The Rising Sun Regional Foundation recently awarded grant money to several regional organizations. Ten grants were handed out on December 18 that total $188,250. These grants included:
• $40,000 to the Town of Versailles toward the renovation of the former Versailles Volunteer Fire Department building so that it can be used for town council and other meetings;
• $6,750 to Family Connections, a regional social service agency, toward the purchase of new computers;
• $25,000 to the South Dearborn Community School Corporation toward a pilot educational technology program for its Middle School; and
• $5,000 to the Ripley County Community Foundation to be invested in the permanent designated endowment fund of Milan 54, Inc. to honor Board President Marianne Wiggers’ 17 years of service;
• $50,000 to the City of Rising Sun toward the construction of the permanent Bicentennial Walk along the riverfront, which is scheduled for replacement in 2014, as part of its 2014 Bicentennial Celebration;
• $23,500 as a challenge grant to the Ohio County Commissioners toward the purchase and installation of a standby generator for the Ohio County Courthouse basement and the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department;
• $22,000 to the Ohio County Commissioners toward the purchase and installation of a new and updated digital 911 system;
• $10,000 to the American Legion Post #59 toward the purchase of a cross mold to produce memorial crosses for annual Memorial Day displays at the Ohio County Courthouse;
• $3,000 to the City of Rising Sun to serve as the fiscal agent toward the implementation of a regional comprehensive arts program to be conducted in downtown Rising Sun;
• $3,000 to the Ohio County Convention, Tourism, & Visitors Commission to purchase a citywide public address sound system;
In announcing the awarding of these new grants, foundation President Marianne Wiggers stated, “RSRF was able to end a very challenging financial year in 2013 while still awarding almost $900,000 in new grants to government, educational, and other non-profit organizations in its region comprised of Ohio and Ripley Counties and the City of Aurora.”
“These new grants,” she added, “increase the total grants awarded by the foundation to over $27 million during the past 17 years, which we feel, have clearly and permanently had a positive impact on the lives of many, many residents of southeastern Indiana.”
The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun in conjunction with the development of the Grand Victoria Casino and Resort.. The foundation began its grantmaking program in early 1997, which it has continued to implement. It is now funded by the Rising Star Casino Resort, which makes monthly contributions to the foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue.
