Rush County Community Foundation


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Our History
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and Lilly Endowment, Inc., the Rush County Community Foundation has distributed over $4.7 million through 2007 to benefit Rush County students and organizations since our first distributions in 1994. Community grants -- $520,000 Designated endowments -- $750,000 Local scholarships -- $505,000 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships -- $1,430,000 Lilly Gift Initiatives -- $1,500,000> Following is a yearly history of the foundation of Rush County's future! Click on a year: 1991-1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 In 1991 - 1992, the Rush County Community Foundation was created in 1991 as a response to the Lilly Endowment, Inc. Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) Initiative. The GIFT challenge inspired the development of 65 community foundations throughout the state in the early 1990’s. During GIFT Phase I, Rush County was to achieve one million dollars in permanent endowment funds by the end of 1995 in order to collect $500,000 that would be placed in the Community Fund. The Community Fund was designed to meet charitable needs throughout the county. Paul Barada, Rick Levi, and Dan Earnest were the first Presidents and Founders of the RCCF. Local businessman, James Payne, offered store-front office space at 236 N. Main Street to the Foundation, rent-free for its first year of operation in June 1992; and the next month Suzanne Northam Hazelett, a Rushville native/Indianapolis resident was hired to serve as the Foundation’s part-time (20 hours per week) Executive Director. The office was refurbished and opened to visitors. Volunteer receptionists made it possible to extend office hours to five days a week. 1993 was the first year individual funds were established at the Foundation. At the end of the year the total assets stood at $85,797 and individual fund balances totaled $69,672. Funds established were: Rush County Community Fund, Carthage Community Fund, Philip Kent Mull Education Fund, RCCF Operating Endowment Fund, Rush County Youth Athletic Fund, James Moster Family 4-H Fund, Rush County Health, Inc. Physician Presence Fund and the Dolletta Marie Callahan Rush County 4-H Awards Fund. The Founders along with local doctor, Doug Morrell, and businessman, JR Billman, worked to get these funds started at the Foundation. 1994 marked the first year the Foundation was able to give a grant from the Rush County Community Fund. They granted Rush Memorial Hospital a 2/1 matching grant for the purchase of new lights in the Emergency Room. The total amount of the grant was $6,085 with $3,042.50 paid in 1994. 1994 also marked a change in Executive Directors as Rita Axsom was selected to take over from Susie Hazelett on June 1st. The assets of the Foundation grew to $975,384 and individual fund balances totaled $975,384. Funds established in 1994 were: Rush County Swimming Pool Fund, Frank and Frances L. Hilburt Scholarship Fund, Rush County Historical Society Fund, Rush County Education Fund, Business and Professional Women’s Organization Fund, Varsity Scholars Fund, Gilbert and Phyllis C. Joyce Fund, People Helping People Fund, Roy Waggener Family Fund and the Bert & Harriet Mullin & Roy & Edith Waggener Memorial Fund. 1995 went down in history as the year Rush County made the $1 million match, and found a permanent home. Thanks to the generous support of the Rush County community, the Foundation raised the required $1 million required to receive $500,000 in the matching Lilly Endowment, Inc. GIFT challenge. Also the year got even better as Terry Smith of Norwest Bank, now Wells Fargo Bank, approached the Foundation about donating their building at 117 North Main Street in Rushville to be used as the new permanent office of the Foundation. 1995 was also the first year scholarships were awarded by the Foundation from funds established. $8,750 was awarded to the first recipients of the Frank and Frances Hilburt Scholarship Fund. The Benjamin Rush Society was created to honor special ‘Friends of the Foundation’ donating $1,000 or more to support administrative costs. Several different levels of giving were established recognizing donors not only as Friends, but RCCF Patrons, RCCF Donors, Family Contributors and Individual Contributors. Foundation assets grew to $1,784,652 with individual fund balances increasing to $1,783,859. The second payment of $3,042.50 was made to Rush Memorial from the grant awarded in 1994. Several more new funds were established in 1995: Laura May & Howard H. Brown Memorial Fund, Pioneer Hi Bred Fund, Music For Rush County Fund, Rush County Parks Fund, Rushville St. Mary Calvary Cemetery Fund, Dr. Robert D. Stewart Memorial Fund, Rush County Humane Society Fund, Moscow Cemetery Company – Flossie P. Denton and Clarence M. Gosney Fund, Boys & Girls Club of Rush County, Rushville East Hill Cemetery Fund, Rush Memorial Hospital Fund, R.H. Deer Fund, Cornelius B. & Nancy Waggener Oster Fund, Arlington East Hill Cemetery Fund, Wall Family Memorial Fund, R.N. Club Scholarship Fund, Charlotte Frame Sleeth Scholarship Fund, Rex A. & Lucille G. Readle Scholarship Fund, John Sam Anderson Scholarship Fund, Gordon D. & Mary S. Wilson Fund, Carol Niehoff Hardwick Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Jean H. Walker & Ivan G. Alexander Fund. Lilly Endowment announced GIFT Phase II in 1996 allowing the Foundation the opportunity to increase the Community Fund with $1 for every $1 given to an endowed fund. This challenge was to be finalized by August, 1997. After two and one-half years of dedicated service Rita Axsom left as Executive Director of the Foundation and Cindy Taff took over temporarily as our Executive Director. The assets of the Foundation continued to grow and ended the year at $2,145,340. Fund balances continued to grow as well as they ended the year at $2,145,022. Distributions from funds established grew to $45,024 with $13,524 paid in community grants, $12,200 in scholarships and $19,300 in designated fund distributions. Four new funds were added to the foundation: Lelande Anise Hunt Beher Memorial Scholarship, Harold Clifton Jr. Memorial Scholarship, Madeline Gullion Knight Scholarship and the Trinity United Presbyterian Church Fund. In 1997, Lilly Endowment’s GIFT Phase III initiative was announced shortly after Rush County had become successful with the Phase II initiative. With Phase III, the Rush County Community Foundation was recognized as a viable Indiana Community Foundation based on its success of meeting the challenges of Lilly Endowment’s GIFT Phase I & II. Having achieved the previous two GIFT programs, Lilly offered the Foundation the opportunity to an additional $1 million. The Board of Directors chose the option to receive $250,000 towards programs of the foundation with an additional $750,000 put towards community projects to benefit residents of Rush County. 1997 also brought a new Executive Director as Kathy Lienemann was hired. RCCF’s assets grew to $3,170,429 and fund balances continued to grow ending the year at $3,169,817. Distributions from funds also continued to grow totaling $86,307 for the year. Of that $27,722 was distributed in community grants, $28,125 in scholarships and $30,460 in designated fund distributions. Eleven new endowed funds to benefit the county were established: Arlington Christian Church, Carl & Ellen Foust-Fletcher United Methodist Church Fund, Hurst Cemetery Fund, Courtney Anne Huskins Scholarship Fund, East Hill Shrine Mausoleum Fund, Main Street Christian Church Fund, Mildreth I. and Byron P. Smith Fund, Pitman-Worthington Family Fund, Robert H. Schondelmayer-Bible College Scholarship Fund, Rush County Junior Leader 4-H Scholarship Fund, and the Maurice W. “Porky” Wainwright Scholarship Fund. In 1998, Lilly Endowment’s GIFT Phase III Initiative community projects were chosen. A community survey was taken providing the Board of Directors input and after much discussion the following projects were recommended: $600,000 to the City of Rushville to help build a new swimming pool, $75,000 to restore and renovate the Rush County Historical Society’s museum, and $75,000 to provide a new roof and additional repairs for the Rushville Library. In addition to the community projects, the Foundation was working to raise $250,000. This money would be matched by Lilly and used to increase the Community Fund. 1998 brought forward a new opportunity from Lilly Endowment as the first Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship was awarded. Rush County’s first recipient, Grant Reeves chose to attend Rose Hulman Institute of Technology to study engineering. This scholarship program provides students four years paid tuition and $700 for books each year. Assets increased to $4,154,182 and fund balances increased to $4,153,519 at the end of the year. Distributions from endowed funds were $144,257 with $54,857 being paid in community grants, $41,800 in scholarships and $47,600 in designated fund distributions. Additionally, $13,566 was distributed on behalf of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholar program. Six new funds were established during the year: Mays Lion Club Community Fund, Milroy United Methodist Church Fund, Bob and Avie Pike Family Memorial R.N. Scholarship Fund, Rushville Elementary Parent-Teacher Group Fund, Rushville Lodge #1307 of BPOE of Elks Fund and the Eva Leatrice Robinson Fund. 1999 brought another Lilly Endowment initiative, GIFT Phase IV. It provided an opportunity to raise $100,000 for operations which was matched by Lilly Endowment, Inc. with $3 for every $1 raised. It also offered matching $1 for $1 the funds raised towards endowed funds up to $450,000 and as much as $25,000 per donor, and an opportunity for community projects totaling $750,000. The Board of Directors recommended and approved the following community projects; $250,000 for improvements to the Community and Root Buildings at the Rush County Fairgrounds, $250,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Rush County for a building addition, $150,000 for facilities improvements at the 4-H Horse and Pony grounds; $50,000 for a new roof for the Salvation Army, and $50,000 for improvements to the Rush County Senior Citizens Center. Two Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships were awarded. Kelly Gettinger chose to attend Franklin College to study accounting and Lauren Mahan chose to attend Purdue University to study in Public Relations. Assets increased to $5,304,696 and fund balances grew to $5,304,003 at the end of the year. Distributions from funds totaled $133,960. $58,493 of the distributions was paid to community grants, $32,363 towards scholarships and $43,104 to designated fund distributions. $39,296 was also distributed on behalf of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholar program. Thirteen new funds established: David L. Green, M.D. Creativity Award, Dr. Frank H. & Jean Green Memorial Fund, Joseph Hinchman Cemetery Fund, Little Flatrock Cemetery fund, McCarter Cemetery Fund, Philip E. Mitchell Scholarship, Dick Neeb Memorial Scholarship, New Salem United Methodist Church Fund, Rotary Club of Rushville Fund, Rushville Psi Iota Xi Fund, J.D. Taff Memorial Fund, Wilma B. Wainwright Memorial Scholarship, and the Rita Yager Incentive Grant Memorial Fund. The turn of the century, 2000, brought about many changes. Thanks to a grant from the Lilly Endowment GIFT Initiative, the Foundation was able to start an addition and make changes to our building for a conference room and changes to our existing building in order to provide a better working area with a more welcoming image to the public. CAPE (Community Alliances to Promote Education) and Taking Stock were added to the foundation’s vocabulary compliments of Lilly Endowment. Both projects were to expand the foundation’s role in the community, by providing an incentive for education and a determination of what the community foundation meant to the general public. Lilly Endowment GIFT Phase IV goals were obtained by raising $450,000 from donors to be matched by Lilly Endowment $1 for $1, and raising $100,000 for operations to be matched by Lilly at $3 for every $1. Two more Rush County students were awarded Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships. Allie Wicker chose to attend DePauw University majoring in psychology and Scott Byrnes chose to attend Butler University majoring in Telecommunications. Assets grew to $5,642,446 and fund balances increased to $5,641,724 at the end of the year. Distributions from funds totaled $152,049 which included $48,896 paid in community grants, $44,103 to scholarships and $59,050 in designated fund distributions. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholar program distributed $52,279 as well. Seven new funds were established: Big Brothers, Big Sisters Fund, Boy Scouts of America Fund, First Presbyterian Church Fund, Milroy Psi Iota Xi Fund, the Rush County Chamber of Commerce Fund, Senior Citizens Center Fund, and the Alice R. Wiley Scholarship. 2001 was the year the conference room and office remodeling project was completed. An Open House provided an opportunity for the general public to visit the newly remodeled foundation office and to extend congratulations and best wishes to Kathy Lienemann who stepped down as Executive Director and Phyllis Wolf who retired as our bookkeeper. Shirley Biehl was welcomed as our new Executive Director and Terry VanNatta joined the Foundation to replace Phyllis. Lilly Endowment GIFT Initiative V was announced in September. Donations received from August 1, 2000 through December 31, 2002 qualified for a $1 for $1 match up to $2 million to be placed in the Community fund, and a $2 for every 1$ match up to $50,000 for operations. The Foundation, working with community and education leaders, submitted a CAPE (Community Alliances to Promote Education) grant application which was declined late in the year. The Foundation also purchased new computers and a new accounting software package. These were installed and conversion to the new software package started late in the year. Three Rush County students were awarded Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships. Nic Winters, Jennifer Williams and Erin Angle all chose to attend Butler University. Nic chose to major in Chemistry while both Jennifer and Erin plan to become Pharmacists. The terrorist attacks of September 11 caused the markets to drop drastically and the Foundation was not immune to that drop. Assets ended the year at $4,635,645 while the endowed fund balances were $4,634,413. Distributions from endowed funds totaled $168,834, $67,102 was paid in community grants, $37,809 to scholarship recipients and $63,923 in designated fund distributions. $135,080 was distributed on behalf of Rush County students from the Lilly Endowment Community Scholar program. For the first time in our history no new funds were established during the year. 2002 brought another change of Executive Directors as Shirley Biehl left and was replaced by Avonelle Chance Leissring on October 1. The installation and conversion to our new accounting system, Community Pearl, was completed. This allowed RCCF to comply with all record keeping requirements of both the Internal Revenue Service and Lilly Endowment, Inc. After an extensive search for a new investment consultant, Capital Cities was hired to assist and guide RCCF in the investment of our portfolio. Lilly Endowment GIFT Initiative V came to a close and generated over $920,000 in new money to the Foundation. $81,593 was raised in unrestricted endowed funds, $505,812 was raised in restricted endowed funds and $70,830 was raised in operating funds. This was matched with $263,188 from Lilly Endowment, of which $163,188 was placed in unrestricted endowed funds and $100,000 placed in our operating fund to be used during the next five years. Three more Rush County students were awarded Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships. Mark Gordon chose to attend Purdue University to major in Soil and Crop Management, Beth Liggett chose to attend Butler University to major in Elementary Education, and Matt Meer chose to attend Butler University to major in Accounting and Spanish. As the markets stabilized our assets held steady throughout the year and ended at $4,770,787 while the endowed fund balances were $4,769,508. Distributions from funds totaled $95,698, with $25,500 distributed in community grants, $26,122 in scholarships and $44,076 in designated fund distributions. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholar program distributed $172,306. Six new funds were established: Gerald W. Mohr Fund, H.N. (Doc) and Thelma Jaggers Fund, Grayson J. Mahin Scholarship, Holli Spaeth Memorial Scholarship, Hubert E. and Anna Louis Chance Scholarship and the Rushville Consolidated High School/Benjamin Rush Middle School Fund. 2003 brought a year of renewal and revitalization of Foundation awareness to the community. Nineteen local groups heard presentations about the Foundation thanks to the purchase of a new laptop, projector, and Microsoft PowerPoint presentation. Our parking lot was repaired and resealed, and additional landscaping and decorations helped add warmth and friendliness to the building. Our website was updated using our own local photographs and included an online printable contribution form. A complete description list of all of our funds was added and scholarship information and applications continued to be offered in a printable format. Pat Osting retired after over ten years of service. She was honored at a ten year recognition event and promised to serve as a volunteer for as long as she can. Thanks to the Lilly Endowment Community Scholar program, we were able to award three more scholarships which include full tuition to and Indiana college or university and an annual stipend to assist with books and equipment. Pam Powers, Josh Pike and Jaret Wicker were the recipients of the 2003 scholarships. Pam chose to attend DePauw University to major in Economics, Josh chose to attend Butler University to major in Pharmacy and Jaret chose to attend Purdue University to major in Agricultural Systems Management. Assets continued to grow as we ended the year at $5,676,711. Endowed fund balances also saw growth to $5,675,716. Distributions from endowed funds totaled $53,856, of which $14,500 was paid in community grants, $17,748 in scholarships and $21,608 in designated fund distributions. $212,178 was distributed on behalf of Rush County students from the Lilly Endowment Community Scholar program. Seven new funds were established: George Patrick “Pat” Todd Fund, Laughlin Family Trust Fund, Jessy L. McClure Memorial Scholarship, Center Church Cemetery Fund, Little Blue River Cemetery Fund, and the Rushville Public Library Pattison-Schrichte Family Fund. Growth continued in 2004 as well as our commitment to be involved in our community. RCCF assisted in helping the Nature Center to grow and prosper, getting the Lifelong Learning Center started, and helping the Leadership Academy hold its first sessions. Dreams became realities as these grants addressed community needs. Our Community Awareness Committee established an Essay Contest, where high school students write an essay on a volunteer who has impacted their life. Our Board and staff worked many hours to develop and submit the “Rush County Community Foudation Ethical and Operational Standards”. This was a requirement for us to become compliant with both the state and nationally set standards for community foundations. 2004 marked the first year that the Foundation started holding fund raisers to assist in their operation. In conjunction with the Rushville Knights of Columbus we held our first Chicken Fry. Dan and Betty Green of Photography by Green created the “A Scenic Tour of Rush County” screensaver CD as a gift for the Foundation. Proceeds of the sales of these CD’s went towards our operating fund. We could not thank these businesses enough for their ongoing support of our operations. We were once again able to award three Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships to Rush County students, Gwen Kemple, Jamie Nigh, and Katie Pickering. Gwen chose to attend Butler University to major in Exploratory Studies focusing on business or language, Jamie chose to attend Anderson University with a major in Graphic Design/Fine Arts, and Katie chose to attend Hanover College to study Chemistry. Our assets ended the year at $6,105,017 and our endowed fund balances were $6,056,057. Distributions from funds for the year totaled $150,123, with $44,082 paid in community grants, $50,125 paid in scholarships and $55,916 distributed for designated funds. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholar program distributed $218,527 on behalf of Rush County students. Due to the dissolution of the Mays Lions Club the Mays Lions Club Community Fund name was changed to the Mays Community Fund in December, 2004. Eighteen new funds were established during the year: Hubert and Grace Alexander Scholarship, Ben Davis Creek Christian Church Fund, the Richard S. Earnest Diabetes Scholarship, Fairview Christian Church fund, Suzanne Northam Hazelett Fund, Michael J. Keith Memorial Scholarship, Kiwanis Scholarship, Mental Health Association Bobby Dean Interest Free Student Loan Fund, Nature Center Fund, Purdue Opportunity Award Scholarship, Duward G. Reddick Kiwanis Scholarship, Rush County Beech Church Fund, Rush County Dolly Parton Imagination Library Fund, Rush County Fairgrounds Fund, Rush County Federation of Teachers Fund, Marian G. White Purdue Opportunity Award Scholarship, John and Susan Wilson Unsung Hero Award Fund and the Shane Young Memorial Soccer Fund. Sadly, the founding executive director, Suzanne Northam Hazelett, passed away after a short battle with cancer. Suzie will be missed by her family and the local community, but her legacy of work will continue forever. 2005 was a great year for the Foundation as we passed another milestone in our history. At the end of the year our assets had grown to $7,053,263 and our fund balances increased to $6,995,987. The Foundation was very proud that the Best Practices Ethical and Operational Standards the Board had worked so hard on in 2004 was approved. This confirmed that the Rush County Community Foundation was in compliance with Ethical and Operational Standards for Indiana Community Foundations. As Indiana holds a reciprocal agreement with the National Council on Foundations, this also confirmed that the Foundation is automatically considered in compliance with National Standards for US Foundations. Another year brought forth another new opportunity from Lilly Endowment. The Foundation submitted an application and was awarded a grant from Lilly Endowment’s newest initiative, Sustaining Resource Development. This grant was designed to assist Foundations in obtaining self-sustainability. This process made us look at where we are now and where we want to be in three to five years, and helped us establish a road map for reaching our goals. 2005 also brought a change in our Executive Director’s position. Avy Leissring left, after two years of service and Garry Cooley was hired in July to continue the philanthropy endeavors of RCCF. He had been an active Foundation Investment Committee member since 1993 and a Board Member since 2003. Fundraising is always an ongoing function of the Foundation, as we need to continually raise dollars for our operations. We continued to sell the computer screensaver CDs so generously created by Green’s Photography. We enjoyed our second successful Chicken Fry in conjunction with the Knights of Columbus, and Stagg’s Dairy Treats held a ‘Rush County Community Foundation Day’ where a portion of their sales was donated towards our operation. Most importantly, the Friends of the Foundation continued to be an integral part of our success. Due to changes initiated by Lilly Endowment, the Lilly Endowment Community Scholar awarded two Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships in 2005. These scholarships pay full tuition along with an annual stipend for books to any college or university in Indiana. Our 2005 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships were awarded to Tamara Schwering who is furthering her education by studying Hospitality and Tourism Management at Purdue University and Nathan Hedrick who is furthering his education by studying Chemical Engineering at Rose Hulman Institute of Technology. Distributions from endowed funds for the year totaled $158,879, of which $46,554 was distributed in community grants, $41,455 in scholarships and $70,870 in designated fund distributions. $205,942 was paid on behalf of Rush County students from the Lilly Endowment Community Scholar program. Fourteen new funds were established: A.R.C. of Rush County Endowed Fund, A.R.C. of Rush County Pass-Through Fund, Blue River Wesleyan Cemetery Fund, Richard and Loretta Busald Family Nursing Scholarship Fund, Judy Colangelo Cancer Treatment Fund, First Baptist Church of Rushville Fund, Ruth and Donald Banks Fund, Norma R. Harcourt School of Nursing Memorial Scholarship Fund, Dessie H. Lower Trust Rush County 4-H Fund, Robert Meyer and Family 4-H Scholarship Fund, Rush County Cancer Pass-Through Fund, Rushville/Rush County Community Center Pass-Through Fund, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Endowed Fund, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Pass-Though Fund and the Youth in Philanthropy Fund. 2006 was a year of celebration as the Foundation celebrated their 15th Anniversary of giving to Rush County. The celebration kicked off May 22nd, as volunteers set out across the county placing black and gold ribbons on projects that the Foundation has helped fund in the past. It culminated with a party, on September 17, 2006, at the Rushville Riverside Park Amphitheater. The theme of the celebration was “Three million reasons to celebrate 15 years of giving”. This theme translated into the more than 3 million dollars the Foundation has distributed to the Rush County community in the form of community grants, scholarships, designated fund distributions, Lilly Endowment Community Scholar program and Lilly Endowment GIFT Initiatives. Operationally, RCCF started following the road map established for the Sustaining Resource Development Grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. One area this grant allowed assistance to RCCF was in improving infrastructure. We took many steps towards improvement including upgrading computers, establishing a local network within the office and establishing a daily backup system for our computer records. We also installed a fire rated door to our records vault to help protect written documents, purchased a laser printer to allow timely printing and modification of our brochures, updated our accounting software to the latest version, and created a new board member orientation presentation. Fundraising for our operation was ongoing throughout the year. We are thankful for all the support we received from the community. For the last three years, we have been selling screensaver CDs that Photography by Green so generously created from scenic views of Rush County. In 2006, they began allowing us to offer note cards and a coffee table book, ‘A Scenic Tour of Rush County’, created with pictures from the screensaver. In the fall of 2006, they developed a second screensaver CD, “Shelters Going Home, The Covered Bridges of Rush County”. Two very popular fundraisers for the Foundation continued. The Rushville Knights of Columbus allowed us to host our third Chicken Fry where over 500 chicken dinners were served and Stagg’s Dairy Treats held our second Rush County Community Foundation Day at their restaurant. The Rushville St. Patrick’s Day Committee chose the Foundation to be one of the beneficiaries of their 2006 St. Patrick’s Day event. This event included a parade followed by dinner and a party at the Rushville Knights of Columbus. Our board members sold tickets and t-shirts during this annual event and appreciated the opportunity to be a recipient of some of the event proceeds. Our assets grew to over $7.7 million by the end of the year and our fund distributions totaled $287,325. We distributed $57,776 in community grants, $85,555 in local scholarships and $143,994 in designated fund distributions. We also distributed $199,130 on behalf of Rush County students through the Lilly Endowment Community Scholar program. We once again awarded two Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships. Our 2006 Lilly Scholars were Kira Angle, who chose to attend Franklin College to study Accounting, and Alex Wilson, who chose to attend Rose Hulman Institute of Technology studying Computer Science Software Engineering. With the passing of Ercell Bever, Jr., a prominent citizen of the Carthage area, the name of the Carthage Community Fund was changed to the Ercell Bever, Jr. Memorial Fund. This was done in September, 2006 by Glen Davis, Plant Manager of Smurfit Stone Container Corporation, formerly Container Corporation Of America. The Thomas F. Marshall Scholarship Fund was established by family and friends of the late Judge Marshall in the summer of 2006. 2007 was another great year for the Foundation as we continued to work to meet the philanthropic needs of the Rush County community. Total assets at the end of the year surpassed the $8 million compared to $7.7 million at the end of 2006. Thanks to an increased donor base of contributions to Funds at the Foundation we will continue to serve the Rush County community not only today but for our future generations. Because of our donors, we were able to help our community by giving back over $280,000 in grants, scholarships and individual fund payouts. Since our inception, and with the help of Lilly Endowment, this brings the total to over $4.7 million since our first grants in 1994. These funds have been awarded to Rush County organizations and students to assist in making our community a better place and to help our young people defray the cost of the education they desire. Scholarships continue to be a large part of our Foundation. Two Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships were awarded which pay full tuition along with an $800 stipend for books to any college or university in Indiana. Our 2007 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships were awarded to Kelli Liggett and Spencer Abrams. Kelli is furthering her education by studying Political Science at Butler University. Spencer is attending Purdue University with a major in Business Management. Our past Lilly Scholars continued to benefit as over $182,000 was paid on their behalf to the colleges and universities they are attending. Locally, endowed scholarships established by our Founding Contributors were able to assist 68 students with over $78,000 in scholarship awards for their education at institutions of higher learning. Designated and Field of Interest Funds were responsible for over $134,000 in distributions to benefit the organizations or program areas as established by the founding contributors at the time the Funds were established. Discretionary Funds are the unrestricted funds established to allow the Foundation’s Board of Directors to act upon the recommendations of the Foundation’s Grants Committee in choosing grant recipients. The grants from these funds are more commonly referred to as Community Grants as they benefit many organizations in the entire Rush County community. Since inception we have paid over $520,000 in community grants. In 2007 we paid over $57,000 to local organizations for their projects. New funds in 2007 – We continue to grow our fund base and we are grateful to the Founding Contributors who started the following funds: East Street Christian Church of Carthage, Indiana Fund Rush Masonic Lodge #580, F. & A.M. of Carthage, Indiana Fund Morris F. and Jane Marshall Fisher Fund Jeff Hufford Memorial Scholarship Fund Laurie Saunders Marlatt Memorial Scholarship Fund Donald and Mary Gray Marshall Fund Joan L. McLaughlin Memorial Scholarship Fund Kappa Kappa Kappa, Inc., Phi Chapter Fund Operationally, the Foundation continues to follow the road map established for the Sustaining Resource Development Grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. With the leadership of our Board of Directors we will continue to strive to meet our goals as we continue to improve and grow in each of the four areas of the grant of: Increasing our endowed funds Increasing our operating endowment Increasing public awareness Improving infrastructure Our Board continues to lend their knowledge and donate their time towards the efforts of the Foundation. Thanks to their dedication, we averaged over 92% attendance at our events and 87% attendance at our monthly meetings in 2007. The experience and dedication of our Board and staff will continue to allow the Foundation to grow and prosper to provide more resources for the Rush County community. Fundraising for our operation is a continuous and necessary challenge. Throughout the year we have fundraising events and are thankful for all the community support we receive. We are especially thankful for the following which provided either year round or an annual opportunity for us to raise operating funds: Photography by Green for allowing us to sell the screensaver CDs, note cards and coffee table books they so generously created from the scenic views of Rush County through their travels. There are two series of their work available through the Foundation, “A Scenic Tour of Rush County” and “Shelters Going Home, The Covered Bridges of Rush County”. A portion of the proceeds from these items goes directly to support our operation. The Rushville Knights of Columbus continues to allow us to host a Chicken Fry and provide workers to assist our board, committee members and volunteers serve a great dinner. Held on a snowy February 17th, approximately 400 chicken dinners were served with the income from the dinner less their expenses directly support our operation. Stagg’s Dairy Treats once again held a Rush County Community Foundation Day at their restaurant. Our board, committee members and volunteers assist their employees in a variety of ways. They designate a portion of their sales for that day to assist in the operation of the Foundation. 2007 marked another year in which we were proud to serve the Rush County community. As the Foundation of Rush County’s future, we look forward to our 17th year of meeting the philanthropic needs of our community. 2008 presented challenges to all Foundations throughout the United States as well as worldwide. Capital markets dropped tremendously as a worldwide recession gripped the economy. As a result of this our assets were down 29.5% due to a drop in the value of our investments. At the end of the year our assets stood at $5.7 million. Even with that, it was another great year for the Foundation as we continued to work to meet the philanthropic needs of the Rush County community. Thanks to an increased donor base of contributions, we will continue to serve the Rush County community not only today but for our future generations. Because of our donors, we were able to help the community by giving back over $300,000 in grants, scholarships and individual fund payouts. Since our inception, and with the help of Lilly Endowment, this brings the total to over $5.1 million since our first grants in 1994. These funds have been awarded to Rush County organizations and students to assist in making our community a better place and to help our young people defray the cost of the education they desire. Scholarships continue to be a large part of our Foundation. Two Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships were awarded (paying full tuition along with an $800 stipend for books to any college or university in Indiana ) to Traci Gardner, attending Ball State University studying Elementary Education, and Sarah Strobl, furthering her education at Butler University studying Pharmacy. These two scholarships awarded $173,000 to these two recipients. Locally, endowed scholarships established by our Founding Contributors were able to assist 67 students with over $91,000 in scholarship awards for their education at institutions of higher learning. Designated and Field of Interest Funds were responsible for over $145,000 in distributions during 2008. Discretionary Funds, also known as Community Grants, are unrestricted funds that benefit many organizations in the entire Rush County community. Since inception the Foundation has paid over $580,000 in community grants. In 2008 we paid over $60,000 to local organizations for their projects. We continue to grow our fund base and are grateful to the Founding Contributors who started the following funds: George E. King, D.V.M. Veterinary Scholarship, established by Dr. George E. King, D.V.M. Ward, Richardson and Corn Families Scholarship, established by Teresa J. Ward Danny E. and Barbara J. Gettinger and Family Scholarship, established by the family of the late Danny Gettinger . Nick Singleton Memorial Fund, established by the children of the late Nick Singleton. Kyle Henderson Memorial Scholarship, established by Rodney, Loretta, Alisa and Josh Henderson Victor and Dorothy Koontz Memorial Scholarship, established by the Memorial Committee of Little Flatrock Christian Church. Tobi L. Coon, T.L.C. to Earth Fund, established by Aaron and Kelli Jo Coon. Robert N. Veatch and Mary Lou Veatch and Family Fund, Established by Robert and Mary Lou Veatch The Foundation continues to follow the road map established by our Board of Directors when they received a Sustaining Resource Development Grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. These are the four areas of the grant that we continually strive to meet: Increasing our endowed funds Increasing our operating endowment Increasing public awareness Improving infrastructure Our Board and Committee members continue to lend their knowledge and donate their time towards the efforts of the Foundation with our Board averaging over 89% attendance at our events and 92% attendance at our monthly meetings in 2008. Their experience and dedication, along with the Foundation staff, continue to allow the Foundation to grow and prosper to provide more resources for the Rush County community. Fundraising for our operation is a continuous and necessary challenge. We are thankful for the community support during our fundraising events and offer special thanks to the following that provided either year round or an annual opportunity for us to raise operating funds: Photography by Green - for allowing us to sell the screensaver CDs, note cards and coffee table books they so generously created from the scenic views of Rush County through their travels. A portion of the proceeds from these items goes directly to support our operation. The Rushville Knights of Columbus - continues to allow us to host a Chicken Fry and provide workers to assist our board, committee members and volunteers serve a great dinner. Approximately 400 chicken dinners were served on February 17, with the income from the dinner less their expenses directly supporting our operation. Stagg’s Dairy Treats - once again held a Rush County Community Foundation Day at their restaurant. Our board, committee members and volunteers assist their employees in a variety of ways. They designate a portion of their sales for that day to assist in the operation of the Foundation. Additionally they held fundraising days to specifically support three scholarship funds at the Foundation. 2008 marked another year in which we were proud to serve the Rush County community. As the Foundation of Rush County’s future, we look forward to our 18th year of meeting the philanthropic needs of our community. Back to Top

Our History