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.
Chalktoberfest
In October of 2020, Ripley Youth Outreach hosted its first Chalktoberfest, a competition of local junior high and high school students who create chalk murals based on a provided theme. The goal of this event is to promote creative expression, community engagement, and appreciation for the arts among young individuals.
Past Themes: Create a Mural Inspired By Your Favorite…
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 2021, this grant was distributed to St. Paul Lutheran Church to build a new playground!
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.
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.
