When asked what the Ripley County Community Foundation (RCCF) is, Executive Director Amy Streator often points to the organization’s guiding principle: Connecting People Who Care with Causes that Matter. That simple phrase came to life during the Community Foundation’s Annual Dinner, where community members gathered to celebrate a year of generosity, collaboration, and lasting impact throughout Ripley County.
The annual event, which is free and open to the public, serves as an opportunity for the Community Foundation to report on its stewardship of community resources, share stories of local impact, and recognize the many donors, volunteers, nonprofit partners, and community leaders who help strengthen Ripley County every day.
The evening highlighted the many ways local philanthropy improves quality of life across Ripley County, from funding nonprofit organizations and supporting education to honoring veterans, investing in youth leadership, expanding access to lifesaving resources, and promoting arts and culture. Throughout the night, one theme remained clear: when people who care come together around causes that matter, extraordinary things happen.
“When people ask me what the Community Foundation does, my answer is simple, we connect people who care with causes that matter,” said Amy Streator, Executive Director of the Ripley County Community Foundation. “This past year demonstrated the incredible impact that can happen when neighbors invest in one another. Every dollar, every volunteer hour, and every act of generosity helped create opportunities and strengthen our community.”
Financial Growth Strengthens Long-Term Community Impact
RCCF also reported significant financial growth during 2025. Assets increased by nearly $3.5 million; the largest single-year increase in the Foundation’s history, bringing total assets to $22.8 million. This growth strengthens RCCF’s ability to support Ripley County for generations to come through endowed funds that provide permanent resources for charitable purposes. By responsibly stewarding and growing these funds, RCCF ensures that today’s generosity will continue creating opportunities and addressing community needs far into the future.
“These dollars belong to the community,” Streator noted. “Our responsibility is to serve as faithful stewards, protecting and growing these resources so they can continue benefiting Ripley County for generations to come.”
Investing in Local Organizations and Community Needs
In 2025, RCCF invested more than $686,000 back into the community through grants supporting 272 projects across more than 100 nonprofit organizations. These investments helped strengthen local organizations, create opportunities for residents, address community needs, and improve quality of life throughout Ripley County.
Celebrating Creativity Through the Ripley County Film Fest
One of the year’s most exciting initiatives was the inaugural Ripley County Film Fest, which celebrated local storytelling, creativity, and artistic expression. The festival not only brought filmmakers and community members together but also inspired local filmmakers to establish a new endowed fund dedicated to supporting the arts. Their generosity reflects the Community Foundation’s mission in action, creating opportunities that encourage others to invest back into their community. The event also showcased two of Ripley County;s treasured historic venues, the Damm Theatre and the Gibson Theatre, demonstrating the important role these landmarks play in preserving local culture and bringing people together.
Honoring Veterans and Preserving Their Legacy
RCCF also continued its’ commitment to honoring local veterans through Wreaths Across Ripley County. Through partnerships with the Ripley County Historical Society, the Versailles American Legion Auxiliary, local schools, and dedicated volunteers, 4,910 veterans were honored during the 2025 holiday season with the placement of remembrance wreaths at their gravesites.
One particularly moving moment involved an eighth-grade student who carefully searched for his grandfather’s grave before placing a wreath in honor of his service in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. “In that moment, we witnessed the impact of the program,” Streator shared. “A young person wasn’t simply participating in a project, he was learning about sacrifice, legacy, and service while honoring someone who helped shape his family’s history.”
Expanding Access to Lifesaving Equipment
One of the year’s most significant initiatives focused on improving emergency response throughout the county. Through the Community Foundation’s AED Initiative, a critical gap was addressed by equipping every law enforcement officer in Ripley and Franklin counties with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Prior to December 2025, none of Ripley County’s 46 police cruisers carried an AED, despite officers often being the first to arrive at medical emergencies where every second matters. Working in partnership with Margaret Mary Health, the Ripley County Health Department, the Gilmore & Golda Reynolds Foundation, the City of Batesville, the Franklin County Community Foundation, and generous donors, the initiative successfully funded the purchase of 74 AEDs. To ensure these lifesaving devices remain available for years to come, RCCF’s Board of Directors established an endowment fund dedicated to their long-term maintenance and replacement; demonstrating its commitment not only to meeting today’s needs, but also to sustaining solutions for future generations.
Scholarships Create Opportunities for Local Students
Education remains one of the Ripley County Community Foundation’s core pillars, and scholarships continue to be one of the most meaningful ways the Foundation invests in the future of Ripley County. Thanks to the generosity of local donors, 47 scholarship endowment funds awarded a total of $168,845 to 38 students in 2025, with an average scholarship award of $3,396.
As the cost of higher education continues to rise, scholarships play an increasingly important role in helping students achieve their academic and career goals. These funds represent more than financial assistance, they reflect a community-wide belief that young people deserve the opportunity to learn, grow, and pursue their dreams. Through the generosity of donor-created scholarship funds, the Community Foundation is helping remove barriers to education while encouraging the next generation to return, contribute, and strengthen the communities that helped shape them.
Thanking the Community
None of this work is possible without the generosity and trust of donors, fund holders, volunteers, nonprofit partners, local businesses, community leaders, and residents throughout Ripley County. Their commitment to giving back continues to create opportunities, address challenges, and improve quality of life for current and future generations.
Recognizing Outstanding Community Leadership
A special highlight of the evening was the presentation of the President’s Award to Clarice Gordon, Executive Director of Genesis: Pathways to Success, in recognition of her outstanding leadership and dedication to expanding educational and entrepreneurship opportunities throughout the region. The President’s Award honors an individual who has gone above and beyond to advance the mission of the Ripley County Community Foundation and create lasting impact within the community.
For 18 years, the Community Foundation fostered and hosted Genesis: Pathways to Success as one of its programs. As the organization grew and expanded its service area beyond Ripley County, it became clear that Genesis had evolved into a regional initiative deserving of its own independent structure. Under Gordon’s leadership, the transition from a Community Foundation program to an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization was seamless. Through her vision, strategic guidance, and commitment to excellence, Genesis has continued to thrive, remaining both effective and innovative while adapting to meet the changing educational and workforce development needs of the region. Her leadership has ensured that the organization remains positioned for long-term success and impact.
The evening concluded with the recognition of scholarship recipients, grant awardees, community partners, and volunteers whose dedication continues to make Ripley County stronger. Their stories served as a powerful reminder that meaningful change happens when people come together around a shared commitment to improving their community.
How to Contact the Ripley County Community Foundation
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 more about creating opportunities, supporting local causes, or establishing a charitable legacy, contact the Foundation at (812) 933-1098 or visit www.rccfonline.org.
