Thelma Slisher, Brown County Community Foundation finance manager, introduces the crowd to various endowments offered at the foundation.
In 2024, the Brown County Community Foundation (BCCF) gave out approximately $63,000 in college scholarships alone, as reported at the Annual Report to the Community Thursday night, June 26.
“This event is our way of sharing the accomplishments of the foundation, made up of a volunteer board and committee members, who help to make important decisions on needs to address in Brown County,” Brown County Community Foundation BCCF Director of Development and Community Engagement Carol Brown said. “We had great attendance and saw some new faces.”
The BCCF helps donors build legacy endowments and partner with nonprofits to address needs through grantmaking, according to organization information. “We distribute over $1 million in grants and scholarships annually to the Brown County community.”
“We are always encouraging residents to get involved with the foundation and consider serving on a committee,” Brown said. She explained that this year’s event theme, “GROW”, supported that sentiment. “Our theme this year was based around our goal of ‘30 by 30’, or 30 million by 2030 to grow our endowment balance to help address the growing needs in Brown County,” she said. “Our application requests for grant funding always exceed our ability to award and it continues to increase in the gap.”
The “30 by 30” initiative ensures long-term stability and growth for local organizations and nonprofits that make the community thrive. The funds will be strategically stewarded to address critical needs, foster innovation and enhance the quality of life for all who call Brown County home, according to the foundation.
“This is a community-driven effort, built on the generosity of local donors who believe in the power of philanthropy to shape a brighter, more sustainable future,” the foundation said on the initiative.
The Lilly Endowment, Inc. is currently offering a 2:1 match, “where they will take a $10 contribution and offer $20, resulting in a $30 contribution to an unrestricted fund to serve for our grant needs,” Brown said.
In addition to the matching grant, the foundation offers families to establish funds for only $5,000 to then be awarded through a discretionary fund to the nonprofit of their choice each year with the payout. Another option is to establish a scholarship at $25,000 to start, with the dividends and interest paying a scholarship with perpetuity.
At the Annual Report event, members of the Community Foundation shared information on endowments, grants and scholarships — including the Lilly Endowment Scholarship and its 2025 recipient, Owen East. The foundation also distributed three awards,
Chairman’s Award
The Chairman’s Award recognizes community members or organizations that have demonstrated placing the needs of others over their own. Their selfless philanthropy serves to inspire and provide a model of genuine giving to our community.
Recipient Phil McKown first introduced Board Chairman John Elliott to the Brown County Community Foundation. Elliott said in a brief introduction.
“As we talked at length and he shared his contagious enthusiasm for all things Brown County, I promised Phil I’d consider getting involved in the foundation once I retired – and that I would attend ChamberFest,” Elliott said on his first meeting with McKown who hand delivered a check to Gleaners Food Bank where Elliot was CEO. “Obviously, I did both and gained an opportunity to see more of Phil’s exemplary, tireless dedication to both organizations. As Phil’s formal role on the board, chairing the scholarship committee and the grants committee, ended due to term limits, he has continued serving on another committee and attending local meetings on our behalf.” He currently serves on the Nashville Arts and Entertainment Commission Board.
John D. Rudd Award
In 2003, because of Mr. John D. Rudd’s devotion and demonstrated broad-based services to his native county, the Board of Trustees of the BCCF established the Community Service Award in John’s honor. Annually, this award of board recognition will honor an individual, or individuals, who have demonstrated the commitment, accomplishment and spirit of Mr. Rudd. In acknowledgment of his remarkable record of service, Mr. Rudd was the first recipient of the award.
Shirley Boardman received the award because of her distinguished professional career spanning over multiple decades, accompanied with compassion for those in need. She helped to secure healthcare, housing and food security in Brown County and the surrounding areas.
This includes coordinating pop-up food pantries throughout the county during the COVID-19 pandemic, securing funding for a semi-trailer of non-perishable food for various food pantries in the county, providing vouchers to over 750 kids with the Back-to-School Program and more. In addition, she supported many local organizations like the Howard Hughes Memorial Morel Mushroom Sale benefiting local non-profits, by writing grants to support St. Vincent de Paul and by baking 24 pies for the 2024 Habitat for Humanity bake sale.
Volunteer of the Year Award
One of BCCF’s strategic priorities is to deliver positive community impact by focusing on critical community issues and promoting and recognizing volunteerism as a key component of leadership in addressing these issues. The community is a true winner, benefiting from the time and talent of all of our generous community volunteers.
Recipient Rhonda Dunn dedicated her time, energy and expertise to countless community efforts, according to information provided at the event. Efforts including working as an archivist for the Brown County Historical Society, serving as Show Chairman for the Brown County Rock and Mineral Club, serving as board member for the Brown County Cemetery Preservation Society and the Peaceful Valley Heritage and Preservation Organization.
She was also actively involved in the Pioneer Women and Brown County Genealogy Society — which honored her with a dedicated engraved stone after her passing in May.
“Rhonda’s enthusiasm for learning and sharing was boundless,” the foundation shared. “She wrote articles for the Brown County Democrat and the Brown County Journal, created YouTube videos about local graveyards and taught others her preservation skills to ensure her work continued. She even published a touring book for her town, further cementing her role as a community historian and educator.”
In addition to her time spent with local organizations, she was also a gifted oil painter. “Rhonda’s legacy of love, honor and stewardship lives on,” according to the foundation. “Her friends, family, and community will remember her as a tireless advocate for preserving both our Earth and our history—a teacher of life, and a friend to all.”
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