training kits for the Prevocational Training Program offered to Shares, Inc. individuals
  • M.o.R.E. for Kids of Rush County
    • $10,000 for outreach, support, and administration for programming for at-risk youth, especially in times of Covid READ MORE
  • Rush County Community Assistance Food Pantry (COVID-19 Rapid Relief)
  • Milroy Food Pantry (COVID-19 Rapid Relief)
  • Rush County Economic Recovery Task Force: City of Rushville (COVID-19 Rapid Relief)
    • $4,160 for intern program to communicate with local businesses READ MORE
  • Boys and Girls Club of Rush County (COVID-19 Rapid Relief)
    • $2,505 for new refrigeration and freezers for meals during quarantine READ MORE
  • Rush County Economic Community Development Corporation (COVID-19 Rapid Relief)
    • $5,000 for RUSH Back to Local gift card initiative READ MORE
  • Rush County Schools (COVID-19 Rapid Relief)
    • $5,000 for WiFi hotspots and Internet connectivity for e-Learning READ MORE
  • Whitewater Adult Education (COVID-19 Rapid Relief)
    • $600 for additional licenses and workbooks for virtual sessions READ MORE

2019:

  • Arlington East Hill Cemetery Association
    • $4,000 toward building a memorial for veterans and first responders
  •  Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department
    • $10,000 to purchase new digital radios for their trucks
  • Boys & Girls Club of Rush County
    • $15,720 to provide programming for at risk teens focused on leadership, community involvement and workforce development and to refresh the teen space at the club READ MORE

2018:

  • Rush County Youth Group Workcamp
    • $10,000 for building materials and supplies to repair owner-occupied homes of low income, elderly, and disabled people of Rush County READ MORE
  • Suicide Prevention Across Rush County (SPARC)
    • $4,800 to establish Project STOP, a pilot program to provide patients at-risk for suicide with cable gun locks and medication safes in all healthcare settings across Rush County
  • Rush County Victim’s Assistance (RCVA Phoenix House)
    • $7,250 for materials to replace the existing wood decking and steps, as well as an ADA accessible ramp and protective roof over porch/steps
  • East Hill Cemetery Co.
    • $7,025 to repair and restore historical monuments in the historic section of the cemetery, north of the bridge READ MORE
  • Shares, Inc.
    • $7,505 to help fund the Rush County Music Therapy Project, specifically to provide approximately 68 hours of music therapy training to staff and participants to improve the physical, psychological, and social well-being of individuals with disabilities

2017:

  • Rush County Genealogical Society
    • $2,994 to film six Rush County cemeteries as a part of the “History in your Own Backyard” series of films
  • Rushville Consolidated High School Broadcasting Department
    • $3,391 for equipment to provide public access television to Rush County Comcast subscribers
  • Rushville Township Volunteer Fire Department
    • $10,500 for the purchase and installation of an emergency back-up generator
  • Servants at Work, Inc. (SAWs)
    • $3,000 for materials to build wheelchair ramps for housebound residents of Rush County

2016:

  • Rush County Community Assistance
    • $25,000 to purchase and install new infrastructure to improve facility capabilities and overall availability of food to those in need
  • City of Rushville
    • $10,000 to fund facade and marquee improvements for the city center project
  • Rush County Youth Group Workcamp
    • $10,000 to purchase lumber, paint, building materials and supplies to repair owner-occupied homes of needy and elderly people of Rush County
  • Rush AIC Recovery Housing, Inc.
    • $8,000 to renovate 430 N. Harrison St. into temporary housing for Rush County’s new drug court program
  • Rush County Heritage
    • $3,585 for the extensive restoration of the historical Mt. Pleasant Beech Church
  • Rushville Public Library
    • $2,500 to help publish 500 copies of the book “Pictorial History of Rushville”
  • Mahoning Valley Christian Services Camp
    • $1,874 to purchase and place into service two automated external defibrillator (AED) devices
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rush County
    • $4,045 for the purchase of a laptop computer and to assist with monthly big/little outings
  • East Hill Cemetery
    • Matching grant of $13,500 to assist the restoration of the historic entrance arch
  • Down Syndrome Indiana, Inc.
    • $500 for outreach materials to Rush County residents
  • Arlington East Hill Cemetery Association
    • $2,500 to assist the purchase of a new riding lawn mower
  • The Heart of Rushville
    • $871 for the “Market Match” program, providing matching funds for SNAP, WIC, and food stamp recipients of up to $15 per family per week to purchase from the Farmer’s Market
  • Town of Carthage
    • $4,000 to assist Carthage’s downtown revitalization program, enabling new sidewalks, streetlights, trash receptacles, flower planters, and benches

 

Rush County Community Foundation’s Field of Interest funds support more specific community interests.  Recent recipients of the grant funds below include:

    • Boy Scouts of America Fund
      • Assist six scouts from Troops 28 and 333 with the cost of Camp Krietenstein
    • Rush County Cancer Fund
      • Funding to Indiana Women in Need Foundation to provide non-medical support services to women receiving treatment for breast cancer
    • CIRCLe Fund
      • Rushville Consolidated High School FACS (Family and Consumer Sciences) and First5 received funds for “Child Development: At Home & In the Workforce” program READ MORE
      • Rushville Public Library received funds for the program “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” READ MORE
      • Boys & Girls Club of Rush County received funds for a technology center READ MORE
      • City of Rushville Parks Department received funds for the creation of a Futsal court
      • Mentors of Rush County Empowering Youth (M.o.R.E. for Kids) received funding to train, educate, serve, and empower the Rush County youth and community as a whole
    • Rush County Education Fund
      • Provided funding to support classroom projects, supplies, playground equipment, and resources for Arlington Elementary, Rushville Elementary School East, and Rushville Consolidated High School
    • Helen and Jim Ewing Fund
      • Provided funding to support the Gleaner’s Mobile Food Pantry in Rush County, providing assistance to food insecure residents, including many elderly members of our community
      • Funding to support the Rush County Community Assistance Food Pantry Enhanced Milk Program
    • Music for Rush County Fund
      • Funding defrayed the cost of the 2017 Heart of Rushville Riverside Park Concert Series
    • Rush County Parks Fund
      • The Rushville Parks Department utilized funds to replace the rubber mats at Waggener Community Pool
    • Mildreth I. (Jackson) and Byron P. Smith Fund
    • Alex Workman Memorial Fund
      • Purchase 6 different styled chairs to help students build core strength, balance, and coordination and encourage them to build strength
      • Fund a Movement Course to provide sensory input and personal refreshment for students with autism
    • Rita Yager Memorial Ag Fund
      • The Nature Center utilized funds to develop a “Zoo Garden”, and Farm Bureau, Inc. further developed their “Ag in the Classroom” program by providing books for the classrooms and libraries of all Rush County schools
    • Youth In Philanthropy Fund
      • Funding provided 50 meals for the Group Work Camp hog roast
    • Shane Young Memorial Soccer Fund
      • Provided funding to replace worn-out practice balls and game balls to Rush County Youth Soccer
    • Youth Athletic Fund
      • Provide supplies for the LionStrong program, a collaboration between Rush County Schools and Rush Memorial Hospital to encourage healthy eating and habits to RCHS athletes and students
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