The Rush County Community Foundation [RCCF] has just awarded seven grants totaling $40,554.66 to benefit seven excellent community projects and organizations. This is the last of the year’s two Community Grant cycles in which non-profit organizations doing charitable work in Rush County can apply for funding.

The Foundation’s unrestricted endowment funds and several field of interest funds make these grants possible. The following funds have supported the most recent distribution to important causes within and for our community:

• Laura May and Howard H. Brown Memorial Fund
• Kenneth and Kathleen Dean Fund
• Helen and Jim Ewing Fund
• H. N. “Doc” and Thelma P. Jaggers Fund
• Wayne L. and Evelyn J. Miller Community Fund
• Gerald W. and Anita J. Mohr Community Fund
• Charles E. and Jane Power Niccum Fund
• Martha Perin Community Fund
• Pioneer Hi-Bred Fund
• Rush County Community Fund
• Pat and Martha Todd Charitable Fund

Rush County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 Cycle II Community Grants. Congratulations to the following organizations:

• Connect 2 Help 2-1-1:  Connect 2 Help 2-1-1 is a free and confidential service that helps Hoosiers across the state and in Rush County find the local resources they need, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  The Rush County Community Foundation understands the vital information relayed and support provided by 2-1-1, including answering calls to the Indiana Suicide Prevention Hotline and Indiana Domestic Abuse Hotline, and gladly approved their request for funding the continuance of service in Rush County.  Additionally, the Foundation funded a comprehensive data collection and summarized Community Needs Assessment report to further assist us in identifying the Rush County community’s greatest needs.
• Hoosier Burn Camp:  Committed to providing life-changing experiences for young people who have suffered the physical and emotional trauma associated with a severe burn injury, the Hoosier Burn Camp offers substantial support for those served by their resources, activities, and services.  Hoosier Burn Camp requested and received grant funding to provide scholarships for two Rush County youth burn victims to attend a week-long summer camp program.
• Rushville Police Department:  In an effort to protect both officers and civilians, the Foundation was happy to fund the Rushville Police Department’s request, which will assist the Department’s purchase of an integrated body camera system for all officers.
• Centerstone Indiana:  Centerstone, a not-for-profit provider of community-based behavioral health care in Rush County, provides a full range of mental health services, substance abuse treatment and intellectual and developmental disabilities services.  Centerstone’s social workers provide home-based and in-office support for children and families in need, and the Rush County Community Foundation was pleased to enable the purchase of Mobile Play Therapy Kits containing interactive resources, books, and activities to support the families served.  Additionally, the resources and library will also be made available to local support agencies, such as the Department of Child Services, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the school.
• Posey Township Volunteer Fire Department:  The Posey Township Volunteer Fire Department requested funding to purchase and distribute five new sets of turnout gear for volunteer firefighters.  In the presentation delivered to the Grants Committee, the volunteers explained that prolonged use has left the Department with unsafe gear that is expired and no longer in compliance with state regulation.  The Foundation was delighted to know that the funding provided to the Department would be matched by the Posey Township Trustee, furthering the impact of our dollars.
• Rush County Community Assistance:  Rush County Community Assistance provides food to those Rush County residents in need.  Residents may visit the pantry once a month, and at each visit, are eligible to receive a gallon of milk.  A grant that will fund the purchase of milk for senior citizens was made possible to serve the Rush County Community Assistance’s senior clientele.
• Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana:  Due to the recent infrastructure improvements at the Rush County Community Assistance, Rush County is now eligible to receive perishable produce from Gleaners’ new “Healthy Food for Families” program.  The Rush County Community Foundation was pleased to allocate funds to support Gleaners’ initiative, increasing produce distribution to food-insecure Rush County residents to 60,000 pounds annually.

You can make a difference in Rush County by contributing to the funds that support the Community Grants Program! If you are interested in learning more or applying to these funds, please contact RCCF for additional information.