Ripley Youth Outreach (RYO) is an initiative of the Ripley County Community Foundation with a focus of promoting education in all aspects of philanthropy in local youth. This youth philanthropy program is made up of teens from area high schools, with a goal to empower the youth to create a powerful voice in their communities and become leaders of their generation. Our initiative provides training on philanthropy, fundraising, and the grant making process. Since 2015, Ripley Youth Outreach has made a powerful impact in their community through various projects and programs.
From Birthday Boxes and Chalktoberfest to murals, park revitalizations, and the Ripley County Film Fest, Ripley Youth Outreach has spent the last decade empowering teens to dream big and give back.
Support this program and help us launch the next decade of youth-driven projects!
Give $10 for 10 years on our Day of Giving on November 7th and your gift may be matched 50%, turning $10 into $15 for the future of youth-led philanthropy.
Donate to Support RYO
A Week of Storytelling, Connection & Community
Interested in submitting your short movie for the 2026 Film Fest?
Submissions open: November 3, 2025 – April 1, 2026. Visit FilmFreeway for more information.
Chalktoberfest
Chalktoberfest 2025 was September 20 at Bricktoberfest in Osgood. This year, we went Around the World!
Since 2020, Ripley Youth Outreach has hosted this annual chalk art competition to encourage artistic expression, spark community connection, and celebrate the talents of local artists.
Past Themes:
Interactive Mural – 2024
TV Show – 2023
Book Cover – 2022
CD Cover – 2021
Movie Poster – 2020
A Greener Tomorrow
In 2021, thanks to a generous grant from Enbridge, Ripley Youth Outreach launched our A Greener Tomorrow Campaign. We embarked on a mission to enhance our county’s environmental landscape through newly planted trees and vibrant pollinator gardens. By the end of the year, our collaborative efforts with local organizations, businesses, and schools saw the planting of over three hundred trees and the installation of three flourishing pollinator gardens, marking a significant stride towards a more sustainable and ecologically vibrant community.
Change Ripley County Grant
Ripley Youth Outreach established the $10,000 Change Ripley County Grant in 2019 to give local youth a platform in which to be heard, the confidence to take action to change their communities, and resources to enact that change. The grant encourages youth to partner with a local nonprofit organization to establish a change and improve Ripley County. Grant recipients are chosen by Ripley Youth Outreach.
In 2025, this grant was distributed to South Ripley High School to purchase a vibraphone and marimaba and other necessary materials to play these musical instruments!
In 2023, the Town of Osgood received the Change Ripley County Grant to fund Lainey Narwold’s project to install artwork on the traffic barrier along U.S. 421.
In 2021, this grant was distributed to St. Paul Lutheran Church to build a new playground!
A Box of Christmas Cheer
In 2022, Ripley Youth Outreach embarked on a mission to spread holiday cheer! They gathered supplies to distribute 160 treat boxes of “A Box of Christmas Cheer!” each containing festive goodies including hot chocolate, candy canes, sugar cookie mix, icing, and green & red sprinkles. These boxes were joyfully shared with the 8 local food pantries, bringing warmth and smiles to families in need throughout our community.
Birthday Box Program
During the summer of 2023, we forged impactful partnerships with Global Atlantic Financial Group and Honda to assemble more than 400 Birthday Boxes.
Each of these boxes is full with birthday essentials, including cake mix, icing, candles, and balloons. Distributed by local food pantries, these boxes bring joy to children who might otherwise lack the means to celebrate their special day.
Participating High Schools include:
Mission Statement: To create a powerful youth voice in our community in order to improve the lives of those in Ripley County through a philanthropic approach.
Vision Statement: To spread knowledge of philanthropy across Ripley County through service and education, to empower the youth to become leaders of their generation.
