VERSAILLES, Ind.—In the fall of 2014 the Ripley County Community Foundation made five $20,000 “Sally Morris Community Impact Grants” available to local organizations.
Tyson Activity Center in Versailles receives $20,000 grant. Pictured front row- Sally Morris, Amy Streator-RCCF Executive Director, Tammy Halcomb, Stacey Schmaltz, Aimee Cornett
Back Row-Steve Huff-RCCF Board Member, Linda Chandler-RCCF Board Member, Shawn Halcomb, Shannon Schmaltz and Jeff Cornett. Contributed by RCCF
The Sally Morris Community Impact Grant Cycle was initiated to assist local organizations with larger scaled projects which would significantly enhance the quality of life in Ripley County. This is a challenge grant which requires the recipient organizations to raise $20,000 in matching funds before they receive the grant money. In February, the Tyson Activity Center was notified that it was one of the five organizations to receive the Sally Morris Community Impact Grant. The Tyson Activity Center had until January, 2016 to raise their matching funds, but thanks to wide community support, they raised their match and received their grant funds on August 17.
The Tyson Activity Center was opened by three local couples who saw a need for a community center in southern Ripley County. They wanted to create a gathering place for young and old alike, which would serve Versailles, Holton, Friendship and New Marion. Jeff and Aimee Cornett, Shannon and Stacey Schmaltz and Shawn and Tammy Halcomb seized the opportunity to create their community center when the Town of Versailles offered to sell them the old Tyson Gym. In 2012, the three couples formed a non-profit foundation and opened the Tyson Activity Center with a mission “to promote a quality facility with activities and services that will contribute to the physical, mental and educational well-being of the community.” In three short years the Tyson Activity Center has become the hub for many recreational activities for people of all ages. Those activities include: youth recreational basketball leagues, weight room/training, gymnastics, cheer, yoga, aerobics, summer volleyball, archery, art classes, music lessons and summer camps. Tyson Activity Center has also hosted many community events and fundraisers such as a haunted house, South Ripley Prom, South Ripley Alumni, the Harlem Wizards and concerts.
The gymnasium was built in 1949 and was once listed on the Indiana Landmarks Endangered Places list. Many of the fixtures in the building are original and are in need of repair, simply due to 60 years of wear and tear. The Tyson Activity Center will use the Sally Morris Community Impact Grant to make interior improvements to the building. These improvements will make the building more environmentally friendly as well as more versatile. To obtain information about the programs offered by the Tyson Activity Center visit theirwebsite.
“The Ripley County Community Foundation hopes that its grants will promote leadership in the identification of local needs and the implementation of the plans which address those needs. The enthusiasm, time and hard work which the Cornett’s, Schmaltz’s and Halcomb’s have put into preserving a local landmark and in promoting a sense of community is the epitome of what the Board of Directors had hoped to support with the Sally Morris Community Impact Grants,” stated Amy Streator, Executive Director.
Streator further noted that, “all the grants issued by the Ripley County Community Foundation are funded by Community Granting Funds.” In an effort to make more grant money available to Ripley County non-profits, Lilly Endowment, Inc. will match all qualified donations to a Community Granting Fund dollar for dollar, up to $500,000. Streator stated, “The 100 percent match available through Lilly’s GIFT challenge, makes this the opportune time to donate to the Foundation. One donation into a Community Granting Fund today, will continue to produce dividends a lifetime from now; dividends which will benefit countless non-profits.” Streator further noted that, “the Foundation is at 70 percent of its Lilly Endowment GIFT goal. Raising the remaining $152,000 needed to meet Lilly’s GIFT challenge goal, will forever substantially increase the wealth available to our local communities to maintain and improve the quality of life available in Ripley County.” This match is available until March 31, 2016 or until all available funds have been committed to other donations.
To donate to the Community Granting Fund of your choice and receive a 100 percent match, please send your check to the Ripley County Community Foundation, 4 South Park Ave, Suite 210, Batesville, Indiana 47006 or donate online or call (812)933-1098 for more information.
RCCF press release