RCCF Celebrates Community Impact at Annual Dinner

RCCF Scholarship Recipients. Photo provided.

(Ripley County, Ind.) - The Ripley County Community Foundation recently hosted its Annual Dinner for an evening of reflection and gratitude. Guests gathered to honor the Foundation’s accomplishments, recognize dedicated leaders, and share stories that brought the year’s successes to life.

Year in Review: The night began by celebrating the Ripley County Community Foundation’s progress over the past year as it granted $700,000 into the community in 2024 supporting 760 projects and programs. Attendees heard heartfelt reflections from grantees and community leaders, illustrating how the Ripley County Community Foundation is the keystone of local philanthropy, and how its efforts are enriching the quality of life in Ripley County. Jodi Comer, representing Jac-Cen-Del High School Dollars for Scholars, and Jonathan Maple, of the Margaret Mary Health Foundation, both reflected on how the Community Foundation’s resources and grants helped their organizations take their work to the next level. Owen Menchhofer shared the incredible momentum behind Wreaths Across Ripley County, noting that the Ripley County Community Foundation received special recognition from the international ‘Wreaths Across America’ program as being the largest veterans’ remembrance program in the State of Indiana.

Recognition of Scholars: The evening continued with a celebration of all 2025 scholarship recipients. In 2025, the Ripley County Community Foundation awarded $160,551 in scholarships to 69 deserving students. Two nursing scholarships were awarded during the annual dinner, with Calley Kaiser being the recipient of the Marysue Knisely Nursing Scholarship and the Riley Duerstock Nursing Scholarship. The Foundation also spotlighted its outstanding Lilly Endowment Community Scholars:

• Elena Kuisel (2024 Recipient) spoke about how the scholarship gave her the freedom to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor, without the heavy financial burden.
• Roman Hite (2025 Recipient) shared his plans to attend Earlham College to study engineering, play baseball, and earn a commission as a Marine Corps officer through the Platoon Leaders Class program.

Announcement of $8,621.00 Change Ripley County Grant Recipient: One of the evening’s standout moments was the presentation of the Change Ripley County Grant to South Ripley Community Schools to support the purchase of new band equipment. This unique grant empowers local youth to lead the way, encouraging students to partner with a nonprofit to bring a meaningful project to life. Members of Ripley Youth Outreach, the Foundation’s network of student philanthropists from across the county, interviewed applicants and selected this project, recognizing it as a powerful investment in student creativity and music education.

Hillenbrand Partnership with Possibility Grant Recipients: The Foundation also had the honor of distributing $27,500.00 in Hillenbrand Partnership with Possibility Grants, which support innovative, forward-thinking projects that enhance the Batesville community. The recipients of the first round of Partnership with Possibility Grants exemplify the spirit of collaboration and community progress and are:

• Batesville Memorial Public Library – $7,500 to help equip the new Arts & Innovation Hub with a laser cutter and printer for the maker space, part of a larger effort to foster creativity, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning.
• Genesis: Pathways to Success – $5,000 to support the county-wide Career Exploration Expo, an engaging, hands-on event that introduces over 800 students to potential career paths through interactive experiences and real-world connections.
• Kids Discovery Factory – $5,000 to support Pop-Up Play Events, a STEAM-based outreach initiative offering free, accessible, hands-on learning opportunities for families across Ripley, Franklin, Dearborn, and Decatur counties.
• Oldenburg Academy – $7,500 to assist students in transforming Maypole Heritage Park by making its courts multi-use for basketball and pickleball, helping create a more welcoming and inclusive community space.
• Ripley County Historical Society – $2,500 to fund educational programming and wreath kits for middle school students participating in Wreaths Across Ripley County, helping them honor veterans while learning about service and sacrifice.

President’s Awardees:

Another special highlight of the evening was the presentation of the President’s Award to The Damm Theatre and The Gibson Theatre in recognition of their outstanding partnership during the inaugural Ripley County Film Fest. Their collaboration brought local stories to life and made the arts more accessible to the community.

Genesis: Pathways to Success: The Ripley County Community Foundation used the evening to announce that Genesis: Pathways to Success was launched into its own non-profit organization in January 2025. This spin-off was part of the Ripley County Community Foundation’s long-term strategy to develop unique resources that will promote extra-curricular S.T.E.M. opportunities as well as entrepreneurial resources. Under the guidance of its own Board of Directors, Genesis: Pathways to Success will deepen its partnerships with employers, small businesses, educators, government, and local organizations to create programs that strengthen the regional economy.

The evening concluded with a heartfelt thank you to the donors and community members who make this work possible. The Ripley County Community Foundation is committed to Connecting People Who Care with Causes that Matter and is located at 13 E. George Street, Suite B, Batesville. To learn how you can create opportunities and invest in the future of Ripley County, or to leave your legacy, contact the Ripley County Community Foundation at (812) 933-1098 or visit www.rccfonline.org.