Foundation's Voice - Ripley County Community Foundation

Foundation’s Voice
Ripley County Community Foundation, Inc.
RCCF/FCCF Prepare for Women’s Luncheon
This year the Ripley County Community
Foundation is teaming up with the Franklin
County Community Foundation to present the
second annual Women in Philanthropy luncheon.
The theme will be “Philanthropy—A
Patchwork of Giving”.
The luncheon will be at Hillcrest Country Club
on April 6 from 11:30—1:30. Tickets for the
luncheon are on sale now for $15 and can be
purchased from committee members or by
sending your check to either foundation office.
Seating is limited—so make your reservations
early.
Along with a delicious luncheon , door prizes
and giveaways, those attending will be treated
to a quilt show with handmade quilted items
made by women in Ripley and Franklin counties.
The speaker this year is Jolene Rockwood.
Ms. Rockwood is a Harvard graduate, author,
founder of the Rural Alliance for the Arts and
along with her husband, has established the
Rockwood Foundation. During her “spare”
time she teaches early morning seminary to
high school aged members of her church every
Finalists Chosen
At press time, the finalists for the Lilly Endowment
Community Scholarship have been
chosen by the RCCF Scholarship committee.
They are: Kimberly Batta (Milan High
School), Erin Collier (South Ripley High
School), Laura Hountz (Batesville High
School), Levi Knowlton (Milan High School),
Amanda Mersch (Oldenburg Academy), Holly
Toops (South Ripley High School), Tonya
Philanthropy—A Patchwork of Giving
morning at 7:00 and also plays the piano on Sundays
for the Primary organization.
B.J. Cox is chair of the luncheon committee and
her committee members consist of- from Ripley
County: Paula Behlmer, Linda Chandler, Deb
Hellmann, Jamie Schantz, Kris Schneider, Laura
Lee Spaulding, and Betty Thaemar. From Franklin
County: Marge Barrett, Karen Niedenthal and
Nina Shaw.
Franklin County office address: 602 S. Main St.
Brookville, IN 47012 (765) 647-6810
Ripley County office address: 132 S. Main St.
Batesville, IN 47006 (812) 933-1098.
Volz (Jac-Cen-Del High School), and Elizabeth
Wehr (Indiana Academy).
Two of these students will be chosen to receive the
Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. The
other six finalists will receive $1,000 Ripley
County Community Foundation scholarships.
The Foundation’s Scholarship Committee looks
for the students from Ripley County who have
Volume 3, Issue 1
March, 2005
Board Members
• George Brinkmoeller—Batesville
• Linda Chandler—Versailles
• Jennifer Darnold—Versailles
• Deb Hellmann—Batesville
• George Junker II—Batesville
• Ron Knueven—Sunman
• John Miller—Friendship
• Gene Pitts—Milan
• Dan Schantz—Batesville
• Kris Schneider—Sunman
• Laura Lee Spaulding— Milan
• Mike Stephens—Osgood
• Steve Todd—Sunman
• Bill Van Hook—Batesville

Page 2 Foundation’s Voice
May 1st Deadline for Small Grant Applications
Ripley County Community Foundation is excited to announce
that $20,000 has been set aside for small project grants in 2005.
Any funds not distributed through the small project granting will
be available for use in the Fall Granting from the Foundation.
The small project grants were very successful last year with approximately
$10,000 distributed. The Foundation looks forward
to continuing this program in 2005 with these additional funds.
May 1 st is the deadline for the next round of small project grants
for the RCCF. Maximum grants are $500 and must follow normal
granting guidelines of the Foundation. Non-profit organizations
may apply for only one small project grant per year, but
may also apply for the Foundation’s regular granting in September.
Applications not received by the May1 st deadline will be
held for the next cycle.
Giving Back
by Jenna Rump
After my winter break from college, while most of my
peers were heading back to school, I found myself with a long
break still ahead of me. I would not be returning to school until
February 8 because of studying abroad in Australia. Instead of
sitting at home, I decided to volunteer at an organization that
gives so much to the community. I came into the Ripley County
Community Foundation office one day a week to help out with
the Lilly Scholarship process and also help with general office
tasks like copying. I learned many things about the “behind the
scenes “ of the foundation. I even took inventory in the storage
room! I enjoyed my weeks of volunteering and working with the
ladies in the office. I truly appreciate the opportunities that the
foundation has given to me and I hope that in a very small way I
Remembering and Celebrating
Gifts in memory of friends or family, to honor birthdays, anniversaries
or other special occasions are another great way to support the Ripley
County Community Foundation. Since the last newsletter, the Foundation
has received gifts in loving memory of the following individuals:
Bill Davidson
Denzil Earl Myers
C.P. “Red” Roberts
Richard Huxel
Clarence Zimmer
James Meagher
Small project grants are considered in March, May, July, and
September of a granting year. The first of each month is the
deadline. Applications will be available in the Batesville Library,
Milan Library, Osgood Library, Tyson Library and Town
of Sunman Town Hall, or by calling the Foundation Office. Any
questions concerning the grant process can be directed to Jane
Deiwert, Program Officer at 877-234-5220 or 933-1098 or email
rccfound@nalu.net.
Grant Recipients, Batesville Beautification
League members Dottie
Voegele and Dee Fritsch.
helped to repay the kindness that has been shown to me.

Volume 3, Issue 1
College Cost Estimator Program
Free College Cost Estimator workshops for Ripley County high
school students and their parents were held Wednesday, February
16 h at Batesville High School and at Jac-Cen-Del High
School on Wednesday, February 23 rd . Over 100 attended these
workshops.
The workshops presented by Murray & Associates were sponsored
by the Ripley County Community Foundation and the Rising
Sun Regional Foundation.
The College Cost Estimator program provided families and students
with helpful information regarding financing a college
education. The National Center for College can help families
understand that college (2-year, 4-year, technical programs) can
be affordable. Through its special College Cost Estimator Service,
the Center shows strategies to help families maximize fi-
Gala Plans Underway
***Save this date: November 12, 2005***
Plans are already underway to make the 5th annual RCCF Gala an event
to remember. Chairman, Deb Hellmann has expanded her committee
New Fund to Help Military Families
Jeff and Mary Ollier, local philanthropists, have started a new
fund in the Ripley County Community Foundation. Already
the fund originators of the Jeff and Mary Ollier Family Community
Granting Fund, this couple have now started the Military
Service Fund.
The primary purpose of the fund is to grant money to military
persons (currently serving or who have honorably discharged
Lilly Endowment Finalists (Con’t.)
contributed to their school and community while maintaining
high academic achievement with a demanding course load.
They want to help the students who have demonstrated writing
and verbal skills and show a potential to be successful in college.
This is a demanding set of criteria that our finalists must meet.
Out of 57 applicants, eight came out on top to compete for the
Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships.
As is most always the case, choosing the finalists from the students
who apply is very difficult. Committee members wish
there were 57 scholarships to hand out. And as always, they
nancial resources in order to meet college costs.
The workshops explained to parents and students how financial
aid works, gave families key financial aid questions to ask any
college, gave free advice on tough college costs issues, and
more. Students and parents who participated in this year’s College
Cost Estimator program received a personalized confidential
report with results from their estimator.
RCCF looks forward to being able to present this program to
Ripley County residents next year.
Page 3
and plans to make this an evening of fun and surprises for everyone.
The theme for 2005 is “Viva Las Vegas”. The Gala will be held in Sunman
this year at the brand new Sunman American Legion Hall. Keep
your eye out for more information in the next few months.
from active duty within the prior five years) who are in need of
emergency assistance. All branches of the military, including
the National Guard, are eligible. (National Guard eligibility shall
be limited to ACTIVE DUTY guard members.) The grant
money shall be administered by the Batesville American Legion.
Monies from this fund will be available during our regular fund
distribution cycle in MARCH 2006.
wish the very best to all students as they go on to higher education.
An announcement about the recipients will be made in
late March or early April.

Ripley County Community
Foundation, Inc.
132 S. Main Street
Batesville, IN 47006
Phone: 812-933-1098
Fax: 812-933-0096
Email: rccfound@nalu.net
Making a difference in Ripley County.
We’re on the web:
rccfound@nalu.
net
From Our Board President
By now, we have all seen the TV commercial where the credit
card representative finds creative ways to tell his customers
“no”. Inspired by this, I consulted my foreign language dictionary
(aka my 15 year-old son) to come up with various ways to
say “busy”. In German, it’s beschaftight; in French, occupe; in
Spanish, ocupado. Regardless of how it is said, busy is what describes
your Ripley County Community Foundation board and
staff!
We hit the ground running in January of this year with a whole
calendar of challenges placed before us. Executive Director,
Sally Morris is wrapping up the Standards and Polices Manual
and getting ready to ship it off to Indiana Grantmakers for approval.
It is more than six inches thick and she will be glad to
get it off her desk.
Faced with the Lilly Endowment’s request for foundation sustain
ability throughout the state, the RCCF is diligently working
on our Strategic Resource Development Plan. This plan involves
developing ways to raise funds and create endowments
that will make our Foundation solid now and for future generations
of Ripley County residents. Committees and subcommittees
have been formed and diligently working to complete
this project by August 15 th .
Currently, our Program Director, Jane Deiwert and the Scholarship
Committee are working on the Lilly Endowment Community
Scholarships for our Ripley County high school seniors.
This is quite the task, as we are blessed with many bright, energetic
young people.
Also, the first round of “small project” grants is being handed
out. These grants, with a cap of $500.00 are considered quarterly
and do not hinder organizations from applying for the large
fall grants. The RCCF Board upgraded the small grants allotment
from $10,000 to $20,000 over the course of this year.
The planning for the 2 nd
annual Women’s
Luncheon is well underway
and the date is set
for April 6 th . The theme
is “Philanthropy … A
Patchwork of Giving”.
Look for the quiltinspired
flyers around
the county.
Amid all of this technical
work, Chairperson
Deb Hellmann and her
creative committee are
organizing the 5 th annual
Gala. It will be held on November 12 th Kris Schneider, President
at the brand new
Sunman American Legion Hall. Get ready to shake your hips to
the Viva Las Vegas theme!
Phew! I’m tired already, but it’s always the good kind of tired.
As you can see, the RCCF Board and staff are constantly on the
move – working, plotting and planning on ways to improve the
quality of life in Ripley County.
None of this would be possible without the generosity of those
who have established endowments and funds as well as those
who contribute with memorials and gifts and who participate in
RCCF’s events.
To all of you, I say danke, merci, gracias, and thank you!