Rush County Community Foundation

2022 saw a lot of moving pieces. But equipped with the time and talents of many people and organizations, along with more than $700,000 in grants and scholarships, together we make an unbeatable team. We are winning for Rush County thank you!

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Quality of life is important to the well-being of our community and helps bring new folks to the area. New amenities, businesses, jobs, and economic opportunities come with population growth. Your support provided $49,452 in grants for parks programming, recreation, internet access, and arts & culture. Additionally, more than 70 local organizations received $290,727 in annual and pass-through payments.

GAME-CHANGER

• The REC Center is poised to become one of the most impactful projects in Rush County’s history. RCCF reignited the decades-long dream of building a community center when we received a $5M grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. in late 2020. RCCF board member, Phil King, and interim executive director, Gerald Mohr, both sit on the committee. With construction costs fully funded, groundbreaking is expected in the first half of 2023 and completion in the second half of 2024. READ MORE >

See the floorplan and latest designs.

GRANTS

City of Rushville Parks Department: $11,000 | Rush County Soil & Water: $1,400 | Milroy Elementary School, in cooperation with MEDC: $12,620 | Rush County 4-H Horse & Pony Club: $10,000 | Rush County Broadband Task Force: $10,000 | imagine:nation, the arts & cultural council of Rush County: $1,500 Rushville | Animal Shelter: $500 | Rushville Regional Theatre: $2,432

PARKS PROGRAMMING

• Community Based Action Planning‘s (CBAP) Parks Programming Committee gave Kathi Jackley the final push and validation to bring a plan to the Rushville Parks Department, creating a position to provide programming that residents have requested. She was hired as Natural Resource and Program Coordinator. In 2022 your gifts to RCCF provided $11,000 for 2023 programming. Follow their Facebook page for the latest events.
• Rush County Soil & Water Conservation District received a $1400 grant to partner with other area agencies to provide a series of gardening and conservation programs to be held in our local parks this spring.

RECREATION

• Milroy Elementary School, in cooperation with the Milroy Economic Development Corporation, received a $12,620 grant to create the Milroy Community Walking Path as part of their Project Based Learning initiative. Once completed, this will be open to the community.
• Rush County 4-H Horse & Pony Club received $10,000 to add sidewalk access to the restroom facilities and repair cracked sidewalk to the office and concession stand to provide accessibility and safety for all members and guests.

INTERNET ACCESS

• CBAP’s Internet Access Committee received a $10,000 grant for the creation of a fiber development agreement. This is a necessary step in their efforts to extend reliable and affordable high-speed internet access to the entire county.

ARTS + CULTURE

• Surprise grants were awarded to imagine:nation, the arts & cultural council of Rush County ($1500) and to the Rushville Animal Shelter ($500).
• The Rushville Regional Theatre is expanding their repertoire and received a $2432.10 grant for a production of skits and songs from Broadway.

2021 GRANTEE WINS

• Milroy Economic Development Corporation’s community mural project was completed in the spring. Artist Lance Woskobojnik worked with community members and students to transform a run-down wall into an awesome work of art. READ MORE >

See the photo gallery.

• Rushville Animal Shelter shared the incredible transformation of Loki, a dog in their care, made possible by the camera equipment they purchased to help prevent abuse and keep animals safe. READ MORE >

See Loki’s “after” photo.

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None of us expects to need emergency services. Knowing they are well-equipped and staffed is a comfort. You have a long history of supporting our county’s first responders, including 2022 grants totaling $17,280.

GAME-CHANGER

• The City of Rushville Fire & Rescue received a $10,280 grant to purchase the Ambu Man Advanced Training Manikin. They extended training to departments throughout the County.

ADDITIONAL GRANT

• Manilla Volunteer Fire Department: $7,000

2021 GRANTEE WIN

• The Carthage Volunteer Fire Department purchased grain bin rescue equipment and provided training for its crew. With their new facility up and running, they have offered training to surrounding mutual aid departments as well. READ MORE >

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Health and wellness are some of the biggest challenges many communities face. We’re proud of the work the CBAP committee is doing to address youth mental health. No one should ever go hungry. Help is widely available in Rush County, thanks to the legacy of Helen and Jim Ewing and your support. In 2022, $52,904 in grants were awarded for mental health, wellness, and nutrition.

GAME-CHANGER

• CBAP’s Mental Health committee worked with Rush Memorial Hospital and Drew Hahn to provide mindfulness journals and training to all 7^th and 8^th grade students. They are learning new tools to cope with depression, anxiety and overwhelming emotions. READ MORE >

GRANTS

Rushville Elementary School West: $1,430 | Firefly Children & Family Alliance: $5,000 | Psi Iota Xi: $13,974 Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana: $12,500 | Rush County Community Assistance Food Pantry: $10,000 | Milroy Community Food Pantry: $10,000

MENTAL HEALTH

• Anna Jo Richards from Rushville Elementary School West (RESW) knows how to help her students manage their emotions and stress. She has created “Calming Corners” that children can utilize and not disturb other students. Her latest grant of $1430 added color changing bubble lamps to all RESW classroom Calming Corners.

WELLNESS

• Firefly Children & Family Alliance received a $5,000 grant to purchase diapers and supplies for the From the Bottom Up Diaper Bank. By eliminating stress and helping low-income families meet basic needs, the instances of abuse and neglect decline.
• Psi Iota Xi received a grant for $13,974 to purchase hearing aids for low-income citizens.

NUTRITION

• Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana received $12,500 to support the school-based pantries at Milroy Elementary and Rushville Consolidated High School.
• The Rush County Community Assistance Food Pantry and the Milroy Community Food Pantry each received $10,000 to continue their important work of providing nutritious food to those in need.

2021 GRANTEE WIN

• Milroy Elementary received a $1,675 grant to purchase the stencils to create a sensory path inside the school. This space helps students regulate their emotions and enhances their success. SEE MORE >

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With so much growth and change in recent years, local pride is on the rise. CBAP (Community Based Action Planning) volunteers accentuated the positive. Thank you for supporting them through the Rush to Action Fund!

GAME-CHANGER

• CBAP’s Tourism Committee created a new website – visitrushcounty.com is live! They also worked with a designer to create a logo and have set up visitor info and merch available at Mocha Moose in downtown Rushville.

ADDITIONAL GRANT

• CBAP’s Downtown Beautification Committee awarded 4 microgrants of $3250 for projects to improve the curb appeal of four businesses. SEE MORE >

2021 GRANTEE WIN

• Carthage Lions Club used a grant to update their town gateway signage. It had been 24 years! SEE MORE >

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Having identified early learning as a community priority in 2018, RCCF is committed to addressing this issue. Your support made a big difference with $49,519 in grants.

GAME-CHANGER

• The Robert and Gleela Baldwin Fund for Early Learning was established to provide scholarships for preschool students attending accredited programs. READ MORE >

GRANTS

• To further the work of First5 Rush County’s Early Learning Coalition, RCCF’s board of directors allocated $30,000 to fund it for 2023.



• The CIRCLe Fund reached the $100,000 threshold of impact with their grantmaking in 2022. They awarded a $19,519 grant to a new intiative, “Child Development: At Home & In the Workforce.” This is a collaboration between Rushville Consolidated High School’s (RCHS) Family and Consumer Science Department (FACS) and First5. It gives Rush County students hands-on experience in the realities of childcare with a new concentration on childcare as a viable business option. They purchased infant simulators and corresponding curriculum. READ MORE >

2021 GRANTEE WIN

• RCCF’s CIRCLe Fund awarded a grant to the Rushville Public Library (RPL) program, “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten.” RPL and First5 have teamed up to engage as many infants and toddlers as possible by involving partners throughout the community. Caregivers are encouraged to sign up through an app to track each book they read with their children. To date 22,396 books have been logged. SEE MORE >

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You continue to make a difference for students and educators with nearly 80 scholarship and education funds. Your generosity provided $227,474 in scholarships and $10,824 in grants.

GAME-CHANGERS

• Two new scholarship funds were established – the John Foster Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Marion & Lois Liggett and Family Education Scholarship Fund.

SCHOLARSHIPS

• 66 students received an average of $3,395 in scholarships. SEE THE PHOTO GALLERY AND MORE >
• Kelby Roberts received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for 2023 providing her with 4 years tuition and $900/year for books and supplies to her college of choice, Purdue University. READ MORE >

GRANTS

Benjamin Rush Middle School: $5,576 (2 grants) | Rushville Consolidated High School: $1,000 Rushville | Elementary School West:
$1,980 Rushville Elementary School East: $2,268

• Shantel Cartwright, Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) teacher at Benjamin Rush Middle School (BRMS) received a $3884 grant for her project. She led a field trip for all 8th graders at BRMS to learn about career opportunities right here in Rush County, including a farm-to-table meal.
• Brooke Edwards, RCHS science teacher, makes science relevant and fun. With a$1000 grant, she was ableto provide project-based STEM learning to develop skills for the real world in an exciting and engaging way with “Project Lead the Way.”
• Kelli Koors, Title I Teacher at RESW, received a $1980 grant to purchase benchmark leveling kits to help with reading instruction.
• Melissa Crowe, Title I Coordinator at RESE, used a $2268 grant to purchase books for Family Literacy Night.
• Kate Schwertfeger, 7th grade teacher at BRMS, received a $1,692 grant to upgrade technology and communication in her Digital Citizenship class.

2021 GRANTEE WINS

• Girls Inc. of Shelby County used their $7,500 grant to support 50 Rush County girls with a Girls thInc. Outside the Box subscription. Each box is filled with fun, educational literacy, math and self-esteem boosting activities. READ MORE >
• The Open Resource received a grant of $16,190 to start its Digital Navigator program. Since then, they have given away more than 110 free devices and provided workshops on and technical assistance to more than 188 people. READ MORE >

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Make a gift to RCCF in your will to leave a legacy and support causes important to you. Here are some simple ways to do so:

• Give a percentage of your estate or a dollar amount.
• Give a percentage or specified amount of your retirement plan.
• Name RCCF as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy that has outlived its original purpose.
• Learn about the ways you can leave a lasting legacy. Find sample bequest language, learn about the 1822 Society and request more information.

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None of this would be possible without YOU! Whether you make donations, volunteer, follow us on social media, share the good word, or any/all of the above – we are so grateful for your support!

• View the list of 2022 Donors.
• 2022 Memorial and Honor Gifts
• 2022 Audited Financials – COMING SOON
• Our Board of Directors
• Our Staff
• Our Volunteers

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• From scholarship recipient to donor to executive director, Alisa Winters’ RCCF journey came full circle. Under her nine years of leadership, assets grew from $11M to more than $20M, adding 50 new funds. Staff grew from two to four positions. RCCF’s first proactive grant was made to start First5, Rush County’s Early Learning Coalition. Alisa played an instrumental role in obtaining the $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to jumpstart the REC Center project. We are so grateful and wish her all the best in her new position at the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance!
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