RSRF awards $299,705 in new grants

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $299,705 in 18 new grants at its June 22, grantmaking meeting. These grants included:

· $14,108 to the Shiner Pride Band Boosters for the purchase of new band instruments;

· $2,500 to Historic Hoosier Hills toward art-related educational workshops to be held at the Denver Siekman Environmental Park;

· $11,617 to St. Louis Catholic School in Batesville toward upgrades of its alarm system;

· $31,414 to the Rising Sun/Ohio County Community School Corporation for the purchase of a tractor, lift, and two auto floor scrubbers;

· $25,344 to the South Dearborn Community School Corporation toward the purchase of technology network servers;

· $20,000 to the Community Mental Health Center for the implementation of a school-based services program at South Dearborn Middle School and Milan Elementary School;

· $50,000 to LifeTime Housing Group toward the Park Avenue In-Fill Homebuyers Project in Aurora;

· $2,500 to the Ripley County Commissioners toward the purchase of a new radio transmitter housing;

· Up to $2,000 to the Southeastern Indiana Shrine Club for the purchase of an automated external defibrillator;

· $5,000 to the Ripley County Historical Society toward the completion of the restoration of the historic Culver Cemetery in Delaware Township;

· $15,000 to the City of Aurora for matching funds toward a $300,000 grant request to the Indiana Housing Finance Authority for an owner-occupied rehabilitation program;

· $20,282 to the Ripley County Commissioners for the purchase and installation of an early warning siren system in the county;

· $25,000 to the Ripley County Humane Society toward renovations to its existing shelter;

· $11,655 to South Ripley Community School Corporation for the purchase of new percussion instruments;

· $10,000 to the City of Aurora toward a preliminary engineering study for the Aurora Riverfront Redevelopment project;

· $28,000 to the Town of Versailles toward the cost of refurbishing its back-up water tank;

· $23,285 to the Versailles Volunteer Fire Department for the purchase of gear, foam, and lights;

· $2,000 to the Osgood Volunteer Fire Department toward the purchase of equipment.

"Once again the foundation has responded to a broad range of regional grant requests in the program areas of education, community infrastructure, public safety, health, the arts, and historic preservation," noted Foundation President Marianne Wiggers. "With the continued steady stream of income from the Grand Victoria Casino in Rising Sun, RSRF has been able to award grants totaling some $17 million over the last eight and half years to improve the quality of life for many residents of southeastern Indiana."

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and Ohio County in conjunction with the development of the Grand Victoria Casino and Resort by the Hyatt Corporation. The Grand Victoria makes monthly contributions to the foundation based on a percentage of its adjusted gross revenue.