Date:    July 5, 2024

Contacts:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director

Re:    Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $248,853 in New Grants

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $248,853 in new grants in the second quarter of 2024. 

These grants included:

• $15,000 to South Ripley Community School Corporation for its Hall of Fame;
• $30,000 to the City of Aurora for Little League field repairs;
• $27,828 to LifeTime Resources toward the purchase of minivans;
• $2,000 to Youth to Yellowstone of Ripley County for portable AED units;
• $15,000 to Rising Sun Volunteer Fire Department for turnout gear;
• $6,000 to Ripley County Humane Society for commercial washer and dryer units;
• $33,090 to Ohio County Rescue Services for stair chairs;
• $39,935 to Osgood Volunteer Fire Department for SCBA equipment;
• $15,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation for basketball goals;
• $25,000 to Kids Discovery Factory for building renovation and expansion;
• $10,000 to Sunman Mainstreet for park improvements; and,
• $30,000 to the Town of Sunman for a Preliminary Engineering Report.

Grant applications for the third grants cycle in 2024 are due Monday, July 15, 2024 by 4:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation serves Ohio County, Ripley County, and the cities of Aurora and Batesville. The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc. which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the Foundation has received more than $46 million in casino funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community.  

###

Date:    June 12, 2024

Contacts:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director

Re:    Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $53,000 in Scholarships

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation is pleased to announce the award of $53,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors who reside in Ohio and Ripley counties and the cities of Aurora and Batesville, the Foundation’s Southeastern Indiana grantmaking region. 

Recipients of the 2024 Rising Sun Regional Foundation Scholarships are as follows:

Batesville High School

Daniela Blanco

Kennedy Cozart

Mason Doll

Natasha Fowler

Jack Grunkemeyer

John Housemyer

Ashlynne Hulette

Gracie Meyer

Josie Meyer

Rhea Miller

Claire Saner

Jackson Schmaltz

Sydney Slaven

Madison Wanstrath

Isabelle Wonnell

Abigail Wuestefeld

East Central High School

Katheryn Dudley     

Chad Gress

Homeschool

Lilly Deaton      

Luke Renfro

Jac-Cen-Del High School

Christopher Davis

Carson Hughes*

Estela Lopez

Julia Meyer

Maria Meyer

Emma Wagner

*The scholarship to be awarded to Carson Hughes in the amount of $1,000 was presented to the Carson Hughes Foundation in his memory.

Milan High School

Kyleigh Bledsoe

Kaitlyn Carpenter

Magdalene Hudepohl

Chloe Hunter

Ben Riehle

Kayla Walke

Oldenburg Academy

Chloe Bohman      

Kate Weber

Rising Sun High School

Lillian Akin

Cloe Ballard

Nate Elliott

Megan Hayes

Abigail Kremer

Breanna Reed

Rachel Schwing

Alyssa Simpson

Connor Southard

South Dearborn High School

Kennedy Emmert

Remi Hensley

Brodie Teke

South Ripley High School

Hailee Burns

Lydia Cornett

Evan Eaglin

Lila Franklin

Shawnee Goddard

Suzanna Gunter

Reese Obendorf
~~

All graduating seniors who reside in Ohio and Ripley counties and the cities of Aurora and Batesville who maintained a six-semester grade point average of 2.75 or higher and plan to attend a post-secondary educational institution were eligible to apply for these scholarship awards. Awardees of these scholarships were drawn at random from the pool of eligible applicants that were submitted to the Rising Sun Regional Foundation along with official transcripts.  

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation is funded by the Rising Star Casino Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc., which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. 

###

Date:    April 3, 2024

Contacts:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director

Re:    Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $248,439 in New Grants

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $248,439 in new grants in the first quarter of 2024. 

These grants included:

• $20,000 to Amy Irons Meyer Foundation for shade toppers at Aurora Dog Park;
• $15,000 to the City of Rising Sun for a new welcome sign;
• $6,927 to Heart House for medication safety lockers;
• $5,000 to Milan Community School Corporation for supplies and curriculum for Milan CARES Central;
• $15,000 to Napoleon Community Rural Water Corporation for a preliminary engineering report;
• $25,000 to Otter Creek Township Volunteer Fire Department for a first responder vehicle;
• $7,500 to Ripley County Food Pantry for a walk-behind forklift;
• $28,000 to Ripley County Highway Department for spreaders and a v-box;
• $20,000 to Rising Sun Municipal Utilities for an advanced metering infrastructure project;
• $32,500 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation for a K-2 playground;
• $25,000 to Southeastern Indiana YMCA for a makerspace;
• $40,000 to Tyson Library for exterior renovations and repairs; and,
• $8,512 to Versailles Volunteer Fire Department for a fire attack hose.

Grant applications for the second grants cycle in 2024 are due Monday, April 15, 2024 by 4:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation serves Ohio County, Ripley County, and the cities of Aurora and Batesville. The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc. which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the Foundation has received more than $46 million in casino funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community.  

###

Date:    January 24, 2024 

Contacts:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director

Re:    Rising Sun Regional Foundation Announces 2024 Scholarship Program

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation’s 2024 Scholarship Program will award scholarships for $1,000 each to graduating seniors for post-secondary education in any accredited institution of higher learning.

The following listed public schools are eligible to participate in this program:

Batesville High School

East Central High School

Jac-Cen-Del High School

Milan High School

Rising Sun High School

South Dearborn High School

South Ripley High School

Eligible applicants attending East Central High School must be residents of Ripley County. Eligible applicants attending South Dearborn High School must be residents of the City of Aurora. Eligible applicants attending Batesville High School must be residents of Ripley County and/or the City of Batesville.

In addition to the scholarship awards to the graduating seniors of the RSRF region’s public high schools, RSRF will also award scholarships to graduating seniors who are homeschooled, attend private and/or parochial schools and who are residents of one of the following areas served by Rising Sun Regional Foundation, i.e., Ohio and Ripley counties and the City of Aurora. 

All completed scholarship applications with transcripts must be submitted no later than March 15, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Scholarship applications are available on the Rising Sun Regional Foundation website at www.rsrfonline.org.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 20, 2023

Contact: Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director (812.438.4490)

Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $436,660 in New Grants

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $436,660 in new grants in the fourth quarter of 2023. 

These grants included:

• $100,000 to the Ripley County Community Foundation for matching funds for Lilly Endowment’s GIFT VIII initiative; and,
• $100,000 to the Ohio County Community Foundation for matching funds for Lilly Endowment’s GIFT VIII initiative.$5,000 to Batesville Area Arts Council for Technology and Display Items;
• $40,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation for Track Equipment;
• $37,525 to Rising Sun Ohio County Senior Citizens Housing for a Commercial Surveillance System;
• $35,000 to City of Rising Sun’s Street Department toward the purchase of a Work Truck;
• $35,000 to New Horizons Rehabilitation toward Vehicle Replacement;
• $30,000 to South Ripley Community School Corporation for Strength and Conditioning Equipment; 
• $24,000 to Friendship Volunteer Fire Department for a SCBA Bottle Replacement Program;
• $22,635 to Town of Holton’s Police Department for Body and Patrol Cameras and a Taser;
• $5,000 to Milan Lions Club for Vision Screening Equipment;
• $5,000 to Ripley County Court Services toward a Jail Programs Room; and,
• $2,500 to Batesville Area Arts Council for Technology and Display Items.

The total amount of scholarship and grant funding awarded by the Rising Sun Regional Foundation in 2023 was $1,240,783. 

Grant applications for the first grants cycle in 2024 are due Tuesday, January 16, 2024 by 4:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation serves Ohio County, Ripley County, and the City of Aurora. The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc. which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the Foundation has received more than $46 million in casino funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community. 

###

Date:    October 2, 2023

Contact:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director (812-438-4490)

Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $250,920 in New Grants

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $250,920 in sixteen new grants in the third quarter of 2023. These grants included:

• $8,000 to Aberdeen Pate Water Corporation toward a building for its new pump station;
• $30,000 to Aurora Emergency Rescue toward the purchase of an ambulance;
• $10,000 to Batesville Community Education Foundation toward an outdoor learning complex;
• $20,000 to Batesville Youth Baseball & Softball toward the construction of an ADA accessible family restroom and concession area;
• $20,000 to Milan Community School Corporation toward the development of a STEM classroom;
• $15,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Emergency Services toward the installation of a security camera system;
• $10,000 to Ohio County Historical Society toward restroom renovations;
• $3,402 to Ohio County Public Library toward the purchase of publicly accessible computers;
• $15,000 to Ohio County Rescue Services for the upgrade of mobile and portable radios;
• $2,118 to Ripley County Chamber of Commerce for office furniture;
• $15,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Park Board for pickleball courts;
• $20,400 to Rising Sun Volunteer Fire Department for turnout gear;
• $30,000 to Shiner Pride Band Boosters for the purchase of a box truck;
• $12,000 to South Dearborn Community School Corporation for percussion equipment;
• $25,000 to Town of Sunman for a water distribution telemetry control system; and,
• $15,000 to Versailles Volunteer Fire Department for communications equipment.
• 
  

Grant applications for the next grants cycle are due Monday, October 16, 2023 by 4:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation serves Ohio County, Ripley County, and the City of Aurora. The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc. which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the Foundation has received more than $46 million in casino funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community.  

###

Date:    June 30, 2023

Contact:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director (812-438-4490)

Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $275,411 in New Grants 

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $275,411 in sixteen new grants in the second quarter of 2023. These grants included: 

•   $40,000 to Aberdeen Pate Water Corporation for a SCADA Control system; 
•   $5,000 to Batesville Area Ministerial Food Pantry for a commercial grade appliance
•   $5,000 to Batesville Community School Corporation for the implementation of a
  Computer Integrated Manufacturing course at Batesville High School; 
•   $15,000 to Batesville Fire Department for a SCBA decontamination washer; 
•   $5,300 to the City of Aurora for the development of pickleball courts adjacent to Aurora City Park; 
•  $40,000 to the Ohio County Highway Department toward the purchase of a Total Patcher Vortex machine; 
•   $30,000 to the Otter Creek Volunteer Fire Department for turnout gear;
•   $5,000 to the Ripley County Community Foundation for the Ripley Youth Outreach
  revitalization of Darren Baker Memorial Park project; 
•   $16,000 to the Ripley County Humane Society for Phase 2 of kennel refurbishment; 
•   $20,000 to Rising Sun Municipal Utilities for its sewer relining project; 
•   $20,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation for sealing and
  painting parking lots; 
•   $4,600 to Safe Passage for the purchase of window blinds; 
•   $34,000 to Southeastern Indiana Recycling District toward the purchase of forklifts for Ripley County Recycling Center and the Batesville Area Recycling Center; 
•   $2,105 to Southeastern Indiana Voices for Children for the development of a new
  website; 
•   $22,406 to St. Nicholas Catholic School toward a security camera and communications system; and, 
•   $10,000 to the Town of Osgood toward the replacement of a police cruiser.
   

Grant applications for the next grants cycle are due Monday, July 17, 2023 by 4:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.
   

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation serves Ohio County, Ripley County, and the City of Aurora. The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc. which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the Foundation has received more than $46 million in casino funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community. 

###

Date:    June 12, 2023

Contact:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director (812-438-4490)

Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $56,000 in Scholarships

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation is pleased to announce the award of $56,000 in scholarships to 56 graduating seniors who reside in Ohio and Ripley counties and the City of Aurora, the foundation’s Southeastern Indiana grant making region. Each student has received a $1,000 scholarship award.

Recipients of these RSRF scholarships are:

Batesville High School

Riley Bailey

Sophia Cassidy

Nadine Davis 

Ella Dieterlen

Thomas Hartman

Haley Lipps

Sophie Myers

Cole Pride

Megan Raab

Cael Rahe

Madison Rahschulte

Kaitlyn Sarringhaus

Madeline Schrand

Jaden Smith

Nate Vankirk

Jackson Wanstrath

Samuel Weigel

Eryu Zhang

East Central High School

Tara Hall

Luke Jackson

Sean Martin

Nikolas Norman

Jac-Cen-Del High School

Avery Caccamo

Larissaa Eldridge

Luke Meyer

Brynn Negangard

Regan Richter

Emalee Veerkamp

Corbin White

Milan High School

Madison Cavins

Hailey Hunter

Mckenzie Seale

Maddison Smith

Brady Werner

Rising Sun High School

Kieran Groover

Dylan Martin

Baylee Morris

Ellie Ohlmansiek

Brenden Paradise

Jenna Saylor

Ruby Thompson

Brady Works

South Dearborn High School

Austin Ballart

Adam Bruner

Kaylee Marsh

James Willoughby

South Ripley School Corporation

Shelby Bastin

Meridath Delmar

Joshua Johnson

Brionna Linkel

Mya McNew

Nicholas Miller

Katelynn Samples

Private/Homeschool

Sophonie Rennekamp

All graduating seniors who reside in Ohio and Ripley counties and the City of Aurora maintain a six-semester grade point average of 2.75 or higher, and plan to attend a post-secondary educational institution were eligible to apply for these scholarship awards.  Winners of these scholarships were drawn at random from the pool of applications that were submitted to the Rising Sun Regional Foundation with official transcripts.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation is funded by the Rising Star Casino Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc., which makes monthly contributions to the foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue.

###

 Date:  March 28, 2023

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $222,792 in seventeen new grants in the first quarter of 2023. These grants included:

• $30,000 to Aberdeen Pate Water Corporation for a new pump at the Thuermer Hollow booster station;
• $12,500 to Canaan Utilities for a preliminary engineering study;
• $19,300 to the city of Aurora’s Police Department for patrol officer safety equipment;
• $15,000 to the city of Rising Sun toward a controller system for the Rising Sun Community Pool;
• $6,317 to Hillforest Historical Foundation for repairs, restoration, and a security system;
• $5,000 to Jac-Cen-Del Community School Corporation for bleeding control kits for Ripley County Schools;
• $1,000 to Main Street Versailles for a mural on the historic Versailles town square;
• $20,000 to Ohio County 911 toward a protocol system for the 911 dispatch center;
• $13,000 to Ohio County Historical Society for the installation of an HVAC system in the historic Whitlock building;
• $3,500 to Ohio County Rescue toward the purchase of cradle points for in-vehicle wifi connectivity;
• $3,500 to Rising Sun Church of Christ for a publicly accessible play area;
• $25,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation for a digital sign;
• $3,675 to South Dearborn Community School Corporation toward the purchase of equipment for its Digital Design Graduation Pathway;
• $40,000 to the town of Milan toward Phase I of its downtown street lighting project;
• $20,000 to the town of Sunman toward the purchase of a vehicle for the Sunman Police Department; and,
• $5,000 to the town of Versailles for the replacement of tasers for the police department.

Grant applications for the next grants cycle are due Monday, April 17, 2023 by 4:00pm. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc., which makes monthly contributions to the foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the foundation has received more than $46 million in riverboat funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community.

###

 Date:  December 20, 2022

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $216,982 in 19 new grants in the fourth quarter of 2022. These grants included: 

• $1,800 to the Napoleon Community Recreation and Restoration Corporation for a concrete floor in a storage building at Central House;
• $25,000 to Milan Community School Corporation to assist with the purchase of a bi-directional amplifier system;
• $10,000 to Kids Discovery Factory toward the purchase of a box truck;
• $12,915 to Rising Sun Ohio County Senior Citizens Housing for office upgrades;
• $13,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation toward the replacement of dugouts;
• $12,500 to Safe Passage for its Mobile Advocacy project;
• $4,500 to Oldenburg Academy for a greenhouse;  
• $10,000 to Ohio County Rescue toward its Mass Casualty Incident project;
• $26,000 to the town of Osgood for repairs and improvements to its trail system;
• $5,000 to the town of Sunman for wastewater treatment testing equipment;
• $15,000 to Jac-Cen-Del Community School Corporation for safety equipment;
• $4,645 to Ripley County Communications for dispatcher chairs;
• $2,500 to Batesville Area Ministerial Association for Celebrate Recovery program;
• $8,622 to Osgood Volunteer Fire Department toward the replacement of an emergency generator;
• $6,000 to Rising Sun Municipal Utilities toward the purchase of a tool for valve and hydrant exercising;
• $10,000 to Rising Sun Police Department toward the purchase of five (5) AED-Lifepack defibrillators;
• $19,500 to Rising Sun Soccer toward field improvements;
• $10,000 to the city of Batesville toward the expansion of the skate park; and,
• $20,000 to the Ripley County Community Foundation to support A Summer of STREAM.

Grant applications for the next grants cycle are due Monday, January 17, 2023 by 4:00pm. Applications are available at the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org, and must be submitted digitally. 

###

Date:  December 15, 2022

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation’s 2023 Scholarship Program will award scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to graduating seniors for the purpose of post-secondary education in any accredited institution of higher learning.

The following listed public schools are eligible to participate in this program:

Batesville High School

East Central High School

Jac-Cen-Del High School

Milan High School

Rising Sun High School

South Dearborn High School

South Ripley High School

Eligible applicants attending East Central High School must be residents of Ripley County. Eligible South Dearborn High School applicants must be residents of the City of Aurora. Eligible applicants attending Batesville High School must be residents of Ripley County and/or the City of Batesville.

In addition to the scholarship awards to the graduating seniors of the RSRF region’s public high schools, RSRF will also award scholarships to graduating seniors who are homeschooled, attend private and/or parochial schools, and are residents of one of the following areas served by Rising Sun Regional Foundation, i.e., Ohio and Ripley counties and the City of Aurora. 

All completed scholarship applications with transcripts must be submitted no later than March 31, 2023. Scholarship applications are available on the Rising Sun Regional Foundation website at https://rsrfonline.org/scholarships.

###

Date:  October 3, 2022

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $232,605 in 12 new grants in the third quarter of 2022. These grants included: 

• $5,460 to Milan ’54, Inc. for installation of painted metal coverings for windows and doors;
• $5,000 to Batesville Area Arts Council for lightweight mobile stage/riser and wireless microphones/sound equipment;
• $30,000 to City of Rising Sun for Phase 2 of upgrades to the city’s decorative lighting system;
• $40,000 to Ohio County 911 for replacement of its current 911 radio dispatch consoles;
• $4,918 to Children’s Advocacy Center of Southeastern Indiana for the expansion of its educational programs;
• $5,000 to Ohio County Rescue Service for the upgrades to its dormitory facilities;
• $34,590 to Rising Sun-Ohio County Community School Corporation for improvements to the playground at Ohio County Elementary School and installation of fencing, batting cages, and scoreboards at its youth sports fields;
• $15,432 to Versailles Volunteer Fire Department for the purchase of five sets of NFPA compliant personal protective equipment;
• $24,705 to Ripley County EMS for the purchase of five Vscan Air diagnostic ultrasound imaging systems;
• $30,000 to Batesville Area Resource Center for the renovation of an ancillary building to house So Loved Closet;
• $25,000 to National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association for replacement of the roof on a historic barn;
• $12,500 to Ripley County Economic Development Corporation for the preparation of a housing study.

Grant applications for the next grants cycle are due Monday, October 17, 2022, by 4:00 pm. Applications can be downloaded from the RSRF website at www.rsrfonline.org, and must be emailed to director@rsrfonline.org. Please note that hard copies are no longer accepted.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc., which makes monthly contributions to the foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the foundation has received more than $45 million in riverboat funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community.

Date:    July 5, 2024

Contacts:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director

Re:    Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $248,853 in New Grants

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $248,853 in new grants in the second quarter of 2024. 

These grants included:

• $15,000 to South Ripley Community School Corporation for its Hall of Fame;
• $30,000 to the City of Aurora for Little League field repairs;
• $27,828 to LifeTime Resources toward the purchase of minivans;
• $2,000 to Youth to Yellowstone of Ripley County for portable AED units;
• $15,000 to Rising Sun Volunteer Fire Department for turnout gear;
• $6,000 to Ripley County Humane Society for commercial washer and dryer units;
• $33,090 to Ohio County Rescue Services for stair chairs;
• $39,935 to Osgood Volunteer Fire Department for SCBA equipment;
• $15,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation for basketball goals;
• $25,000 to Kids Discovery Factory for building renovation and expansion;
• $10,000 to Sunman Mainstreet for park improvements; and,
• $30,000 to the Town of Sunman for a Preliminary Engineering Report.

Grant applications for the third grants cycle in 2024 are due Monday, July 15, 2024 by 4:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation serves Ohio County, Ripley County, and the cities of Aurora and Batesville. The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc. which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the Foundation has received more than $46 million in casino funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community.  

###

Date:    June 12, 2024

Contacts:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director

Re:    Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $53,000 in Scholarships

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation is pleased to announce the award of $53,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors who reside in Ohio and Ripley counties and the cities of Aurora and Batesville, the Foundation’s Southeastern Indiana grantmaking region. 

Recipients of the 2024 Rising Sun Regional Foundation Scholarships are as follows:

Batesville High School

Daniela Blanco

Kennedy Cozart

Mason Doll

Natasha Fowler

Jack Grunkemeyer

John Housemyer

Ashlynne Hulette

Gracie Meyer

Josie Meyer

Rhea Miller

Claire Saner

Jackson Schmaltz

Sydney Slaven

Madison Wanstrath

Isabelle Wonnell

Abigail Wuestefeld

East Central High School

Katheryn Dudley     

Chad Gress

Homeschool

Lilly Deaton      

Luke Renfro

Jac-Cen-Del High School

Christopher Davis

Carson Hughes*

Estela Lopez

Julia Meyer

Maria Meyer

Emma Wagner

*The scholarship to be awarded to Carson Hughes in the amount of $1,000 was presented to the Carson Hughes Foundation in his memory.

Milan High School

Kyleigh Bledsoe

Kaitlyn Carpenter

Magdalene Hudepohl

Chloe Hunter

Ben Riehle

Kayla Walke

Oldenburg Academy

Chloe Bohman      

Kate Weber

Rising Sun High School

Lillian Akin

Cloe Ballard

Nate Elliott

Megan Hayes

Abigail Kremer

Breanna Reed

Rachel Schwing

Alyssa Simpson

Connor Southard

South Dearborn High School

Kennedy Emmert

Remi Hensley

Brodie Teke

South Ripley High School

Hailee Burns

Lydia Cornett

Evan Eaglin

Lila Franklin

Shawnee Goddard

Suzanna Gunter

Reese Obendorf
~~

All graduating seniors who reside in Ohio and Ripley counties and the cities of Aurora and Batesville who maintained a six-semester grade point average of 2.75 or higher and plan to attend a post-secondary educational institution were eligible to apply for these scholarship awards. Awardees of these scholarships were drawn at random from the pool of eligible applicants that were submitted to the Rising Sun Regional Foundation along with official transcripts.  

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation is funded by the Rising Star Casino Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc., which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. 

###

Date:    April 3, 2024

Contacts:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director

Re:    Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $248,439 in New Grants

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $248,439 in new grants in the first quarter of 2024. 

These grants included:

• $20,000 to Amy Irons Meyer Foundation for shade toppers at Aurora Dog Park;
• $15,000 to the City of Rising Sun for a new welcome sign;
• $6,927 to Heart House for medication safety lockers;
• $5,000 to Milan Community School Corporation for supplies and curriculum for Milan CARES Central;
• $15,000 to Napoleon Community Rural Water Corporation for a preliminary engineering report;
• $25,000 to Otter Creek Township Volunteer Fire Department for a first responder vehicle;
• $7,500 to Ripley County Food Pantry for a walk-behind forklift;
• $28,000 to Ripley County Highway Department for spreaders and a v-box;
• $20,000 to Rising Sun Municipal Utilities for an advanced metering infrastructure project;
• $32,500 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation for a K-2 playground;
• $25,000 to Southeastern Indiana YMCA for a makerspace;
• $40,000 to Tyson Library for exterior renovations and repairs; and,
• $8,512 to Versailles Volunteer Fire Department for a fire attack hose.

Grant applications for the second grants cycle in 2024 are due Monday, April 15, 2024 by 4:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation serves Ohio County, Ripley County, and the cities of Aurora and Batesville. The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc. which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the Foundation has received more than $46 million in casino funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community.  

###

Date:    January 24, 2024 

Contacts:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director

Re:    Rising Sun Regional Foundation Announces 2024 Scholarship Program

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation’s 2024 Scholarship Program will award scholarships for $1,000 each to graduating seniors for post-secondary education in any accredited institution of higher learning.

The following listed public schools are eligible to participate in this program:

Batesville High School

East Central High School

Jac-Cen-Del High School

Milan High School

Rising Sun High School

South Dearborn High School

South Ripley High School

Eligible applicants attending East Central High School must be residents of Ripley County. Eligible applicants attending South Dearborn High School must be residents of the City of Aurora. Eligible applicants attending Batesville High School must be residents of Ripley County and/or the City of Batesville.

In addition to the scholarship awards to the graduating seniors of the RSRF region’s public high schools, RSRF will also award scholarships to graduating seniors who are homeschooled, attend private and/or parochial schools and who are residents of one of the following areas served by Rising Sun Regional Foundation, i.e., Ohio and Ripley counties and the City of Aurora. 

All completed scholarship applications with transcripts must be submitted no later than March 15, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Scholarship applications are available on the Rising Sun Regional Foundation website at www.rsrfonline.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 20, 2023

Contact: Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director (812.438.4490)

Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $436,660 in New Grants

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $436,660 in new grants in the fourth quarter of 2023. 

These grants included:

• $100,000 to the Ripley County Community Foundation for matching funds for Lilly Endowment’s GIFT VIII initiative; and,
• $100,000 to the Ohio County Community Foundation for matching funds for Lilly Endowment’s GIFT VIII initiative.$5,000 to Batesville Area Arts Council for Technology and Display Items;
• $40,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation for Track Equipment;
• $37,525 to Rising Sun Ohio County Senior Citizens Housing for a Commercial Surveillance System;
• $35,000 to City of Rising Sun’s Street Department toward the purchase of a Work Truck;
• $35,000 to New Horizons Rehabilitation toward Vehicle Replacement;
• $30,000 to South Ripley Community School Corporation for Strength and Conditioning Equipment; 
• $24,000 to Friendship Volunteer Fire Department for a SCBA Bottle Replacement Program;
• $22,635 to Town of Holton’s Police Department for Body and Patrol Cameras and a Taser;
• $5,000 to Milan Lions Club for Vision Screening Equipment;
• $5,000 to Ripley County Court Services toward a Jail Programs Room; and,
• $2,500 to Batesville Area Arts Council for Technology and Display Items.

The total amount of scholarship and grant funding awarded by the Rising Sun Regional Foundation in 2023 was $1,240,783. 

Grant applications for the first grants cycle in 2024 are due Tuesday, January 16, 2024 by 4:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation serves Ohio County, Ripley County, and the City of Aurora. The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc. which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the Foundation has received more than $46 million in casino funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community. 

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Date:    October 2, 2023

Contact:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director (812-438-4490)

Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $250,920 in New Grants

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $250,920 in sixteen new grants in the third quarter of 2023. These grants included:

• $8,000 to Aberdeen Pate Water Corporation toward a building for its new pump station;
• $30,000 to Aurora Emergency Rescue toward the purchase of an ambulance;
• $10,000 to Batesville Community Education Foundation toward an outdoor learning complex;
• $20,000 to Batesville Youth Baseball & Softball toward the construction of an ADA accessible family restroom and concession area;
• $20,000 to Milan Community School Corporation toward the development of a STEM classroom;
• $15,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Emergency Services toward the installation of a security camera system;
• $10,000 to Ohio County Historical Society toward restroom renovations;
• $3,402 to Ohio County Public Library toward the purchase of publicly accessible computers;
• $15,000 to Ohio County Rescue Services for the upgrade of mobile and portable radios;
• $2,118 to Ripley County Chamber of Commerce for office furniture;
• $15,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Park Board for pickleball courts;
• $20,400 to Rising Sun Volunteer Fire Department for turnout gear;
• $30,000 to Shiner Pride Band Boosters for the purchase of a box truck;
• $12,000 to South Dearborn Community School Corporation for percussion equipment;
• $25,000 to Town of Sunman for a water distribution telemetry control system; and,
• $15,000 to Versailles Volunteer Fire Department for communications equipment.
• 
  

Grant applications for the next grants cycle are due Monday, October 16, 2023 by 4:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation serves Ohio County, Ripley County, and the City of Aurora. The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc. which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the Foundation has received more than $46 million in casino funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community.  

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Date:    June 30, 2023

Contact:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director (812-438-4490)

Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $275,411 in New Grants 

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $275,411 in sixteen new grants in the second quarter of 2023. These grants included: 

•   $40,000 to Aberdeen Pate Water Corporation for a SCADA Control system; 
•   $5,000 to Batesville Area Ministerial Food Pantry for a commercial grade appliance
•   $5,000 to Batesville Community School Corporation for the implementation of a
  Computer Integrated Manufacturing course at Batesville High School; 
•   $15,000 to Batesville Fire Department for a SCBA decontamination washer; 
•   $5,300 to the City of Aurora for the development of pickleball courts adjacent to Aurora City Park; 
•  $40,000 to the Ohio County Highway Department toward the purchase of a Total Patcher Vortex machine; 
•   $30,000 to the Otter Creek Volunteer Fire Department for turnout gear;
•   $5,000 to the Ripley County Community Foundation for the Ripley Youth Outreach
  revitalization of Darren Baker Memorial Park project; 
•   $16,000 to the Ripley County Humane Society for Phase 2 of kennel refurbishment; 
•   $20,000 to Rising Sun Municipal Utilities for its sewer relining project; 
•   $20,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation for sealing and
  painting parking lots; 
•   $4,600 to Safe Passage for the purchase of window blinds; 
•   $34,000 to Southeastern Indiana Recycling District toward the purchase of forklifts for Ripley County Recycling Center and the Batesville Area Recycling Center; 
•   $2,105 to Southeastern Indiana Voices for Children for the development of a new
  website; 
•   $22,406 to St. Nicholas Catholic School toward a security camera and communications system; and, 
•   $10,000 to the Town of Osgood toward the replacement of a police cruiser.
   

Grant applications for the next grants cycle are due Monday, July 17, 2023 by 4:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.
   

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation serves Ohio County, Ripley County, and the City of Aurora. The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc. which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the Foundation has received more than $46 million in casino funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community. 

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Date:    June 12, 2023

Contact:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director (812-438-4490)

Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $56,000 in Scholarships

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation is pleased to announce the award of $56,000 in scholarships to 56 graduating seniors who reside in Ohio and Ripley counties and the City of Aurora, the foundation’s Southeastern Indiana grant making region. Each student has received a $1,000 scholarship award.

Recipients of these RSRF scholarships are:

Batesville High School

Riley Bailey

Sophia Cassidy

Nadine Davis 

Ella Dieterlen

Thomas Hartman

Haley Lipps

Sophie Myers

Cole Pride

Megan Raab

Cael Rahe

Madison Rahschulte

Kaitlyn Sarringhaus

Madeline Schrand

Jaden Smith

Nate Vankirk

Jackson Wanstrath

Samuel Weigel

Eryu Zhang

East Central High School

Tara Hall

Luke Jackson

Sean Martin

Nikolas Norman

Jac-Cen-Del High School

Avery Caccamo

Larissaa Eldridge

Luke Meyer

Brynn Negangard

Regan Richter

Emalee Veerkamp

Corbin White

Milan High School

Madison Cavins

Hailey Hunter

Mckenzie Seale

Maddison Smith

Brady Werner

Rising Sun High School

Kieran Groover

Dylan Martin

Baylee Morris

Ellie Ohlmansiek

Brenden Paradise

Jenna Saylor

Ruby Thompson

Brady Works

South Dearborn High School

Austin Ballart

Adam Bruner

Kaylee Marsh

James Willoughby

South Ripley School Corporation

Shelby Bastin

Meridath Delmar

Joshua Johnson

Brionna Linkel

Mya McNew

Nicholas Miller

Katelynn Samples

Private/Homeschool

Sophonie Rennekamp

All graduating seniors who reside in Ohio and Ripley counties and the City of Aurora maintain a six-semester grade point average of 2.75 or higher, and plan to attend a post-secondary educational institution were eligible to apply for these scholarship awards.  Winners of these scholarships were drawn at random from the pool of applications that were submitted to the Rising Sun Regional Foundation with official transcripts.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation is funded by the Rising Star Casino Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc., which makes monthly contributions to the foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue.

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 Date:  March 28, 2023

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $222,792 in seventeen new grants in the first quarter of 2023. These grants included:

• $30,000 to Aberdeen Pate Water Corporation for a new pump at the Thuermer Hollow booster station;
• $12,500 to Canaan Utilities for a preliminary engineering study;
• $19,300 to the city of Aurora’s Police Department for patrol officer safety equipment;
• $15,000 to the city of Rising Sun toward a controller system for the Rising Sun Community Pool;
• $6,317 to Hillforest Historical Foundation for repairs, restoration, and a security system;
• $5,000 to Jac-Cen-Del Community School Corporation for bleeding control kits for Ripley County Schools;
• $1,000 to Main Street Versailles for a mural on the historic Versailles town square;
• $20,000 to Ohio County 911 toward a protocol system for the 911 dispatch center;
• $13,000 to Ohio County Historical Society for the installation of an HVAC system in the historic Whitlock building;
• $3,500 to Ohio County Rescue toward the purchase of cradle points for in-vehicle wifi connectivity;
• $3,500 to Rising Sun Church of Christ for a publicly accessible play area;
• $25,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation for a digital sign;
• $3,675 to South Dearborn Community School Corporation toward the purchase of equipment for its Digital Design Graduation Pathway;
• $40,000 to the town of Milan toward Phase I of its downtown street lighting project;
• $20,000 to the town of Sunman toward the purchase of a vehicle for the Sunman Police Department; and,
• $5,000 to the town of Versailles for the replacement of tasers for the police department.

Grant applications for the next grants cycle are due Monday, April 17, 2023 by 4:00pm. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc., which makes monthly contributions to the foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the foundation has received more than $46 million in riverboat funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community.

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 Date:  December 20, 2022

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $216,982 in 19 new grants in the fourth quarter of 2022. These grants included: 

• $1,800 to the Napoleon Community Recreation and Restoration Corporation for a concrete floor in a storage building at Central House;
• $25,000 to Milan Community School Corporation to assist with the purchase of a bi-directional amplifier system;
• $10,000 to Kids Discovery Factory toward the purchase of a box truck;
• $12,915 to Rising Sun Ohio County Senior Citizens Housing for office upgrades;
• $13,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation toward the replacement of dugouts;
• $12,500 to Safe Passage for its Mobile Advocacy project;
• $4,500 to Oldenburg Academy for a greenhouse;  
• $10,000 to Ohio County Rescue toward its Mass Casualty Incident project;
• $26,000 to the town of Osgood for repairs and improvements to its trail system;
• $5,000 to the town of Sunman for wastewater treatment testing equipment;
• $15,000 to Jac-Cen-Del Community School Corporation for safety equipment;
• $4,645 to Ripley County Communications for dispatcher chairs;
• $2,500 to Batesville Area Ministerial Association for Celebrate Recovery program;
• $8,622 to Osgood Volunteer Fire Department toward the replacement of an emergency generator;
• $6,000 to Rising Sun Municipal Utilities toward the purchase of a tool for valve and hydrant exercising;
• $10,000 to Rising Sun Police Department toward the purchase of five (5) AED-Lifepack defibrillators;
• $19,500 to Rising Sun Soccer toward field improvements;
• $10,000 to the city of Batesville toward the expansion of the skate park; and,
• $20,000 to the Ripley County Community Foundation to support A Summer of STREAM.

Grant applications for the next grants cycle are due Monday, January 17, 2023 by 4:00pm. Applications are available at the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org, and must be submitted digitally. 

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Date:  December 15, 2022

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation’s 2023 Scholarship Program will award scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to graduating seniors for the purpose of post-secondary education in any accredited institution of higher learning.

The following listed public schools are eligible to participate in this program:

Batesville High School

East Central High School

Jac-Cen-Del High School

Milan High School

Rising Sun High School

South Dearborn High School

South Ripley High School

Eligible applicants attending East Central High School must be residents of Ripley County. Eligible South Dearborn High School applicants must be residents of the City of Aurora. Eligible applicants attending Batesville High School must be residents of Ripley County and/or the City of Batesville.

In addition to the scholarship awards to the graduating seniors of the RSRF region’s public high schools, RSRF will also award scholarships to graduating seniors who are homeschooled, attend private and/or parochial schools, and are residents of one of the following areas served by Rising Sun Regional Foundation, i.e., Ohio and Ripley counties and the City of Aurora. 

All completed scholarship applications with transcripts must be submitted no later than March 31, 2023. Scholarship applications are available on the Rising Sun Regional Foundation website at https://rsrfonline.org/scholarships.

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Date:  October 3, 2022

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $232,605 in 12 new grants in the third quarter of 2022. These grants included: 

• $5,460 to Milan ’54, Inc. for installation of painted metal coverings for windows and doors;
• $5,000 to Batesville Area Arts Council for lightweight mobile stage/riser and wireless microphones/sound equipment;
• $30,000 to City of Rising Sun for Phase 2 of upgrades to the city’s decorative lighting system;
• $40,000 to Ohio County 911 for replacement of its current 911 radio dispatch consoles;
• $4,918 to Children’s Advocacy Center of Southeastern Indiana for the expansion of its educational programs;
• $5,000 to Ohio County Rescue Service for the upgrades to its dormitory facilities;
• $34,590 to Rising Sun-Ohio County Community School Corporation for improvements to the playground at Ohio County Elementary School and installation of fencing, batting cages, and scoreboards at its youth sports fields;
• $15,432 to Versailles Volunteer Fire Department for the purchase of five sets of NFPA compliant personal protective equipment;
• $24,705 to Ripley County EMS for the purchase of five Vscan Air diagnostic ultrasound imaging systems;
• $30,000 to Batesville Area Resource Center for the renovation of an ancillary building to house So Loved Closet;
• $25,000 to National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association for replacement of the roof on a historic barn;
• $12,500 to Ripley County Economic Development Corporation for the preparation of a housing study.

Grant applications for the next grants cycle are due Monday, October 17, 2022, by 4:00 pm. Applications can be downloaded from the RSRF website at www.rsrfonline.org, and must be emailed to director@rsrfonline.org. Please note that hard copies are no longer accepted.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc., which makes monthly contributions to the foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the foundation has received more than $45 million in riverboat funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community.

Date:    July 5, 2024

Contacts:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director

Re:    Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $248,853 in New Grants

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $248,853 in new grants in the second quarter of 2024. 

These grants included:

• $15,000 to South Ripley Community School Corporation for its Hall of Fame;
• $30,000 to the City of Aurora for Little League field repairs;
• $27,828 to LifeTime Resources toward the purchase of minivans;
• $2,000 to Youth to Yellowstone of Ripley County for portable AED units;
• $15,000 to Rising Sun Volunteer Fire Department for turnout gear;
• $6,000 to Ripley County Humane Society for commercial washer and dryer units;
• $33,090 to Ohio County Rescue Services for stair chairs;
• $39,935 to Osgood Volunteer Fire Department for SCBA equipment;
• $15,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation for basketball goals;
• $25,000 to Kids Discovery Factory for building renovation and expansion;
• $10,000 to Sunman Mainstreet for park improvements; and,
• $30,000 to the Town of Sunman for a Preliminary Engineering Report.

Grant applications for the third grants cycle in 2024 are due Monday, July 15, 2024 by 4:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation serves Ohio County, Ripley County, and the cities of Aurora and Batesville. The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc. which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the Foundation has received more than $46 million in casino funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community.  

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Date:    June 12, 2024

Contacts:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director

Re:    Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $53,000 in Scholarships

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation is pleased to announce the award of $53,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors who reside in Ohio and Ripley counties and the cities of Aurora and Batesville, the Foundation’s Southeastern Indiana grantmaking region. 

Recipients of the 2024 Rising Sun Regional Foundation Scholarships are as follows:

Batesville High School

Daniela Blanco

Kennedy Cozart

Mason Doll

Natasha Fowler

Jack Grunkemeyer

John Housemyer

Ashlynne Hulette

Gracie Meyer

Josie Meyer

Rhea Miller

Claire Saner

Jackson Schmaltz

Sydney Slaven

Madison Wanstrath

Isabelle Wonnell

Abigail Wuestefeld

East Central High School

Katheryn Dudley     

Chad Gress

Homeschool

Lilly Deaton      

Luke Renfro

Jac-Cen-Del High School

Christopher Davis

Carson Hughes*

Estela Lopez

Julia Meyer

Maria Meyer

Emma Wagner

*The scholarship to be awarded to Carson Hughes in the amount of $1,000 was presented to the Carson Hughes Foundation in his memory.

Milan High School

Kyleigh Bledsoe

Kaitlyn Carpenter

Magdalene Hudepohl

Chloe Hunter

Ben Riehle

Kayla Walke

Oldenburg Academy

Chloe Bohman      

Kate Weber

Rising Sun High School

Lillian Akin

Cloe Ballard

Nate Elliott

Megan Hayes

Abigail Kremer

Breanna Reed

Rachel Schwing

Alyssa Simpson

Connor Southard

South Dearborn High School

Kennedy Emmert

Remi Hensley

Brodie Teke

South Ripley High School

Hailee Burns

Lydia Cornett

Evan Eaglin

Lila Franklin

Shawnee Goddard

Suzanna Gunter

Reese Obendorf
~~

All graduating seniors who reside in Ohio and Ripley counties and the cities of Aurora and Batesville who maintained a six-semester grade point average of 2.75 or higher and plan to attend a post-secondary educational institution were eligible to apply for these scholarship awards. Awardees of these scholarships were drawn at random from the pool of eligible applicants that were submitted to the Rising Sun Regional Foundation along with official transcripts.  

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation is funded by the Rising Star Casino Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc., which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. 

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Date:    April 3, 2024

Contacts:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director

Re:    Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $248,439 in New Grants

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $248,439 in new grants in the first quarter of 2024. 

These grants included:

• $20,000 to Amy Irons Meyer Foundation for shade toppers at Aurora Dog Park;
• $15,000 to the City of Rising Sun for a new welcome sign;
• $6,927 to Heart House for medication safety lockers;
• $5,000 to Milan Community School Corporation for supplies and curriculum for Milan CARES Central;
• $15,000 to Napoleon Community Rural Water Corporation for a preliminary engineering report;
• $25,000 to Otter Creek Township Volunteer Fire Department for a first responder vehicle;
• $7,500 to Ripley County Food Pantry for a walk-behind forklift;
• $28,000 to Ripley County Highway Department for spreaders and a v-box;
• $20,000 to Rising Sun Municipal Utilities for an advanced metering infrastructure project;
• $32,500 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation for a K-2 playground;
• $25,000 to Southeastern Indiana YMCA for a makerspace;
• $40,000 to Tyson Library for exterior renovations and repairs; and,
• $8,512 to Versailles Volunteer Fire Department for a fire attack hose.

Grant applications for the second grants cycle in 2024 are due Monday, April 15, 2024 by 4:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation serves Ohio County, Ripley County, and the cities of Aurora and Batesville. The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc. which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the Foundation has received more than $46 million in casino funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community.  

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Date:    January 24, 2024 

Contacts:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director

Re:    Rising Sun Regional Foundation Announces 2024 Scholarship Program

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation’s 2024 Scholarship Program will award scholarships for $1,000 each to graduating seniors for post-secondary education in any accredited institution of higher learning.

The following listed public schools are eligible to participate in this program:

Batesville High School

East Central High School

Jac-Cen-Del High School

Milan High School

Rising Sun High School

South Dearborn High School

South Ripley High School

Eligible applicants attending East Central High School must be residents of Ripley County. Eligible applicants attending South Dearborn High School must be residents of the City of Aurora. Eligible applicants attending Batesville High School must be residents of Ripley County and/or the City of Batesville.

In addition to the scholarship awards to the graduating seniors of the RSRF region’s public high schools, RSRF will also award scholarships to graduating seniors who are homeschooled, attend private and/or parochial schools and who are residents of one of the following areas served by Rising Sun Regional Foundation, i.e., Ohio and Ripley counties and the City of Aurora. 

All completed scholarship applications with transcripts must be submitted no later than March 15, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Scholarship applications are available on the Rising Sun Regional Foundation website at www.rsrfonline.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 20, 2023

Contact: Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director (812.438.4490)

Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $436,660 in New Grants

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $436,660 in new grants in the fourth quarter of 2023. 

These grants included:

• $100,000 to the Ripley County Community Foundation for matching funds for Lilly Endowment’s GIFT VIII initiative; and,
• $100,000 to the Ohio County Community Foundation for matching funds for Lilly Endowment’s GIFT VIII initiative.$5,000 to Batesville Area Arts Council for Technology and Display Items;
• $40,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation for Track Equipment;
• $37,525 to Rising Sun Ohio County Senior Citizens Housing for a Commercial Surveillance System;
• $35,000 to City of Rising Sun’s Street Department toward the purchase of a Work Truck;
• $35,000 to New Horizons Rehabilitation toward Vehicle Replacement;
• $30,000 to South Ripley Community School Corporation for Strength and Conditioning Equipment; 
• $24,000 to Friendship Volunteer Fire Department for a SCBA Bottle Replacement Program;
• $22,635 to Town of Holton’s Police Department for Body and Patrol Cameras and a Taser;
• $5,000 to Milan Lions Club for Vision Screening Equipment;
• $5,000 to Ripley County Court Services toward a Jail Programs Room; and,
• $2,500 to Batesville Area Arts Council for Technology and Display Items.

The total amount of scholarship and grant funding awarded by the Rising Sun Regional Foundation in 2023 was $1,240,783. 

Grant applications for the first grants cycle in 2024 are due Tuesday, January 16, 2024 by 4:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation serves Ohio County, Ripley County, and the City of Aurora. The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc. which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the Foundation has received more than $46 million in casino funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community. 

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Date:    October 2, 2023

Contact:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director (812-438-4490)

Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $250,920 in New Grants

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $250,920 in sixteen new grants in the third quarter of 2023. These grants included:

• $8,000 to Aberdeen Pate Water Corporation toward a building for its new pump station;
• $30,000 to Aurora Emergency Rescue toward the purchase of an ambulance;
• $10,000 to Batesville Community Education Foundation toward an outdoor learning complex;
• $20,000 to Batesville Youth Baseball & Softball toward the construction of an ADA accessible family restroom and concession area;
• $20,000 to Milan Community School Corporation toward the development of a STEM classroom;
• $15,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Emergency Services toward the installation of a security camera system;
• $10,000 to Ohio County Historical Society toward restroom renovations;
• $3,402 to Ohio County Public Library toward the purchase of publicly accessible computers;
• $15,000 to Ohio County Rescue Services for the upgrade of mobile and portable radios;
• $2,118 to Ripley County Chamber of Commerce for office furniture;
• $15,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Park Board for pickleball courts;
• $20,400 to Rising Sun Volunteer Fire Department for turnout gear;
• $30,000 to Shiner Pride Band Boosters for the purchase of a box truck;
• $12,000 to South Dearborn Community School Corporation for percussion equipment;
• $25,000 to Town of Sunman for a water distribution telemetry control system; and,
• $15,000 to Versailles Volunteer Fire Department for communications equipment.
• 
  

Grant applications for the next grants cycle are due Monday, October 16, 2023 by 4:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation serves Ohio County, Ripley County, and the City of Aurora. The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc. which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the Foundation has received more than $46 million in casino funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community.  

###

Date:    June 30, 2023

Contact:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director (812-438-4490)

Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $275,411 in New Grants 

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $275,411 in sixteen new grants in the second quarter of 2023. These grants included: 

•   $40,000 to Aberdeen Pate Water Corporation for a SCADA Control system; 
•   $5,000 to Batesville Area Ministerial Food Pantry for a commercial grade appliance
•   $5,000 to Batesville Community School Corporation for the implementation of a
  Computer Integrated Manufacturing course at Batesville High School; 
•   $15,000 to Batesville Fire Department for a SCBA decontamination washer; 
•   $5,300 to the City of Aurora for the development of pickleball courts adjacent to Aurora City Park; 
•  $40,000 to the Ohio County Highway Department toward the purchase of a Total Patcher Vortex machine; 
•   $30,000 to the Otter Creek Volunteer Fire Department for turnout gear;
•   $5,000 to the Ripley County Community Foundation for the Ripley Youth Outreach
  revitalization of Darren Baker Memorial Park project; 
•   $16,000 to the Ripley County Humane Society for Phase 2 of kennel refurbishment; 
•   $20,000 to Rising Sun Municipal Utilities for its sewer relining project; 
•   $20,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation for sealing and
  painting parking lots; 
•   $4,600 to Safe Passage for the purchase of window blinds; 
•   $34,000 to Southeastern Indiana Recycling District toward the purchase of forklifts for Ripley County Recycling Center and the Batesville Area Recycling Center; 
•   $2,105 to Southeastern Indiana Voices for Children for the development of a new
  website; 
•   $22,406 to St. Nicholas Catholic School toward a security camera and communications system; and, 
•   $10,000 to the Town of Osgood toward the replacement of a police cruiser.
   

Grant applications for the next grants cycle are due Monday, July 17, 2023 by 4:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.
   

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation serves Ohio County, Ripley County, and the City of Aurora. The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc. which makes monthly contributions to the Foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the Foundation has received more than $46 million in casino funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community. 

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Date:    June 12, 2023

Contact:  Cheryll Obendorf, Executive Director (812-438-4490)

Rising Sun Regional Foundation Awards $56,000 in Scholarships

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation is pleased to announce the award of $56,000 in scholarships to 56 graduating seniors who reside in Ohio and Ripley counties and the City of Aurora, the foundation’s Southeastern Indiana grant making region. Each student has received a $1,000 scholarship award.

Recipients of these RSRF scholarships are:

Batesville High School

Riley Bailey

Sophia Cassidy

Nadine Davis 

Ella Dieterlen

Thomas Hartman

Haley Lipps

Sophie Myers

Cole Pride

Megan Raab

Cael Rahe

Madison Rahschulte

Kaitlyn Sarringhaus

Madeline Schrand

Jaden Smith

Nate Vankirk

Jackson Wanstrath

Samuel Weigel

Eryu Zhang

East Central High School

Tara Hall

Luke Jackson

Sean Martin

Nikolas Norman

Jac-Cen-Del High School

Avery Caccamo

Larissaa Eldridge

Luke Meyer

Brynn Negangard

Regan Richter

Emalee Veerkamp

Corbin White

Milan High School

Madison Cavins

Hailey Hunter

Mckenzie Seale

Maddison Smith

Brady Werner

Rising Sun High School

Kieran Groover

Dylan Martin

Baylee Morris

Ellie Ohlmansiek

Brenden Paradise

Jenna Saylor

Ruby Thompson

Brady Works

South Dearborn High School

Austin Ballart

Adam Bruner

Kaylee Marsh

James Willoughby

South Ripley School Corporation

Shelby Bastin

Meridath Delmar

Joshua Johnson

Brionna Linkel

Mya McNew

Nicholas Miller

Katelynn Samples

Private/Homeschool

Sophonie Rennekamp

All graduating seniors who reside in Ohio and Ripley counties and the City of Aurora maintain a six-semester grade point average of 2.75 or higher, and plan to attend a post-secondary educational institution were eligible to apply for these scholarship awards.  Winners of these scholarships were drawn at random from the pool of applications that were submitted to the Rising Sun Regional Foundation with official transcripts.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation is funded by the Rising Star Casino Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc., which makes monthly contributions to the foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue.

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 Date:  March 28, 2023

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $222,792 in seventeen new grants in the first quarter of 2023. These grants included:

• $30,000 to Aberdeen Pate Water Corporation for a new pump at the Thuermer Hollow booster station;
• $12,500 to Canaan Utilities for a preliminary engineering study;
• $19,300 to the city of Aurora’s Police Department for patrol officer safety equipment;
• $15,000 to the city of Rising Sun toward a controller system for the Rising Sun Community Pool;
• $6,317 to Hillforest Historical Foundation for repairs, restoration, and a security system;
• $5,000 to Jac-Cen-Del Community School Corporation for bleeding control kits for Ripley County Schools;
• $1,000 to Main Street Versailles for a mural on the historic Versailles town square;
• $20,000 to Ohio County 911 toward a protocol system for the 911 dispatch center;
• $13,000 to Ohio County Historical Society for the installation of an HVAC system in the historic Whitlock building;
• $3,500 to Ohio County Rescue toward the purchase of cradle points for in-vehicle wifi connectivity;
• $3,500 to Rising Sun Church of Christ for a publicly accessible play area;
• $25,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation for a digital sign;
• $3,675 to South Dearborn Community School Corporation toward the purchase of equipment for its Digital Design Graduation Pathway;
• $40,000 to the town of Milan toward Phase I of its downtown street lighting project;
• $20,000 to the town of Sunman toward the purchase of a vehicle for the Sunman Police Department; and,
• $5,000 to the town of Versailles for the replacement of tasers for the police department.

Grant applications for the next grants cycle are due Monday, April 17, 2023 by 4:00pm. Applications must be submitted online via the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc., which makes monthly contributions to the foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the foundation has received more than $46 million in riverboat funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community.

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 Date:  December 20, 2022

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $216,982 in 19 new grants in the fourth quarter of 2022. These grants included: 

• $1,800 to the Napoleon Community Recreation and Restoration Corporation for a concrete floor in a storage building at Central House;
• $25,000 to Milan Community School Corporation to assist with the purchase of a bi-directional amplifier system;
• $10,000 to Kids Discovery Factory toward the purchase of a box truck;
• $12,915 to Rising Sun Ohio County Senior Citizens Housing for office upgrades;
• $13,000 to Rising Sun Ohio County Community School Corporation toward the replacement of dugouts;
• $12,500 to Safe Passage for its Mobile Advocacy project;
• $4,500 to Oldenburg Academy for a greenhouse;  
• $10,000 to Ohio County Rescue toward its Mass Casualty Incident project;
• $26,000 to the town of Osgood for repairs and improvements to its trail system;
• $5,000 to the town of Sunman for wastewater treatment testing equipment;
• $15,000 to Jac-Cen-Del Community School Corporation for safety equipment;
• $4,645 to Ripley County Communications for dispatcher chairs;
• $2,500 to Batesville Area Ministerial Association for Celebrate Recovery program;
• $8,622 to Osgood Volunteer Fire Department toward the replacement of an emergency generator;
• $6,000 to Rising Sun Municipal Utilities toward the purchase of a tool for valve and hydrant exercising;
• $10,000 to Rising Sun Police Department toward the purchase of five (5) AED-Lifepack defibrillators;
• $19,500 to Rising Sun Soccer toward field improvements;
• $10,000 to the city of Batesville toward the expansion of the skate park; and,
• $20,000 to the Ripley County Community Foundation to support A Summer of STREAM.

Grant applications for the next grants cycle are due Monday, January 17, 2023 by 4:00pm. Applications are available at the RSRF website, www.rsrfonline.org, and must be submitted digitally. 

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Date:  December 15, 2022

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation’s 2023 Scholarship Program will award scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to graduating seniors for the purpose of post-secondary education in any accredited institution of higher learning.

The following listed public schools are eligible to participate in this program:

Batesville High School

East Central High School

Jac-Cen-Del High School

Milan High School

Rising Sun High School

South Dearborn High School

South Ripley High School

Eligible applicants attending East Central High School must be residents of Ripley County. Eligible South Dearborn High School applicants must be residents of the City of Aurora. Eligible applicants attending Batesville High School must be residents of Ripley County and/or the City of Batesville.

In addition to the scholarship awards to the graduating seniors of the RSRF region’s public high schools, RSRF will also award scholarships to graduating seniors who are homeschooled, attend private and/or parochial schools, and are residents of one of the following areas served by Rising Sun Regional Foundation, i.e., Ohio and Ripley counties and the City of Aurora. 

All completed scholarship applications with transcripts must be submitted no later than March 31, 2023. Scholarship applications are available on the Rising Sun Regional Foundation website at https://rsrfonline.org/scholarships.

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Date:  October 3, 2022

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $232,605 in 12 new grants in the third quarter of 2022. These grants included: 

• $5,460 to Milan ’54, Inc. for installation of painted metal coverings for windows and doors;
• $5,000 to Batesville Area Arts Council for lightweight mobile stage/riser and wireless microphones/sound equipment;
• $30,000 to City of Rising Sun for Phase 2 of upgrades to the city’s decorative lighting system;
• $40,000 to Ohio County 911 for replacement of its current 911 radio dispatch consoles;
• $4,918 to Children’s Advocacy Center of Southeastern Indiana for the expansion of its educational programs;
• $5,000 to Ohio County Rescue Service for the upgrades to its dormitory facilities;
• $34,590 to Rising Sun-Ohio County Community School Corporation for improvements to the playground at Ohio County Elementary School and installation of fencing, batting cages, and scoreboards at its youth sports fields;
• $15,432 to Versailles Volunteer Fire Department for the purchase of five sets of NFPA compliant personal protective equipment;
• $24,705 to Ripley County EMS for the purchase of five Vscan Air diagnostic ultrasound imaging systems;
• $30,000 to Batesville Area Resource Center for the renovation of an ancillary building to house So Loved Closet;
• $25,000 to National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association for replacement of the roof on a historic barn;
• $12,500 to Ripley County Economic Development Corporation for the preparation of a housing study.

Grant applications for the next grants cycle are due Monday, October 17, 2022, by 4:00 pm. Applications can be downloaded from the RSRF website at www.rsrfonline.org, and must be emailed to director@rsrfonline.org. Please note that hard copies are no longer accepted.

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun and is now funded by the Rising Star Casino & Resort, owned by Full House Resorts, Inc., which makes monthly contributions to the foundation based on a percentage of its Adjusted Gross Revenue. To date, the foundation has received more than $45 million in riverboat funds, of which at least 75% has been granted back to the community.