River Valley Special Recreation Foundation is an IRS approved 501(c)(3), dedicated to providing financial support for recreational and therapeutic programming that enhances and enriches the lives of RVSRA participants and their families, and to creating recreational opportunities for RVSRA participants.
The Foundation holds various fundraisers throughout the year. Our annual garage/bake sale has been held since 2010. All items sold at the garage sale and bake sale are donated! Look for this event each February.
Other fundraisers have been selling pies from Baker's Square, holding a Clay Shoot, selling mums, popcorn, and car wash tickets. The major fundraiser is the Great Mouse Race which is typically held every November.
Funds raised through our partnerships, fundraising events, grants, and individual donors support program participants in the following areas:
• Providing scholarships
• Purchasing equipment, wheelchairs, etc. for the participants
• Grant funds to purchase specially equipped vehicles to transport participants Sponsor special events for participants and their families
• Provide ongoing support for program services as well as new services and programs
• Provide funds for capital projects
The Foundation has supported the Association by purchasing uniforms and equipment for Special Olympics, scholarships to participants in need, purchasing a wheelchair to be used by RVSRA participants while at events, provided free programs, helping with the cost of rental space for our summer day camp, providing funds to complete the garage floor refurbishing, and many more needs.
Another donation was to provide start-up funding for the Early Childhood/Youth programs in 2023 Jessica Rattin, the EC/Youth Coordinator had this to say about the donation to the EC/Youth program
"The $500 grant received has helped in so many ways. Because of the Foundation's generosity, we have been able to create all programs for the EC & Youth participants free of charge this summer. I'd like to believe that is a huge reason we have so many new families joining us in our programming. We've met new friends and been able to help connect parents to create friendships as well. We are creating more than just activities to fill the calendar, we are offering space for our participants to have fun and our families to connect with each other to find community from our glow stick dance party, to our KCC soccer program, and the cooking class in August that's at maximum capacity, we wouldn't have done it without you. Thank you on behalf of the families we are serving. Your generosity is so appreciated and we are excited to see how our EC & Youth programs continue to flourish."
