The Fund for Ravenswood is a charitable fund of the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation (PACF), a nationally certified community foundation founded in 1963. Created in 2019, The Fund for Ravenswood’s mission is “to work together to make Ravenswood better by supporting programs, projects and initiatives that lead toward the vision of a better future for all residents.” Jackson County is among the eleven counties in the PACF’s regional service area. The Fund for Ravenswood recently awarded more than $104,000 to support programs and causes in Jackson County. PACF’s Executive Director, Judy Sjostedt Ritchie, presented the grants at the Ravenswood City Council Meeting on May 17, 2022.
“The Fund’s founders see that a lot of good things are happening in Ravenswood right now and that there is energy in the community to help it to advance," said Sjostedt Ritchie. "So, they wanted to create a charitable fund to strengthen this momentum and to support the vision of a socially vibrant and economically robust community where people are healthy, respectful and inclusive of others, and have ample opportunities to thrive. Ravenswood is a great community and they want to help build up its positive aspects.”
The Fund made its first grant early last year to aid the City of Ravenswood’s public WIFI project with an award of $4,000. In late December 2021, the Fund received a substantial gift commitment from the S. Douglas Ritchie family of Ravenswood which will enable the Fund to award up to $200,000 annually starting in 2022.
Grants will be made bi-annually via the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation’s online Community Action Grants Program process. If an opportunity is time-sensitive or of an emergency nature, grant seekers may contact the PACF for off-cycle support, but generally, larger requests must use the online grant application process.
A key requirement to consideration for a grant is that an applicant organization can demonstrate significant benefit for the citizens of Ravenswood. Grants will be considered in five broad areas of life: Quality of Life Improvement; Vibrant Economy-Downtown Support; Healthy Lifestyles; Public Safety; and Workplace Readiness.
A total of $104,672 was presented to the following causes:
- Hope House Ministries - $15,000 to strengthen its services by funding its operations costs. (Issued as a challenge grant to others in the community. $7,500 awarded up front and remaining $7,500 awarded upon showing that they have raised $7,500 from others (businesses and others) in the community.)
- Jackson County EMS - $14,757 to purchase an automated CPR device for the Ravenswood EMS site.
- Jackson County Public Library - $5,000 to support the Ravenswood and Ripley library branches and provide the PBS Inquire Within Program of learning activities for local children.
- Pilot Club of Jackson County - $10,000 to aid Ravenswood residents with need to receive help through the Pilot Club’s dental support program.
- Ravenswood Youth Football League via the Jackson County Family Resource Network - $16,935 to purchase youth safety equipment and equipment necessary for the sport.
- Ravenswood Youth Basketball via the Jackson County Family Resource Network - $7,980 to purchase youth safety equipment and equipment necessary for the sport.
- City of Ravenswood / Kids Play Zone - $10,00 to enable our young people to have things to do that are healthy and fun. This grant is intended to sponsor activities for children and youth at the Harvest in the Woods Festival
- City of Ravenswood / Sand Creek Marina - $25,000 to support the Sand Creek Marina Kayak / Canoe Launch and campgrounds area project.
As a public charitable fund managed by the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation, other citizens who believe in supporting this vision of a better Ravenswood, are encouraged to support the Fund for Ravenswood. Gifts to the Fund are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Gift may be made online or mailed to the PACF. To learn more or discuss your gift, please call the PACF at 304-428-4438.
