Donor Story: The Deep Roots of the Liggett Family In the yard of the Liggett Family’s farm stands an impressive maple tree. Its thick trunk separates into many branches, growing both tall and wide. No doubt its roots run deep, too, just as the Liggetts’ do in the Rush County community. It’s here, at Windmill Farm, where Marion and Lois Liggett built a life … Read more
Counting on Love: The Robert and Gleela Baldwin Fund for Early Learning Some of life’s most cherished bonds can happen between children and their grandparents. When we’re young, we’re wrapped in the feeling of their love. As we get older, we begin to understand them as the people behind that love. This is the case for brothers, Nathan and Jacob Baldwin. Their grandpa, Robert Baldwin, was … Read more
Ripples of Kindness: The Legacy of Helen and Jim Ewing Kindness. It always matters. And like the stone that creates ripples when tossed into a pond, its effects can be far-reaching. Roy Mohr first met Jim Ewing in 1968. Roy was a regular customer at J & H Hardware, the store Jim and his wife, Helen, owned in downtown Rushville. Roy and Jim became … Read more
Donor Spotlight: Jennifer and Greg Krodel Simplicity. During a recent conversation with RCCF donor Jennifer Krodel, this word surfaced again and again. She and her husband, Greg, along with their three children work hard and love deeply. But of course, it’s not quite as simple as that. We all have people who have influenced us, and if we’re lucky, it … Read more
Donor Spotlight: Wilma Jo Kile The importance of education has been a foundation of RCCF donor, Wilma Jo Kile’s life. Growing up in in Rush County’s southeast corner, she recalls, “It wasn’t ‘if’ but ‘when’, my brother and I would go to college.” This expectation has benefitted her and our community so well. Her father, Ebert Schroeder, had … Read more
Reading Into the Future: A Legacy Gift Conversation with Dave and Barb Malson Reading is not just a diversion, but a true passion for Dave and Barb Malson. A favorite book of Dave’s is The Firm by John Grisham. In it the protagonist, Mitch McDeere, joins a large law firm in order to provide a financially stable life for his family. When he discovers that his employer is … Read more
John & Martha Leising Scholarship Fund Established Hard work, love of family and community, and faith in God are qualities that many try to infuse in their lives. John and Martha Leising embodied these traits. Two of their children, Carolyn Maciejewski and Allen Leising, know this better than anyone. “From career choice, work ethics and education, to being a team player, … Read more
Donor Story: Greg and Cindy Harcourt The roots of the Harcourt family tree run deep in the Rush County soil. Greg Harcourt isn’t sure just how many generations back they go, but at least since the mid-1800s. What he and Cindy, his wife, are sure of though, is their love for their community. A lifelong resident, Greg grew up in … Read more
GIFT VII Met Its Match… YOU! You did it! Your generosity sparked a $250,000 giving frenzy. One by one your gifts arrived. Each one a promise to the future of our community. As if that weren’t amazing enough, it happened more than a year ahead of the deadline. The generosity of the Lilly Endowment Inc. added $500,000 to fan the flames … Read more
For the Community That Made Us Who We Are When RCCF board members and classmates, Cindy Powers and Karen Brashaber, realized their 40th high school class reunion was approaching, they didn’t go shopping for something new to wear. They got busy and filed the paperwork to start the “RCHS Class of 1979 Community Fund”. They decided that instead of changing their wardrobe or … Read more