Tipp City Foundation 2018 Annual Report

The Tipp City 

Foundation promotes 

local community 

endeavors and 

advances charitable 

giving through an 

unwavering commitment 

for future generations. 

We’ve 

Only Just Begun 

75th Anniversary 

Edition 

Table of Contents 

A Message from Leadership 

We Give 

Grant Award Impact 2—5 

We Receive 

Legacy Society 6—7 

Endowment Funds 8—13 

We Say Thanks 

2018 Investors 14—17 

Tributes 18 

About the Artist 19 

Philanthropist of the Year 20 

Sponsors 21 

i 

A Message From Leadership 

Shown on the new turf of stadium project in 

City Park are the 2018 members of the Board. 

The largest grant in the Foundation’s history 

supports the building of this community asset. 

Standing L to R: Nathan Rentz, Mary 

Bowman, Bruce McKenzie, Dee Gillis, 

Pete Schinaman, Jackie Wahl, Jesse 

Chamberlain, Melissa Keller, 

Heather Bailey, Jim Ranft. 

Kneeling L to R: Sarah Worley, 

Diana Featherstone, Claire Timmer. 

Not Pictured: Dave Grim. 

Welcome to WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN…the DIAMOND JUBILEE 75th ANNIVERSARY edition of the annual report. 

This is the official story of the Tipp City Foundation’s role in the community. 

Though some might choose to spend a landmark anniversary reflecting on long years of success, not us. 

We used the milestone to look to the future! After all, that is what a community foundation does… 

it anticipates and adapts to the shifting needs of the community. 

Here are some of the ways we cast 

our eye to the future in 2018: 

• Collaborated with the Tipp City 

Library to host a grant research 

class to help strengthen area 

nonprofits. 

• Planted a tree grove in Kyle 

Park to honor endowment fund 

founders; in time, it will grow 

into a forest. 

• Launched the Teen Leadership 

Academy and Project T.I.P.P. 

(Teens Impacting and Promoting 

Philanthropy) in conjunction with 

the Chamber of Commerce to 

encourage future generations 

of philanthropists. 

• Preserved the history of early 

Foundation champions with 

help from KIT-TV so that future 

generations will learn from 

their wisdom. 

• Awarded our largest-ever grant to 

support the building of the stadium 

in City Park to be enjoyed by 

generations of Tipp Citians. 

Who are the people responsible for 

planting these seeds for the future? An 

all-volunteer board leads this force for 

good. Everything you will read about 

has their fingerprints on it. What do 

they have in common with you? They 

don’t take the finer qualities of Tipp 

City for granted. They don’t have time 

to spare, yet they make time for this 

cause. And they are your neighbors. 

You live in one of the very best small 

towns in America. Enjoy WE’VE 

ONLY JUST BEGUN and the glimpse 

it gives you into the role that the Tipp 

City Foundation is playing to keep 

it that way. 

Leadership’s 

Newest Additions 

Sarah Worley 

Nathan Rentz 

i 2 | | Can Can you you help help us make us make a difference? a Call Go us online at 937-528-2482 to donate at or www.tippfoundation.org 

go online to donate www.tippfoundation.org

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We Give 

Grant Award Impact 

Did you notice that the size of this year’s average grant has grown? 

We did that on purpose. Because of you, our investors, assets steadily grow. 

As a result, so can the size of grants and the impact on our community. 

Every grant listed below is a direct result of support from the community. 

When given the chance, we also 

make grants to fledgling nonprofits. 

Taking a chance on new ideas 

is our duty. 

Among our first-time grant recipients 

this year was Tipp Pride Association 

and our commitment of $75,000.00 

over 10 years towards the building of 

the new stadium in City Park. These 

dollars will be leveraged during 

matching gift campaigns. This is 

also the largest award ever given by 

the Foundation. A coincidence that 

$75,000.00 has been earmarked 

during the Foundation’s 75th 

anniversary year? Nope. 

Read on to learn about area-wide 

challenges met through 

grantmaking in 2018. Since 

1943, $2,204,926.44, has 

been awarded. 

Grants are only possible because of 

our supporters. All contributions are 

endowed, spending only the interest 

earned. See the list of investors 

(pages 14—17) and the endowment 

funds that grants are awarded from 

(pages 8—13). 

What do grants support? Six broad 

impact areas are served: arts and 

culture, social services, public health 

and safety, recreation, environment 

and education. 

Grant awards in 2018 totaled 

$95,801.00. They were awarded 

to qualified non-profit organizations 

seeking to make a difference in 

Tipp City, Monroe Township and 

Bethel Township. 

ENVIRONMENT 

15% 

$14,315.63 

Brukner Nature Center, $2,000.00, 

shelters quarantined patients at this 

wild animal preserve during recovery 

by supporting a building expansion 

program. This grant was made 

in honor of Matt Timmer, former 

Foundation president, whose love 

of wildlife was legendary during 

his tenure. 

Downtown Tipp City, $820.63, 

expands the beauty of oversized 

seasonal plantings to now include 

the corners of First and Main Streets 

through the purchase of planters 

and related supplies. 

Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, 

$1,100.00, brings “The Rock Man” 

Mike Manning, a retired geology and 

earth science teacher, to 3rd grade 

students to share his enthusiasm 

for rocks through a series of 

hands-on activities. 

Tipp City Parks Department, 

$4,793.00 and $5,207.00, continues 

the partnership with the City to 

plant a tree grove in recognition of 

the Foundation’s 75th anniversary. 

Located in Kyle Park, this grove 

honors donors who establish 

endowment funds. This grant was 

awarded, in part, from the Lucille L. 

Milner Trees for Tipp Fund. Read 

more about Lucille on page 10. 


$395.00, improves the landscape at 

Veteran’s Memorial Park by replacing 

ground cover. This grant was 

awarded through the Veteran’s Tribute 

Fund, established in 2013. Read 

more about veterans roles in creating 

this fund on page 10. 

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EDUCATION 

21% 

$19,882.65 

Bethel Local Schools, $1,026.00, 

packs up the 5th graders and helps 

send them on an adventure to Camp 

Kern in Oregonia, Ohio. This grant 

was awarded through the Radle 

Family Fund for Science Education, 

established in 2007, which supports 

conservation activities. Read more 

about Mary and Woodrow on 

page 10. 

Bethel Local Schools, $239.00, 

purchases books for the elementary 

library to support science learning. 

This grant was also awarded 

through the Radle Family Fund for 

Science Education. 

Child Care Choices, $2,000.00, 

adds Prop Boxes to the resource 

lending library of this child care 

referral agency. Prop Boxes contain 

high quality dramatic play materials 

centered on themes and are available 

to child care providers. 

Child Care Choices, $2,000.00, 

purchases books for the Story Lady, 

volunteer educators making more than 

200 visits to Miami County childcare 

centers and home childcare providers 

during the 2018-19 school year. 

Addressing the importance of literacy 

fundamentals before a child enters 

kindergarten is the motivation behind 

this 20-year-old program. 


$4,084.00 and $1,240.52, immerses 

students grade 3 through 8 in the 

technical world with the purchase of 

Virtual Reality Kits. Led by teachers, the 

class follows lectures while wearing 

futuristic headgear. 


$1,500.00, nails down additional 

safety supplies to meet growing student 

demand to enroll in the Homebuilding 

Class. Students participate in building 

a “Tiny House,” which will later be 

sold, and the proceeds will be used to 

fund the course the following year. This 

experience gives students real-world 

skills for the homebuilding industry. 


$800.00, breaks beyond traditional 

teaching methods in the Design 

Thinking Class with “breakout rooms.” 

These 7th and 8th graders will work 

in teams to investigate open-ended 

problem solving, as well as create 

challenges for other students to explore 

during RED Devil period. 


$750.00, fuels the Power of the Pen, 

an interscholastic writing competition 

for 7th and 8th graders designed to 

help young people find and develop 

a creative voice that is uniquely 

their own. 


$650.00, stacks the future of STEM 

learning in favor of Broadway 

Elementary students through the 

purchase of a LEGO station for 

the library. 


$304.03, strengthens fine motor 

muscles of 2nd and 3rd graders by 

underwriting the costs of a new fiber 

arts curriculum. Weaving, sewing and 

felting are examples of the new skills 

these 400 students will learn. 


$289.10, purchases owl pellets for 

2nd grade dissectors. For those of us 

who have been away from a science 

lab for a while, a refresher on what 

exactly those are: “Indigestible parts 

from prey (such as teeth, skulls, claws, 

and feathers) are too dangerous to 

pass through the digestive tract. The 

owl’s gizzard compacts them into a 

tight pellet that it regurgitates.” 

Troy-Miami County Public Library, 

$5,000.00, supports Dolly Parton’s 

Imagination Library, serving over 500 

children under the age of five in Tipp 

City and Bethel Township. This grant 

was awarded, in part, through the 

Bethel Community Fund, established by 

the Bowman Family. Read more about 

Ken and Fairy on page 9. 

How to Apply for a Grant 

Grant seekers are our partners in philanthropy, just like our investors. As our community evolves, we rely 

on the eyes and ears of these 501(c)(3) organizations to identify the ever-changing needs of our citizens. 

We encourage our partners to look for new and innovative approaches to improve our community. 

Grants are awarded through a competitive application and review process. 

Please visit our website for more information on how to apply for a grant. 

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ARTS & CULTURE 

18% 

$17,520.72 

Bethel Local Schools, $1,490.00, 

updates communication between 

the technical crews and directors of 

concerts and stage performances 

through the purchase of headset 

systems. This grant was awarded 

through the Arts Bethel Fund in the 

Studebaker Tradition of Giving Back, 

established in 2014. Read more 

about Emmert and Jane on page 9. 

Bethel Local Schools, $770.00, 

hosts an art show for students and 

the community where work by High 

School Art 1 and Art 2 pupils will 

be displayed. This grant was also 

awarded through the Arts Bethel Fund 

in the Studebaker Tradition of 

Giving Back. 

Connections of Tipp City, $2,109.72, 

supports one of the newest nonprofits 

in the area. This after-school program 

offers middle and high school students 

new options for their free time. 

Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, 

$2,000.00, tunes eager learners in 

to musical concepts while listening 

to live orchestral recitals. Over 

540 Tipp City elementary students 

will experience these professional 

performers. 

St. John’s Early Childhood Program, 

$500.00, brings the Dayton Ballet on 

site with their bug and natural-worldbased 

performances. 

Tipp City Chamber of Commerce, 

$1,500.00, supports the launch 

of the Teen Leadership Academy, 

which includes Project T.I.P.P. 

(Teens Impacting and Promoting 

Philanthropy). Giving teens 

responsibility of $3,000.00, they 

acted as the grant distribution 

committee by collectively determining 

allocation of money to area nonprofits. 

This grant was awarded in 

honor of Jim Kyle, a past Foundation 

president. 


$2,000.00, promotes Stagecrafters 

Summer Theatre Drama Camp, giving 

children a two-week experience 

working both on stage and behind the 

scenes of a play. 


$645.00, invites Madcap Puppets 

to a one-week Artist in Residency 

program at Nevin Coppock 

Elementary School. Blending world 

literature, fine and performing arts 

and storytelling, kindergarten and 

1st graders will have hands-on 

experiences with an art form dating 

back to 5th Century BC. 

Tipp City Public Library, $1,750.00, 

unifies the community while igniting an 

interest in great books by supporting 

the Tipp on a Great Read program. 

Tippecanoe Historical Society, 

$1,756.00, protects the archives and 

artifacts of the museum by offsetting 

the costs of a new roof. This grant 

was awarded through the Urban 

Stewardship Fund, established by 

Frank Scenna and Heather Bailey. 

Read more about Frank and Heather 

on page 10. 

RECREATION 

17% 

$16,742.00 

Miami County Educational Service 

Center, $500.00, explores Fulton 

Farms through the eyes of small 

children served through this early 

intervention program. This year’s 

field trip extends into the evening by 

including parents in hands-on fun. 

Science, math and literacy stations 

will incorporate pumpkins into 

family-based learning. 

Tipp City Enrichment Program, 

$3,100.00, enhances the summer 

activities offered to the children who 

attend this extended care program. 


$2,542.00, expands the walking 

path around City Park with a 180-foot 

addition. This grant was awarded 

through the Warren E. Miltenberger 

Parkland Fund, established in 2008. 

Read more about Warren on 

page 10. 

Tipp City Youth Soccer, $500.00, 

provides needs-based support to assist 

families who find it difficult to pay for 

soccer registration and equipment. 

Tipp Monroe Community Services, 

$2,600.00, defrays the cost of the 

annual 5th grade excursion to Camp 

Kern in Oregonia, Ohio. 

Tipp Pride Association, $7,500.00, 

represents the first payment of 

the Foundation’s commitment of 

$75,000. Read more about this 

grant in the introduction portion 

of this chapter. 

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25% 

$23,340.00 

SOCIAL SERVICES 

Breast Wishes Foundation, 

$3,000.00, grants wishes to enhance 

the lives of women actively fighting 

breast cancer in Tipp City and 

Bethel Township. 

Family Abuse Shelter of Miami 

County, $5,182.00, contributes to 

the shelter expansion. In 2017, 70 

victims of domestic violence from Tipp 

City and Bethel Township were given 

emergency shelter; 52 victims were 

given legal advocacy. 

Needy Basket of Southern Miami 

County, $5,000.00, helps meet 

an expanding demand during the 

Holiday season. Baskets containing 

ingredients for a traditional Holiday 

meal will be distributed to an 

estimated 200 families. 

Ronald McDonald House Charities of 

the Miami Valley Region, $1,000.00, 

aids families as they grapple with 

their child’s illness during their stay 

at Dayton Children’s Hospital. Last 

year, 40 families from the Bethel/ 

Tipp City community benefitted from 

their support. Services include a bite 

to eat, a place to do laundry and 

a private spot for a quick shower… 

all while staying close to their 

hospitalized child. 


$4,725.00, expands efforts to 

promote an environment of inclusion, 

diversity, understanding and 

acceptance. Customized sessions 

taught to middle school students 

will build upon the past two years’ 

curriculum, also customized by the 

National Conference for Community 

and Justice of Greater Dayton. 

Tipp City Seniors, Inc., $1,433.00, 

supports the new Senior Center with 

assistance in purchasing warming 

kitchen equipment. This grant was 

awarded from the August Henke 

Fund, established in 1950. Read 

more about August on page 10. 

We Care Arts, $3,000.00, opens 

the doors for children with profound 

physical and developmental 

disabilities to participate in art 

classes. This learning is available 

year-round as well as in Transition 

to Work classrooms of Tippecanoe 

High School. 

The grant request read, 

“We are all different with 

unique strengths and 

weaknesses. It is imperative 

that we teach our youth about 

understanding, respect and 

acceptance of all people.” 

$4,000.00 

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY 

4% 

Miami County Recovery Council, Tipp Monroe Community Services, 

$3,000.00, interjects substance $1,000.00, funds the Eyeglass 

abuse prevention in Tippecanoe High Program, which provides an annual 

School and Bethel Middle School eye exam and new glasses for 

health classes. This grant was also citizens in need. 

awarded, in part, through the Bethel 

Community Fund. 

2018 GRANTMAKING by the NUMBERS 

4 

26 

45 

100 

$95,801 

$2,204,926 

% Awarded Annually from Endowments 

Local Nonprofits Receiving Grants 

Unique Grants Awarded 

% Grants Resulting from Private Donations 

Awarded in 2018 

Awarded Since 1943 



We Receive 

Meet the Legacy Society 

The Legacy Society honors those 

who have invested in the future of our 

community by naming the Foundation 

as a beneficiary in their estate plans. 

Their broad interests are reflected 

in the varying purposes they chose 

to endow. 

If you have included the Foundation 

in your estate plan but are not listed 

here, please let us know. We want 

to be sure we have your wishes on 

record to properly carry them out 

after your lifetime. 

John & Kay Berk 

Bryan Blake 

Stacie Blake Collins 

Adam Blake 

Stan Evans 

Some members of the Legacy Society 

notify the Foundation but otherwise 

choose to keep their decision 

confidential. 

Kelly & Dee Gillis 

Arthur & Nancy Hattan 

Don & Ellen Hazel 

2018 LEGACY DONORS by the NUMBERS 

Estate Gifts Received 

Total Legacy 

Society Donors 

1 

18 

Gordon Honeyman 

Jim Kyle 

Jim & Cheryl McKee 

Frank Scenna & Heather Bailey 

To read the full story on each Legacy Donor, visit our web site. 


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In Memoriam 

With humble thanks, we 

acknowledge those who have 

blended the Foundation into their 

estate plans as a way of saying 

“Thank You” to the community they 

loved. Their determination to see Tipp 

City thrive after their lifetimes through 

an endowed gift brings vibrancy to 

our hometown. 

To learn more about these luminaries, 

please visit our website. 

Helen M. Finch, 1903 – 1994 

Caroline S. Hyde, 1932 – 2004 

Sheffield N. Hyde, 1931 – 2018 

Gene R. Houdeshell, 1924 – 2012 

E. Jean Houdeshell, 1924 – 2015 

William H. Kendig, 1870 – 1956 

Lois H. Kessler, 1920 – 2008 

Robert E. Kessler, 1920 – 1999 

June W. Kyle, 1935 – 2018 

Ortho S. Marko, 1915 – 2003 

Lucille L. Milner, 1906 – 2004 

Warren E. Miltenberger, 1926 – 2007 

K. Delphena Nessle, 1909 – 2001 

Helen C. Timmer, 1896 – 1986 

Robert L. Wahl, 1954 – 2013 

Emma Henke Warner, 1862 – 1947 

June W. Kyle 

1935 - 2018 

How to Join the Legacy Society 

Membership begins when you: 

1. Select what charitable cause or organization you want to support. 

2. Select how your gift will be funded. Insurance, wills and 

retirement plans are common options. This may require working 

with a professional such as an attorney, but that is not always 

the case. 

3. Decide if your membership will be Anonymous. 

4. Let us know of your intentions. 



We Receive 

Endowment Funds 

What are endowment funds? Funds are pots of dollars set aside to permanently 

support specific purposes identified by the people who create them. Carefully invested, 

only a portion of the earnings is spent each year, allowing the funds to grow over time. 

They accept gifts of any size. 

Endowment funds primarily assist charities in our own backyard—Tipp City, Bethel 

and Monroe Townships. Who can create one? Anyone making a commitment 

to bring the fund to at least $25,000. 

Today we have 44 funds. Each fund, and the story behind it, is described below. 

Together, these funds total $4,263,761.05. 

2018 NEW Funds 

How to 

Start a Fund 

Starting a fund begins when 

you determine: 

Sarah Gross Scholarship for 

Sportsmanship Fund —2018— 

Women athletes who help build 

the confidence of fellow teammates 

and promote fairness are eligible to 

apply for this award. As a Red Devil, 

Sarah played soccer, basketball 

and softball. Later she became an 

avid international rock climber. The 

camaraderie of the team and her 

pursuit to bring out the best in others 

was evident in the many professional 

awards she earned. 

William’s Gift Fund – 2018 – 

Enhancing the quality of life of 

physically handicapped citizens in the 

Miami Valley (with an emphasis on 

Miami County) is the aim of this fund. 

Organizations providing services such 

as assistive technologies, therapies 

that involve service animals or the 

arts, or other therapeutic experiences 

are encouraged to apply. Established 

by the Heinl Family in honor of 

William, a member of their family, 

the Heinls made Tipp City their 

home in 1974. 

Youth of Tipp City Fund imo Sara 

Drexler – 2018 – Educational 

experiences that inspire youth to find 

joy in learning and zest for life are 

supported through this fund. Sara 

Drexler, whose passion for teaching 

inspired students and teachers alike, 

continues to share her vitality through 

this fund. 

1. What you want the fund 

to accomplish, 

2. What you want to name your fund, 

3. What assets you will use, and 

4. How will the assets reach at least 

$25,000 within 5 years? 

Ready to get started? 

Let’s do this together. 

Contact us. 

*iho = in honor of 

imo = in memory of 


Unrestricted Funds…grant awards meet broad 

changing needs within the community 

Bethel Community Fund – 2013 – 

This is an unrestricted endowment 

fund for community needs in Bethel 

Township. It was established by the 

Bowman family to honor parents 

Kenneth and Fairy, who co-founded 

the Bowman & Landes Turkey Farm, 

served on the Bethel School Board 

and PTA, actively participated in 

the West Charleston Church of the 

Brethren, and helped develop the 

Miami County Park District. 

H. E. “Tiny” and Emma Drewing 

Fund—2017 – This unrestricted 

fund strives to improve the quality 

of life for the citizens of Tipp City. 

Established by Sally Beals to honor 

her parents, Tiny (1898 - 1984) and 

Emma (1909 - 1974) were proud 

of their hometown and believed 

strongly in education. Tiny owned 

the Tippecanoe Gravel Company 

and acquired contracts to remove 

140 miles of interurban railroad. He 

later bought a farm on Ross Road 

where he raised Herford cattle, pigs, 

chickens and grain. Emma was an 

executive secretary for Tube Products 

and supported Tiny’s endeavors with 

her skills in bookkeeping. 

Jim & June Kyle Family Fund – 2001 

– As a trustee of the Foundation, Jim 

Kyle saw first-hand the positive impact 

that grants have on our community. 

For this reason Jim and his wife, 

June, created this unrestricted fund 

to support charitable and cultural 

endeavors for the citizens of Bethel 

and Monroe Townships. 

Tipp City Foundation General Fund 

– 1943 – This fund supports broad 

charitable endeavors to improve the 

quality of life in Tipp City, Bethel 

Township and Monroe Township. 

Since inception, it has received many 

generous donations including estate 

gifts from the Hyde, Kendig, Kessler 

and Timmer families. 

Field of Interest and Designated Funds…grant 

awards support specific charities or purposes 

identified by the donors 

Arts Bethel Fund in the Studebaker 

Tradition of Giving Back – 2014 – 

This fund aids with music, literature 

and creative art in Bethel Local 

Schools, which could include 

materials or other academic-related 

needs. Created in memory of Emmert 

and Jane Studebaker, this fund 

champions learning through the arts. 

In addition to their roles as founders 

of Process Equipment Company, 

Jane was an organist and weaver. 

Emmert played flute, wrote poetry 

and blacksmithed. 

Century Milestone Fund iho The 

Lantz Family—2017 – Buildings 

authenticated as being at least 100 

years old and within Tipp City will be 

recognized through this fund. After 

moving to Tipp City in 1973, Phil 

and Paula Lantz enjoyed the history 

exuded by the town. Specifically, they 

recognized that strong communities 

don’t happen by chance but rather 

through the commitment of individuals 

to invest in the maintenance and 

upkeep of aging properties. 

Cross Country at Tippecanoe Fund 

imo Dave Lightle – 2016 – Tipp 

City High School’s Cross Country 

Invitational is underwritten by this fund. 

Dave Lightle’s broad life experiences 

were imprinted by his entrepreneurial 

skills, political interests, global view, 

and linguistics. This translated into a 

wide-ranging career, which included 

working as a speechwriter for 

President Ronald Reagan. 

Gillis Family Fund for Self-Sufficiency 

– 2012 – Founded by Kelly and Dee 

Gillis, who believe in the proverb, 

“Give a man a fish and he will eat 

for a day, teach a man to fish and 

he will eat for a lifetime.” Grants 

support activities that help adults 

reach self-sufficiency through programs 

such as preparation for high school 

equivalency certificates (GED) or adult 

literacy training. 



August Henke Comfort for the 

Needy Fund – 1950 – Emma Henke 

Warner, daughter of August Henke, 

established this fund to provide 

comfort and support for needy and 

aged men. A native of Germany, 

August Henke was considered the 

oldest living resident in Tippecanoe 

when he died in 1923 at the age 

of 92. 

Amy Seibert Kronour Scholarship 

Fund – 2012 – Remembers this 

teacher of special needs children. 

This fund assists youth enrolled in 

the Cuvilly Program of Chaminade 

Julienne High School, which 

addresses special needs 

students’ education. 

Lucille L. Milner Trees for Tipp Fund 

– 1998 – For over 70 years, Mrs. 

Milner enjoyed the beauty, shade, 

fragrance and texture added to Tipp 

City’s parks and streets by its urban 

forest. Her desire to help ensure the 

same beauty for future generations 

led her to establish this fund, which 

provides for the purchase of trees for 

planting in the parks and along the 

streets. Plantings are coordinated by 

Tipp City and its Park Board. 

Warren E. Miltenberger Parkland 

Fund – 2008 – This fund supports 

the out-of-doors that Warren held 

dear through the acquisition, upkeep, 

maintenance, and preservation of 

public parkland or other natural areas. 

Radle Family Fund for Science 

Education – 2007 – This fund aids 

with science and conservation 

activities for the Bethel Local Schools, 

which could include scholarships 

for students or faculty, materials in 

the science classroom, or studentinitiated 

projects within the community. 

Woodrow and Mary Radle called 

Bethel Township “home” since 1946; 

it is here that they raised their 

two children. 

Safety First Fund—2017 – Public 

safety initiatives, delivered through 

emergency services departments 

in Tipp City, Monroe and Bethel 

townships, receive support through this 

fund. Equipment purchases and public 

education are examples of how these 

resources may be used. Steve Kessler, 

who became Tipp City Fire Chief in 

1998, established this fund. 

Urban Stewardship Fund – 2009 

– An architectural mix adds to the 

streetscape enjoyed by fund founders 

Heather Bailey and Frank Scenna. 

This fund has been created to help 

maintain that charm. Grant awards 

support the exterior maintenance and 

upkeep of properties in and around a 

close proximity of Tipp City’s historical 

downtown district. 

2018 Endowment Funds by the Numbers 

Endowments Established 

in 2018 

Endowments established 

since 1943 

Endowment $ from 

3 new Funds 

Total Endowment 

Assets 

3 

44 

$177,138 

$4,263,761 

Outdoor Experiences Fund iho Abby 

Kessler Bowling—2017 – Outdoor 

recreation and education, as well 

as parks in Tipp City and Monroe 

Township, receive support from this 

fund. Abby, a retired teacher and 

nature enthusiast, encourages people 

to explore the great outdoors through 

the creation of this fund. 

Senior Wellness Fund – 2016 – 

Promoting senior health and wellness 

programs such as eyesight, hearing 

and dental needs is the mission of 

this fund. This fund is established in 

memory of Billy Berk by his parents, 

John and Kay Berk. 

Veterans Tribute Fund – 2013 – Public 

spaces set aside to salute military 

veterans receive grants from this fund 

for maintenance and upkeep. This 

fund is an extension of a commitment 

to honor those who have served our 

country, which began in 2005 by 

a band of volunteers who laid the 

groundwork for the Veterans Memorial 

Park at the corner of West Main and 

Hyatt Streets. 


Scholarship Funds…grant awards support higher 

learning and are selected by an independent body 

Ernest Clay Back Scholarship for 

History Fund—2017 – A love of 

history is honored through this fund, 

which provides scholarship assistance 

to Tippecanoe High School graduates 

who intend to pursue history studies in 

college. Ernie and Mara Back were 

the owners of the Tippecanoe Frontier 

Trading Co., in historic downtown 

Tipp City. For 27 years, the store was 

a portal back to the early days of 

American life. The store closed 

in 2007. 

Jeanette C. Gaston Memorial 

Music Scholarship Fund –1992 – 

Tippecanoe High School seniors 

who have participated in the Tipp 

City Band and have demonstrated 

leadership skills and academic 

aptitude are eligible for this award. 

Jeanette died in a car accident 

in 1991 while a freshman at Ball 

State University, where she played 

the trombone in the band and was 

majoring in engineering and physics. 

Gilmore Family Scholarship Fund 

– 2015 – Tippecanoe High School 

students who balance high achieving 

grades with community involvement 

are eligible to receive this scholarship. 

Founded by Tipp City residents, Russ 

and Kathy Gilmore. 

Katherine G. Lobo Memorial 

Scholarship Fund – 2012 – A 

talented Communications Coordinator 

of the Tippecanoe School System, 

Kitty’s presence in the schools helped 

to forge and promote the district’s 

reputation for excellence. Her ready 

smile and gentle approach were 

familiar and comforting to students, 

teachers, and parents alike -- and her 

gift with the written word was both 

impressive and inspiring. This is a 

needs-based award. 

Sarah Merritt Memorial Scholarship 

Fund – 2010 – This fund awards 

scholarships to Tippecanoe High 

School women athletes. Eligible 

students are those who demonstrate 

the personal characteristics of Sarah, 

including the high energy, desire, 

dedication and determination 

to succeed. 

Lester & Cleon Bowers Family 

Scholarship Fund – 2010 – This 

fund honors the Bowers family and 

their commitment to the Miami East 

community. Graduating Vikings, who 

demonstrate that they have put forth 

their best effort academically, while 

demonstrating a high degree of 

personal integrity and commitment 

to community service, are eligible 

for this award. 

Life’s A Journey - Don’t Stop 

Believing Scholarship Fund – 2013 

– Graduating high school seniors 

who selflessly rise to the challenge to 

care for a family member during a 

time of medical crisis are candidates 

for this award. These award winners 

are called “Rock Stars” as a way of 

acknowledging the “solid-as-a-rock” 

character they exhibited as they put 

their carefree life of youth aside to 

become a caregiver. 

McKee Family Matthew 5:16 

Scholarship Fund –2012 – Reflecting 

the ideals important to Jim and Cheryl 

McKee and their family, this award 

is given annually to a student who 

demonstrates leadership and Christian 

values as evidenced by service 

to others. 

John S. & Louise T. Miller Memorial 

Scholarship Fund – 1999 – This fund 

honors this Bethel Township farming 

family by providing scholarships to 

graduates of Bethel High School. 

This is a needs-based award. Four 

generations of the Miller family have 

attended Bethel Township schools. 

John Cable Miller, 1932; John Adam 

Miller, 1956; John Stewart Miller, 

1979; and John Caleb Miller, 2011. 

Follow us on tippfoundation and Follow tippfoundation us on | Tipp City Foundation | 11

Robert E. Nessle Memorial 

Scholarship Fund – 1994 – This fund 

establishes an award for Bethel High 

School graduates attending Miami 

University or The Ohio State University 

and celebrates the diverse life that 

Rob Nessle led before his death. 

Rob was valedictorian at Bethel High 

School, a summa cum laude graduate 

of Miami University and a doctoral 

candidate in New York University’s 

economics program. 

Elizabeth Spano Scholarship Fund 

– 2001 – This fund ensures that 

the memory of this 10-year-old girl 

endures. Beginning in 2009, the fund 

awards scholarships to graduating 

Tippecanoe High School young 

women, who have been active in 

cheerleading, basketball, or softball, 

all activities that Elizabeth enjoyed 

in her short lifetime. 

Agency Endowment 

Funds…established by 

nonprofits as a practical 

way to manage their 

endowment dollars 

Tipp City Rotary Club Scholarship 

Fund – 2015 – This fund assists 

the Club in awarding annual and 

renewing scholarships to deserving 

graduates of Bethel and Tippecanoe 

High School. 

Tipp City Area United Fund 

Endowment – 2001 – This fund 

encourages community-wide health 

and human services assistance in 

Monroe and Bethel Townships. The 

focus of support is on education, 

counseling, character-building 

activities, and emergency aid. 

Wenzlau Family Scholarship 

Fund – 2016 – Created to support 

Tippecanoe High School graduates, 

this fund was established by Thomas 

E. Wenzlau. As the president of 

Ohio Wesleyan University (1969 

– 1984), Wenzlau saw the value 

of education up close. This fund 

serves as a tribute to Wenzlau Family 

graduates of Tippecanoe including: 

Charles N. Wenzlau, 1912; Alice 

Kessler Wenzlau, 1918; Thomas E. 

Wenzlau, 1945; and Charles N, 

Wenzlau, II, 1949. 

Tipp City Public Library Endowment 

Fund – 2017 – The purpose of this 

Fund is to provide funding necessary 

for the on-going services of the Tipp 

City Public Library. 

Tippecanoe Historical Society Fund 

– 2013 – Promotes a broad range 

of activities that are historical in 

nature and may include historical 

preservation, education and special 

programming. 


Advised Funds…grant awards are made at the 

discretion of each Fund’s advising body 

Christmas in the Village Fund – 

2014 – This fund hosts the 

administrative details of this seasonal 

event. Begun in 1976, each year 

decorated homes are used as 

calling cards to attract ticket holders 

from a wide geographic region. 

Annually, proceeds are shared among 

the nonprofit organizations that 

collaborate on the tour’s planning 

and delivery. 

Tipp City Arts Fund imo Ellen 

Cotterman – 2014 – This fund 

supports art with a preference given 

to grant requests from the Tipp City 

Area Arts Council. Artist, volunteer 

and civic activist, Ellen Cotterman’s 

impact was enormous and defines 

the Tipp City we see today. Projects 

Ellen founded include the Restoration 

and Architectural Board of Review, the 

Tree Board, and the Arts Council. 

Drake Family Fund – 2014 – As 

advisors to this fund, Tim and Mindy 

Drake award grants reflecting their 

personal interests. In time, their 

children Jennifer, Andrew, Jessica 

and Aaron will follow their parents’ 

footsteps as advisors to this fund. 

Since the 1950s, Tim and Mindy 

have called this community “home”. 

Tippecanoe Alumni Association Fund 

– 2013 – Let’s Go Red Devils! The 

purpose of this fund is to support the 

programs and activities of the 

Alumni Association. 

Lesher Fund – 2014 – As advisors 

to this fund, the Lesher Family 

awards grants reflecting their 

personal interests. Established by 

Marilyn Lesher Richards and Joel 

A. Lesher, it serves as a tribute to 

their grandparents Torrence and 

Luella Lesher who settled in Monroe 

Township in 1930, and to their 

parents William “Bill” and Leonora 

“Sally” Lesher. 

Tippecanoe Educational Endowment 

Fund – 1999 – The Endowment 

was established by the Tipp City 

Board of Education to support 

enrichment programs that are not 

otherwise funded through tax dollars 

in its schools. Since inception, it has 

received many generous donations 

including estate gifts from the Hyde 

and Kessler families. 

Wahl Family Fund – 2012 – 

Community involvement has been 

a staple of life for Bob and Jackie 

Wahl. The tradition now carries 

forward to the next generation as 

daughters Katie and Annie award 

grants annually in their family’s name. 



We Say Thanks 

2018 Investors 

Our success is attributed to the families and businesses who have invested in the Foundation over 

the past 75 years. Many are listed below. This report is dedicated to them. 

Why do gifts matter? The future of Tipp City is better because of the impact that gifts make. 

How is that impact seen? It is seen through our grant awards (page 2—5). 

Gifts add up. Our first investor back 

in 1943 was Ed Timmer when he 

launched the Foundation with only 

$1,300. Today the assets of the 

Foundation total over $4.25 million. 

Our investors are change agents. 

Seventy-five years ago, the internet, 

smart phones and social media 

didn’t exist. Times change. Today, 

each of those words dart through our 

vocabulary and community, along with 

their implications. 

Increasingly, investors rely on the 

Foundation to keep a pulse on the 

community’s changing needs. While 

investors make their gifts today, 

because of the long-view of endowed 

giving, their contributions endure 

forever. In 2018, over 500 gifts were 

received. And we are forever grateful. 

Join us in thanking our neighbors for 

their support. Although every attempt 

was made to assure the accuracy 

of this list, we apologize for any 

omissions or errors that may have 

been made. Please contact us with 

information to improve the accuracy 

of this list for the future. 

A 

Fayez & Maria Abboud 

Advanced Machinery Companies 

Sandyx Alex 

Charles & Kathryn Allen 

Brittany Altstaetter 

Doug & Sue Amlin 

Donald & William Anderson 

Anonymous (14) 

Linda Ares 

Pauline Arnold 

B 

Barbara Jo Bailey 

Rick & Val Baker 

Joann Barhorst 

Michael & Dixie Barnhart 

Norman & Marianne Barnhart 

John & Sally Beals 

Ryan & Rochelle Bednarczuk 

Doris Beeson 

Robert & Natalie Beidler 


Kathy Beyl 

Amy Blake 

George & Mary Blauser 

John & Dianna Borchers 

Bordeaux Club 

Robert & Lolita Border 

Roger & Lenora Bowen 

Abby Bowling 

Adam Bowman 

Carl & Mary Bowman 

Larry & Carolyn Boze 

Bradford Fire Department 

Ellen Brewer 

Ronald Brewer 

Eric & Leisha Brown 

Vivian Brown 

Robert & Angela Butler 

C 

Karen Cain 

Vincent & Joan Caldwell 

Hubert & Verna Callaham 

Captor Corporation 

Linda Kyle Carman 

Douglas Carter 

DIAMOND 

JUBILEE 

TIMELINE 

1943 

Tipp City Foundation, 

a community trust, is 

founded with a $1,300 

gift from Ed Timmer. 

This is our 1st 

endowment fund. 

1950 

The first legacy gift arrives. The gift is 

from the estate of Emma Henke Warner 

in memory of her father August Henke. 

When Mr. Henke died in 1923, he was 

known as “Tippecanoe’s Oldest Man.” 

This results in the August Henke Comfort 

for the Needy Fund. 

1960 

The space race heats up… 

total grantmaking reaches 

$5,000. 

1970 

At the dawn of disco… 

total grantmaking 

reaches $10,000. 

1980 

Pac man invades arcades… 

total grantmaking reaches 

$20,000. 


Casstown Fire Department 

Joseph & Rebecca Catey 

Frank & Katherine Catrone 

Ted & Annie Caudill 

Jesse Chamberlain 

Thomas & Elizabeth Christie 

Richard & Kay Cline 

William & Nancy Cline 

Kristin Cobb 

Kimberley Cole 

Stacie Blake Collins 

Community Minded Women 

Jerry Conner 

Robert & Mary Ann Cornell 

Cottage Hill Nursery 

Covington Fire Department 

Kevin & Chelsea Cox 

Phil & Lois Cox 

Tom & Joan Creech 

Sylvester & Judith Cutcher 

D 

David & Carol Dalton 

James & Linda Daniel 

Darke County Association of Fire 

Chiefs 

Jacob Davenport 

Tom & Judy Davenport 

Lewis Davis 

Marian & Barbara Deangelis 

Jon & Denise Dehass 

Sharon Dehus 

Mara Demers 

Karen Dillon 

Scott & Kathleen Dixon 

Suzanne Wenzlau Donskey 

George & Joy Doviak 

Thomas & Beverly Downs 

Tim & Mindy Drake 

Bob Drexler 

Daniel & Mary Drexler 

Ken & Sue Drexler 

Ron & Jan Drexler 

Sheriff Dave Duchak and staff 

Dunaway Family Foundation 

Robert Duncan 

Dungan & LeFevre, Co., LPA 

Sandra Dunham 

Tom & Sandra Dysinger 

E 

Howard Earles 

Gerald & Valerie Eberly 

Edward Jones - Neil Nehring 

Tim & Roseanne Eggleston 

Fred & Marlene Egli 

Betty Eickhoff 

Amy Eidemiller 

Linda Eidemiller 

Don & Laurie Eldredge 

Daniel Elliott 

Phil Elliott 

Beverly Elrod 

Paula English 

Stan Evans 

Tim & Patricia Evans 

Evergreen Lawn Care 

Larry & Sonia Ewald 

F 

Pauline Fabrigar 

Rex & Carol Farmer 

Carol Faulkner 

R. McKay & Diana Featherstone 

Audrey Ferryman 

Robert & Sue Fischer 

William Flayler 

Fletcher Fire Department 

Michael Folk 

Lurene Foreman 

Marvin & Linda Fox 

Frings & Bayliff Funeral Home 

Donald Frysinger 

Bruce & Teresa Fuhrman 

G 

Robert & Gaye Gabel 

Terry & Louretta Gaston 

Kent & Charlotte Genslinger 

Ruthann George 

Michael Gerlaugh 

Gibson Law Offices 

Chris & Joan Gigicos 

Kelly & Dee Gillis 

David & Carolyn Glaser 

Terry & Jana Glass 

Philip & Joyce Goldner 

H. Jane Gordon 

Carol Graf 

David & Kelly Grim 

Michael & Betty Gross 

Ned & Marie Gruebmeyer 

H 

Gale Halderman 

Patrick & Pamela Hale 

David & Anita Bowman Hamber 

Joseph Hammann 

Roger & Christine Hamric 

Rusty Harden 

Bert & Teri Harrison 

Kevin & Kara Hartke 

Loretta Hay 

James & Joellen Heatherly 

Andrew & Melanie Heinl 

Nicholas & Amanda Heinl 

Rick & Lyn Heinl 

Sue Helmick 

Alice Hennessey 

Thomas & Marie Herr 

Ben & Nancy Herron 

Cheryl Hicks 

Glenn & Vicki Hill 

David & Christine Hirsch 

Glenn & Audrey Hochwalt 

Richard & Cheryl Honack 

Gordon Honeyman 

Larry & Mary Hoover 

Timothy & Melinda Hoover 

Todd Hoover 

Wilma Hoover 

Richard & Patricia Hopkins 

Greg & Cathy Horn 

Patrick & Kate Horney 

Adrienne Howell 

Carol Huelskamp 

Hyde Charitable Remainder Trust 

J 

Mike & Karen Jackson 

Ralph & Florine Jackson 

Allan Jones 

Dennis Jones 

Kelly & Amy Joseph 

1986 

1990 

1993 

1998 

1999 

2000 

With an estate gift 

from Helen Timmer, 

endowment fund assets 

leap to over $1.5 million. 

The dot com bubble is 

looming...total grantmaking 

reaches $210,000. 

50th anniversary of the 

Foundation; there is no 

recorded celebration. 

Moving all assets under 

the umbrella of The 

Dayton Foundation, a 

community foundation, 

means donations are 

now tax deductible. 

Going Public. Led by Chairman Jim Kyle, trustees 

identify the need for a parallel “corporate” 

option for new endowments, in addition to the 

old-fashioned trust option. The name Tipp City 

Area Community Foundations is adopted to 

recognize the parallel investment forms. 

It was a little complicated but necessary 

in order to grow. 

We all survived the 

Y2K millennium bug… 

endowment funds 

double to a total of 10. 



How to Give 

You are an investor when you: 

1. Return your check in the 

enclosed envelope, 

2. Go to tippfoundation.org/ 

learn-how-to-give/ 

and make an online payment, 

or 

3. Make a stock transfer— 

(contact us for transfer 

instructions) 

K 

Aaron & Karen Kaibas 

Richard & Marilynn Keeler 

Mary Ellen Keller 

Tom & Melissa Keller 

Maggie Kenny 

Richard Kerg 

Patricia Kerth 

Bruce & Jennifer Kielgas 

Steven King 

Elizabeth Kiser 

Paul & Joyce Kister 

John Klyce & Penelope Marsh 

Jeane Knapp 

Thomas Knick 

Koverman Staley Dickerson Insurance 

Agency 

Kyle & Christine Kramer 

James & Tamara Kueterman 

Gary & Karen Kuziensky 

James Kyle 

L 

Deloris Lachey 

Lee & Shelly Lampert 

Dennis Landes 

Mary Jane Landis 

Michael & Melissa Lange 

Toby Larned 

Laura Fire Company 

Donald & Phyllis Lawson 

Robert & Wanda Lenehan 

John & Patricia Liening 

Michael & Susan Lightle 

Thomas & Diane Lileas 

Eric & Lara Limbert 

Jay & Jessica Lopez 

William & Nancy Loudin 

LT Ball Intermediate School 

Randy & Ann Luken 

M 

Greg & Celeste Mackenzie 

Andrew & Sarah Maigur 

RJ Mains & Associates 

Kenneth & Regena Mangen 

Matthew & Jayme Martin 

Don Martindale 

James Mathias 

Don & Nancy McAlexander 

Michael McCaffrey & Vonda Alberson 

Steven & Kathleen McCrillis 

James McDonald 

Noel & Landa McGinnis 

James & Cheryl McKee 

Bruce & Ann McKenzie 

Jenny McWhorter 

The Merck Foundation 

Cathy Meredith 

Miami Valley Fire EMS Alliance 

John Miller 

Maurice & Mary Miller 

Robin Miller 

William & E. Irene Miller 

Minster Bank 

Jeff & Jacquelyn Mitchell 

Joseph & Donna Mohler 

Richard & Treva Monnier 

Monroe Federal Savings and Loan 

Terrence & Shirley Moore 

Roger & Joyce Moubray 

Rebecca Mount 

Dennis & Carol Myers 

Donald & Sheila Myers 

Joyce Myers 

N 

Needy Basket of Southern Miami 

County 

Michael & Stacy Nelson 

William & Janice Nicholson 

Daniel Nimer 

O 

James & Carolyn Oaks 

Karen Olshawsky 

Nicole O’Quinn 

Ethyl Osweiler 

Mark & Debra Owens 

P 

Damen & Priti Patel 

Michael & V.L. Patterson 

John & Mary Pearson 

Michael Pearson 

Alfred & Barbara Pelletier 

Curtis & Cynthia Petzoldt 

Scot & Kay Pickerill 

Pickrel, Schaeffer & Ebeling 

David & Carol Pinkerton 

Robert & Suzanne Pinter 

Gordon & Joanna Pittenger 

Michael & Gail Porto 

Roxie Powell 

Michael & Kari Prall 

Kenneth & Nancy Price 

William & Helen Prichard 

Leonard & Miriam Pytel 

R 

Doug & Darlene Rabe 

Bryan & Abby Ramos 

James & Noel Ranft 

Bruce Rasor 

Glenna Rasor 

Jeff Rawlins 

Thomas & Shirley Rawlins 

Ron & Sue Ann Re’ 

Ruth Reinhard 

Greg & Valerie Relue 

Donald Rhoades 

Michael & Judy Rice 

Thomas Richardson 

Kimberly Riebe 

Jason & Molly Riehle 

Lawrence & J.S. Riesser 

James Ritchie 

Joseph & Barbara Ritenour 

Stacy Robinson 

Samuel & Ann Robinson 

Dee Rogers 

Jean Rogers 

Thomas & Claudia Rogers 

Kay Rohrbach 

Thomas Rohrbach 

Lionel & Kerin Staup Romero 

Robert & Linda Rosell 

Ruth Rowley & Carol Linden 

Royal Crest Marketing & Management 

Services 

Carolyn Royer 

RSM US LLP 

Nancy Ryan 

2001 

America forever changes on 

9/11…total grantmaking 

reaches $1 million. 

2003 

Endowment fund assets 

surpass $2 million. 

2007 

Migrating all assets from The 

Dayton Foundation to The 

Troy Foundation saves on 

administrative costs. 

2011 

The Legacy Society takes form; 

11 members are identified. 

2012 

25 endowment funds 

are now in place. 

2013 

Inaugural recipients Bob and 

Jackie Wahl receive the Philanthropist 

of the Year Award. 

16 | Can you help us make a difference? Go Call online us at 937-528-2482 to donate at www.tippfoundation.org 

or go online to donate at www.tippfoundation.org

S 

Ruth Safreed 

Lori Salyers 

Lisa Santucci 

Jeffery & Nancy Sargeant 

Mark Sauls 

Frank Scenna & Heather Bailey 

Mary Fran Duncan Scharch 

Peter & Rebecca Schinaman 

Joan Schuermann 

Donald & Linda See 

Mark Senseman 

Raymond & Marlene Shook 

Patricia Singer 

Kathryn Skinner 

Charles & Loraine Smith 

Dorothy Smith 

Karen Smith 

Steven Smith 

James & Janice Sommer 

Kathryn Sonnanstine 

Gary & Sandra Spangler 

Samuel & Marguerite Spano 

Wayne & Susan Spitler 

Michael & Jill Spurlin 

R. A. Stang 

Erin Staub 

Michael Staup 

Monica Stewart 

Gary & Margaret Stockler 

Opal Stockslager 

Terry & Elizabeth Studebaker 

George & Katherine Stum 

Pamela Sutton 

Mark & Pam Swindon 

T 

Robert & Diana Tanke 

April Taylor 

Daniel & Julie Taylor 

Donald & Janet Taylor 

Michael & Sharon Tecklenburg 

Jerry & Mary Thobe 

Sandra Thomas 

Thrivent Financial - Matt Buehrer 

Don & Nancy Timmer 

Matt & Claire Timmer 

Scott & Cynthia Timmer 

Thomas Timmer 

Tip Top Canning Company 

Tipp City Area Arts Council 

Tipp City Police and Miami County 

EMA 

Tipp City Rotary Club 

Tipp Monroe Community Services 

Tippecanoe Chapter #307 

Tippecanoe Class of 1957 

Tippecanoe Class of 1999 

Phyllis Tittle 

Armand & Jackie Tremblay 

Peter & Cindy Trick 

Trophy Nut Company 

James & Andi Trzeciak 

Turnstone Financial 

Alan & Suzanne Twehues 

U 

U. S. Bank 

Union Township Life Squad 

Unity National Bank 

Brent & Karyn Uptain 

V 

Stephen Vallo 

Vandalia Rental 

Bradley & Michelle Vath 

Corinne Vaughn 

Darshan & Asha Vyas 

W 

Betty Wahl 

Jackie Wahl 

Katrina Wahl 

Jeffrey Walrath & Vicki Matsunami 

Edward & Judy Wampler 

Phil Wampler 

Norb & Judy Warner 

Roberta Weaver 

Jerry & Rachel Webb 

David & Karen Weber 

Marjorie Wells 

Bill & Heather Wendel 

0 

2 

100 

410 

$471,348 

Howard & Sheila West 

West Milton Fire Company 

Paul & Patricia Westcott 

Elza & Gail Whitis 

William & Cynthia Wilhelm 

Phyllis Wilmer 

Joyce & Lynne Wintringham 

Michael Wolford 

Patricia Wood 

Randy & Sarah Worley 

Katie Worthen 

Bill & Joan Wray 

XYZ 

Ed & Nancy Yahne 

Rose Ann Zerkel 

2018 Investors by the Numbers 

Donations from government entities 

% Less than this small amount 

is used on administration 

% Citizens eligible to 

support the foundations 

Homes & Businesses Contributed 

Contributions from 518 unique gifts 

2014 

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

Endowment fund assets 

surpass $3 million. 

39 endowment funds 

are now in place. 

The $2 million grantmaking 

mark is in the rearview mirror. 

Going old school…our 

name reverts to the Tipp 

City Foundation. 

Tipp City Foundation turns 75 

years old; a yearlong Diamond 

Jubilee celebration is held. Total 

grants to the community top $2.2 

million. 44 endowment funds are 

now in place. We’ve only just 

begun to reach our potential. 



Tributes And Memorials 

Donations recognizing the following people become lasting investments in the community that they have 

in common. Some donations commemorate the living. Some remember those who have passed on. 

Chief Steve Kessler 

1945 — 2018 

A B C 

Arthur & Sally Arestad 

William Oetzel Berk 

Barton Beyl 

Lester & Cleon Bowers 

Kenneth & Fairy Bowman 

Sally Brammer 

Jerold Brewer 

Nick Catey 

Carl Clingan 

Josh Conner 

Lyn Snyder Cook 

Ellen Cotterman 

D E F 

Sara Drexler 

Tim Farron 

Bud Faulkner 

Freda Ferguson 

Jim Foreman 

G H I 

Jeanette Gaston 

Dee & Kelly Gillis’ 50th Anniversary 

Pat Good 

Dave & Kelly Grim and family 

Sarah Gross 

Onalee Haas 

Halderman Family 

Dale Hasting 

Daniel Hasting 

Martha Hecker 

Earl M. Hedges 

Lou Hirsch 

Annebel Hoover 

Jack Hounshell 

J K L 

Steve Kessler 

Mary Jean King 

Marie Kuntz 

Jim & June Kyle 

Phil Lantz 

David Lightle 

Richard & Audrey Long 

M N O 

Marthel Elleman Maupin 

Ed McDonald 

Peg McDonald 

Jim McKee 

John & Louise Miller 

H. Bruce Myers 

Rob Nessle 

P Q R 

Newton Parker 

Norma J. Roop 

Dennis Ryan 

S T U 

Suzanne Saal 

Frank Scenna 

Margaret & “Duck” See 

Kim Snow 

Neal Sonnanstine 

Elizabeth Spano 

Emmert & Jane Studebaker 

Thelma Studebaker 

V W X Y Z 

Katie Wahl 

Renegade Wahl 

Richard Wahl 

Robert Wahl 

Pat Wampler 

John Michael Warner 

Richard E. Wells 

Tom Wenzlau 

Jack Whitmer 

Nancy G. Yarger 


About the Artist 

Jennifer Clemens Walker is an ER nurse and has 

been a volunteer at Health Partners Free Clinic 

for several years. A painter and lover of biology 

her whole life, she graduated from Ohio State 

University (before the “THE” was added) with a 

BS in Medical Illustration. She commuted from her 

home in Yellow Springs to Children’s Hospital in 

Cincinnati, where she illustrated surgical atlases 

and medical journals. 

After leaving her job to raise four 

daughters and pursue organic 

farming, she also graduated from 

nursing school and took a job as a 

critical care/ER nurse at Upper Valley 

Medical Center. Unsuccessful in her 

quest for a small farm near Tipp City, 

she nonetheless managed to enroll her 

children there, and all four graduated 

from THS before scattering to the four 

winds. Jennifer is currently perched on 

the south side of Troy, where she lives 

with a large undisciplined garden, a 

big hairy dog, several ninja cats, her 

daughter’s reptile collection, and her 

long-suffering partner, Mark, without 

whom none of this would be possible. 

(Any male who wants to commiserate 

with somebody who’s put up with five 

hormonal women and their cats? He’s 

your guy.) 

A lover of small towns and diners, 

and an unabashed fan of Norman 

Rockwell and Andy Griffith, Jennifer 

has spent most of her adult life 

seeking Mayberry. If Yellow Springs 

was Mayberry with hippies, Tipp 

City is Mayberry with a little more 

organization and very friendly 

firemen (thank you for allowing her to 

photograph the antique truck!). She 

loves the friendly people (thank you 

to everyone who allowed themselves 

to be photographed for this project!), 

the walkable downtown, the shops 

and restaurants, the canal lock, parks 

and bike path, the old-time water 

tower and historic buildings and 

the festivals. She misses the farmers’ 

market and old Spring Hill, where her 

father bought flowers when she was a 

child (she still has one of their 1970s 

mail order catalogues). 

As a biologist, Jennifer also loves 

“long walks on the beach and poking 

dead things with a stick.” Really. It’s 

her thing. Her spirit animal is the 

flamingo (the yard kind), and she 

would happily move to south Florida. 

A compromise is North Carolina, 

which gets Mark out of winter, is 

closer to the ocean than Ohio, and is 

where the two plan to retire. And, it 

is the home of the original Mayberry. 



Matt Buehrer Philanthropist of the Year 

Photo caption: L to R Sarah Worley, Matt Buehrer, Mary Bowman and Claire Timmer 

Matt Buehrer was 

awarded the 

Philanthropist of the 

Year at the Diamond 

Jubilee Celebration 

in September, at The 

Willow Tree. His 

nominator stated: 

“He’s not only a fine 

philanthropist—he is 

one of Tipp’s finest 

citizens as well.” 

Matt co-leads our local giving circle, 

Give Where You Live Miami County, 

which, since its inception in 2015, 

has donated over $150,000 to local 

charities in Miami County. 

In 2017, he organized Fill the 

Truck for Texans in the aftermath of 

Hurricane Harvey. Four semi-trailers 

were filled with over 120,000 

pounds of supplies and sent down to 

Houston to help the victims. Matt even 

drove one of the semis himself. 

But these examples are in addition to 

the countless moments of generosity 

Matt has given Tipp Monroe 

Community Services, Needy Baskets, 

Pink Ribbon Girls, the InterFaith 

Community Foundation, and Stand Up 

to POTS. 

Financial 

Oversight 

The Tipp City Foundation and its funds 

are component funds of The Troy 

Foundation. Leadership for the TCF 

rests in our own community while fiscal 

oversight is maintained by The Troy 

Foundation. This partnership allows the 

Tipp City and Bethel communities to 

benefit from local leadership and profit 

from resources pooled with others for 

investment growth. 

Publication Talent 

Editor: 

Heather Bailey 

Featured Artist: 

Jennifer Walker 

Leadership Photographer: 

Sharon Elaine Photography 

Proofreader: 

Greg Enslen 

Printer: 

Oregon Printing Communications 

Creative Layout & Design: 

Bertke Creative, 

bertkecreative.com 

Webster’s Dictionary defines a 

philanthropist as “someone who 

makes an active effort to promote 

human welfare,” which is exactly how 

Matt Buehrer conducts his life. 


Dear Neighbor, 

Like the scenes captured in these illustrations by artist Jennifer Walker, 

Tipp City has a special glow about it. You see it when you drive through town 

on a summer’s day. The sun is high, shade dapples the sidewalk, and, as 

you cross the tracks, Main Street opens wide before you. The view says 

“Welcome Home” to strangers and townies alike. 

In Tipp City, you are reminded what a joy it is to live in a town that flourishes. 

Philanthropy Partners 

All marketing activities of the Foundations are 100% underwritten 

by generous sponsors. 

Sponsorship dollars are used for printing, postage, receptions and 

other efforts that promote our visibility within the community. 

SILVER SPONSOR 

($2,500 and up) 

Tipp City does not thrive by chance. Dedicated, purposeful action by 

businesses, City government, nonprofits and individuals work to shape our 

healthy community. Tipp City is alive. 

Can you sense it also? Where do you fit into this positive force? What is 

your passion? How do you help make it thrive? What parts of the dynamic 

community do you support? 

The Tipp City Foundation is clear about where it fits in. Our role is to undergird 

pressing needs through endowment funds and grantmaking. As times change, 

needs change. As needs change, we respond through our grants. 

BRONZE SPONSORS 

($1,000 and up) 

Your donation to the Foundation helps to create positive change and uplift the 

community around you. 

Join the many others making Tipp City hip, safe, and forward-looking. 

It’s easy to do when you join your dollars with ours. 

MAY WE COUNT ON YOU TO DONATE? 

Your support, in any amount, is greatly appreciated. 

Heather Bailey 

President 

P.S. Held each fall, the Foundation hosts a Birthday Party. It is a time when we 

give thanks to our contributors from the prior 12 months. A gift today assures 

your invitation. Won’t you join us? 

FRIEND SPONSORS 

(below $1,000) 



NONPROFIT ORG 

US POSTAGE 

PAID 

DAYTON OH 

PERMIT #709 

c/o The Troy Foundation 

216 West Franklin Street 

Troy, Ohio 45373 

Thank You 

to Our Sponsors 

SILVER SPONSOR 

Thrivent Financial – Matt Buehrer 

BRONZE SPONSORS 

Advanced Machinery Companies, Inc. 

Dunaway Family Foundation 

Dungan & LeFevre Co., LPA 

Ever-Green Turf & Landscape 

Gibson Law Office 

Greenville Federal 

Monroe Federal Savings and Loan 

New Carlisle Federal Savings Bank 

Pickrel, Schaeffer & Ebeling 

Unity National Bank 

FRIEND SPONSORS 

Captor Corporation 

Edward Jones – Neil Nehring 

Frings & Bayliff Funeral Home 

Minster Bank 

RSM US LLP 

Turnstone Financial 

US Bank

Tipp City Foundation 2018 Annual Report

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