Johnson County Community Foundation Announces First Recipients of the Chiarotti/Treibic Foundation Fund
Published: December 8, 2025 by Johnson County Community Foundation
The Johnson County Community Foundation (JCCF) is pleased to announce the inaugural grant recipients of the Chiarotti/Treibic Foundation Fund. This year, funding will support four local nonprofits dedicated to strengthening the community:
- Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County
- KIC-IT
- Great Harvest Food Pantry
- Imagination Library of Johnson County
The Chiarotti/Treibic Foundation was established by the children of John Chiarotti and Don Treibic to honor these remarkable men, their enduring friendship, and their lifelong commitment to serving others. Each year, the foundation will support Johnson County 501(c)(3) organizations focused on education, youth services, poverty, and homelessness.
The story behind the fund is rooted in a bond that began more than 60 years ago. In the fall of 1963, Franklin College welcomed two young men from very different corners of the country: John, a first-generation Italian American from Detroit arriving on a football scholarship, and Don, a tall, determined student from Brooklyn. Though their backgrounds differed, their character did not. They shared a deep devotion to family, an unwavering work ethic, and a drive to improve themselves and the world around them.
What began as an unlikely college friendship soon grew into a lifelong brotherhood. After graduating from Franklin College, both men chose to remain in small-town Indiana, building careers, raising families, and investing their time and talents back into the community that brought them together. Their decades of generosity, through leadership, philanthropy, and service, left a meaningful imprint on countless individuals and organizations throughout Johnson County.
Although John passed away in November 2020, the creation of this fund ensures that the values he and Don shared—kindness, commitment, and community—will continue to influence future generations. The foundation’s annual investments in local nonprofits will carry forward their spirit of generosity, and strengthen the county they both loved.
“It is an honor for us, their children, to be able to honor our fathers by giving back to the Johnson County community where they chose to plant their roots, work, volunteer, and raise their families after graduating from Franklin College in the mid 1960's,” said Adam Treibic, son of Don Treibic.
For more information about the Chiarotti/Treibic Foundation Fund or the Johnson County Community Foundation, please contact the JCCF or visit their website at jccf.org.
