(Versailles, IN) – A total of $667,700 was awarded to 11 non-profit organizations in the Versailles area at the 169th birthday celebration for “Uncle Jim” Tyson on Sunday in the Tyson Methodist Church sanctuary.
The man known as Uncle Jim, James H. Tyson, used $74,000 in Walgreens stock in 1930 to set up a trust fund that specifically benefits the citizens of his hometown.
The fund is a gift to the community for religious, literary, educational and social advancement in the Town of Versailles and vicinity, with a goal of providing relief from the burden of taxation for residents.
Tyson Fund Trustees received 16 requests totaling $845,199 this year, and chose 11 of them to be voted on by Versailles residents, per Mr. Tyson’s Last Will and Testament.
Trustees were able to fully fund three of the 11 approved requests.
The following organizations were awarded 2025 Tyson Fund grants:
- Child Evangelism Fellowship – $4,900 to help fund the summer camps and Good News Clubs at South Ripley Schools.
- Genesis: Pathways to Success – $7,000 for various youth activities the organization conducts in the Versailles area.
- Ripley County Historical Society – $2,300 to replace two windows in the museum.
- Main Street Versailles – $6,000 to support the many programs, events, and other activities the group sponsors throughout the year, such as the Fun Run, Versailles Pumpkin Show baking contest, Farmers Market and Home for the Holidays.
- Ripley County Community Foundation – $3,000 to defray the cost of Dolly Parton Imagination Library books for children ages 0-5 in the Versailles community.
- South Ripley Community Schools – $60,000 to help offset the cost of the turf field installation at South Ripley High School. These are matching funds in addition to amounts previously donated by the Cincinnati Reds and St. Elizabeth Hospital.
- Town of Versailles – $367,000 to improve infrastructure, including the town’s water/sewer systems; to match Community Crossing funds for street repair; a new barn floor; water meters; a down payment on a new dump truck; water bond payment, and a payment on the town’s street sweeper.
- Tyson Activity Center (TAC) – $30,000 to continue programming TAC provides to Versailles residents throughout the year.
- Tyson Library Association – $150,000 to continue programming for the Library and the citizens of Versailles.
- Versailles Fire Department – $25,000 for a payment on the 2006 rescue truck that was purchased in 2020.
- Versailles Lions Club – $12,500 to help offset the cost of entertainment and advertisement for the 2025 Versailles Pumpkin Show.
The distribution is made each year on Mr. Tyson’s birthdate, which is September 14.
