In the fall of 2018, Lilly Endowment Inc. announced the latest installment of their “Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow” initiative, GIFT VII. As you know, it included receiving a matching grant of $500,000, which you made possible by donating $250,000 toward our Community Grants funds. Read all about GIFT VII.

What you may not know is that it provided additional grants for community leadership development, a board matching grant, a $100,000 implementation grant – and a $5M large-scale funding opportunity.

Let’s rewind to 1998. Dick and Sue Moster, long-time RCCF supporters and beloved community members, decided to include local organizations in their estate plan by establishing a Charitable Remainder Trust. It was a way for them to continue to receive an income while still providing for the charities they loved. After Dick passed away in late 2017, several RCCF Organization Funds received this legacy gift, including what would become the Rushville/Rush County Community Center Fund.

By chance and fortunate timing, in early 2019 a few months after the GIFT VII announcement, Dan Moster, Dick and Sue’s son, reached out to Alisa to restart the conversation around a community center. In GIFT VII, we saw an opportunity to help Dan bring his family’s and our community’s dream to life.

“During my term as the Rushville Director of Parks and Recreation (1992-95), I witnessed both a strong interest and need the residents had for more activities and facilities/amenities within the community and the city parks system,” Dan told us. “Now is the time that the residents of Rushville and Rush County have a community center built, so they too can live a healthier and more enjoyable life and lifestyle and experience the benefits as an individual, couple, family, senior citizen and community, no matter of age, financial situation or physical ability.”

After countless hours and meetings and with help from an army of local leaders and partners, we submitted our $5M funding proposal, on Friday, March 13, 2020, just before the pandemic took hold. Earlier this summer, we learned that our application was one of 17 that had been chosen to advance to the final round!

The community center we imagine has something for everyone. It will have an indoor pool, a fitness center, basketball courts, daycare, the library, a technology center, the food pantry, offices for other social services, a cafe and more. It will be a place to come together and elevate the well-being of all. It will provide health, education and recreation opportunities for our current residents. It will help attract new residents. More residents will attract new businesses that bring new jobs. Those businesses entice others bringing even more jobs and amenities. This is an investment in every aspect of our community’s future.

On August 28, we will submit the final proposal. One that will hopefully begin the process of transforming a dream into reality. Keep your fingers crossed, your four-leafed clovers near and your prayers and good vibes coming. We’re hoping that the time is right to bring a community center to Rush County.