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Richard H. Crosser - 1956

While a student at Jefferson High School, Dick was Sophomore Class Vice President and Junior Class Vice President. He was involved in Hi-Y, Student Council, J-Club, Red and Black Revue, Cross Country, Wrestling, Baseball, Purdue Legislature, and Boy’s State.

Dick attended Indiana University through a scholarship/internship program sponsored by National Homes Corp., then the nation’s largest homebuilder. After graduating in 1960, he spent 15 years with National Homes, leaving as Vice President/Regional Manager.

In 1975, he joined Deluxe Homes as Vice President and General Manager. Seven years later he bought controlling interest and grew a homebuilding company becoming Indiana’s largest builder. In 1993, the company went public emerging as Crossmann Communities, Inc. In 2001 Crossmann became America’s 12th largest homebuilder. Crossmann then merged with Beazer Homes.

While President of Crossmann Communities, he was involved with Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, Make a Wish Foundation, American Heart Association and initiated the Crossmann Communities Scholarship Fund, now called the Richard H. Crosser Memorial Fund.

Dick was committed to giving back to communities where he worked, built homes, and lived. That commitment to giving back is continued by his family through the Crosser Family Foundation, established in 2002. The foundation has contributed to St. Vincent’s Children Hospital in Indianapolis, Boys and Girls Club in Noblesville, Third Phase in Noblesville thru the Legacy Fund and Jefferson High School’s “Build the Future” program.

Published - Indy.com November 18, 2009 by Betsy Reason | Star staff

CARMEL — The Crosser family has received the inaugural Celebration of Philanthropy Living Legacy Award.

It’s a new award from the Legacy Fund, an affiliate of Central Indiana Community Foundation, to honor people who impact the quality of life in Hamilton County.

Janet Crosser, Carmel — along with her son Craig Crosser and his wife Christi, and Janet’s daughter Carrie Renner and husband Scott Renner, all of Noblesville — accepted the award on behalf of the Crosser Family Foundation. Janet’s husband, the late Richard H. Crosser, started the private family foundation in Noblesville in 2001 to help youths and their families.

Carrie Renner, a Carmel High School graduate, directs the foundation, which granted about $1.15 million to nonprofit organizations, primarily ones that serve youth.

Richard Crosser, who died in 2002, also established the Crosser Family Charitable Trust. It has given $35,123 to county-based organization and assisted area high school students going into the construction/building trades through the Richard H. Crosser Scholarship Fund.

Richard Crosser served as Legacy Fund board member for three years. Owner of the former Crossmann Communities, an Indianapolis-based home builder, he established more than 30 scholarship funds benefiting Crossman Communities’ school districts.

The family foundation has given $500,839 to organizations based in Hamilton County.

In 2006, the foundation committed to donate $100,000 each year for the three years, to help buy a campground for the Boys&Girls Club of Noblesville. The 20 acres on Indiana 37 about eight miles north of Noblesville was named Camp Crosser.

Ron Willcut, the Boys&Girls Club’s executive director, said the camp served a record 458 campers this summer. Willcut was among 350 guests who attended the Nov. 12 sold-out banquet at the Ritz Charles in Carmel

Willcut said, “I can’t think of a family who would deserve it more. … They really believe in their community.”

“They’re just awesome people,” said Loretta Moore, executive director of Prevail Inc., a victims assistance group in Hamilton County.

She said the foundation donated funds to staff a support group, Exploring My World, for ages 6 to 11. Children in the group have been or are living at Prevail.

Moore, who attended the banquet, said: “What an opportunity for the community to honor the Crossers and their focus on giving back to the community and their focus on the youth of our community and the future.”

Published on Indy.com - November 18, 2009 by Betsy Reason | Star staff

Family’s funds have benefited youths, families

The Crosser family has received the inaugural Celebration of Philanthropy Living Legacy Award.

It’s a first-time award from the Legacy Fund, an affiliate of Central Indiana Community Foundation, to honor those who go over and above to impact the quality of life and fabric in Hamilton County.

Accepting the award on behalf of the Crosser Family Foundation were Janet Crosser, Carmel; her son, Craig Crosser, and his wife, Christi, and Janet’s daughter, Carrie Renner, and husband Scott Renner, all of Noblesville.

The private family foundation in Noblesville was started in 2001 by Janet’s husband, the late Richard H. Crosser, to help youth and their families.

In total, Crosser has given $500,839 to Hamilton County-based organizations.

Carrie Renner, a Carmel High School graduate, is director of the Crosser Family Foundation. In 2006, the foundation committed to donate $100,000 each year for the three years, to help purchase a campground for the Boys&Girls Club of Noblesville.

The 20-acre property on Ind. 37 about eight miles north of Noblesville in White River Township was named Camp Crosser.

Ron Willcut, the Boys&Girls Club’s executive director, said the camp served a record 458 campers this summer.

He was among 350 guests who attended the Nov. 12 sold-out award dinner at the Ritz Charles in Carmel.

“I can’t think of a family who would deserve it more,” he said. “They really believe in their community.

“They’re not donors who expect recognition. They’re very quiet about it, very humble about it.” To illustrate that, he said it took some convincing to get the family to agree to the name Camp Crosser.

“They’re just awesome people,” said Loretta Moore, executive director of Prevail Inc., a victims assistance group in Hamilton County.

She said the Crosser Family Foundation donated funds to staff a children’s support group, Exploring My World, for ages 6 to 11, who have been or are living with domestic violence at Prevail.

Moore, who attended the dinner, said, “What an opportunity for the community to honor the Crossers and their focus on giving back to the community and their focus on the youth of our community and the future.”

The Crosser Family Foundation has awarded about $1.15 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, primarily ones that serve youth. The Crosser Family Charitable Trust has given $35,123 to county-based organization and assisted area high school students going into the construction/building trades through the Richard H. Crosser Scholarship Fund.

Richard Crosser, who died in 2002, established both the foundation and the trust. He served as a Legacy Fund board member for three years.

Owner of the former Crossmann Communities, an Indianapolis-based home builder, he established more than 30 scholarship funds benefiting school districts. The Dick Crosser Community Endowment Fund was established in his name.

Indianapolis artist Carl Leck crafted the award for the Legacy Fund.

At Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis we are on a journey having completed 352 homes since 1987, but our journey is far from over. Few communities are untouched by poverty housing and homelessness, and in Indianapolis we are no different. At Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis, we do build homes, but the more important thing we build is hope. Those in our community with resources-time, money, skills or products to share are joined with local families who desperately need a simple, decent, affordable place to call home, where they can be a part of our community.

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