At the end of 2005, local philanthropists and educators Rick and Betsy Williams decided to combine their love of educating youth and giving back to the Rush County community by creating the Youth in Philanthropy Fund.

Since 2005, the fund has given back more than $8,000 to youth organizations within Rush County.   Each year, a group of sixteen Rush County students convene monthly to award grants to deserving organizations and projects, discuss opportunities for local volunteer involvement, and brainstorm creative ways to give back to Rush County.  While $8,000+ is an incredible amount of money disbursed, the education provided to the youth that have been involved in the Youth in Philanthropy group throughout the past ten years is invaluable.  As the group has evolved, volunteer activities in the community have grown to include Trick-or-Treating and stuffing stockings for the Rush County Community Assistance and planting tulip and daylily bulbs to beautify the intersection of SR 3 and SR 52.

The Youth in Philanthropy Fund is awarded each year in the spring.  If monies remain after the spring disbursement a fall grant may be available as well.  The Youth in Philanthropy Fund awards grant(s) funding to any organized youth organization in Rush County for a public service project.  It is intended that the application be completed by the youth members and overseen by the adult leader.  Projects supported have included the RCHS Fellowship of Christian Athletes “Pure Fun” program, assisting the FFA with providing care packages for soldiers serving in Iraq, supporting the Key Club with the Riley Hospital Dance Marathon benefit, and helping the Girl Scouts Troop #01973 with providing dog beds for the animal shelter, among many others.

The grant deadline for the Youth in Philanthropy Fund is rapidly approaching!  If you are involved with a youth organization that needs financial assistance for a special need and/or project, submit your application to the Rush County Community Foundation office by 4p.m. on March 1st.

For additional information on the Youth in Philanthropy Fund, grant application and requirements, or any of our other funds, please visit the Rush County Community Foundation website at www.rushcountyfoundation.org, our office at 117 N. Main St., or call (765) 938-1177.