Applications for the Tom and May Ridge Grant should be submitted by
completing this form and submitting it to the Region Commissioner by March 31. Only applications submitted by March 31 will be considered at the Annual Meeting of the Region, usually in June of each year. Copies of Ridge Grant Applications will be disseminated for review to all Board members and to Greg and Steven Ridge at least two weeks before the Annual Meeting.
The Endowment has been invested for growth with a long-term goal of expanding the Region’s ability to foster volleyball through a non-profit volleyball facility, scholarships, or other ideas presently not financially feasible. Meanwhile, with input from Greg and Steven Ridge, adult children of Tom and May Ridge, the Region awards an amount approximately equal to the previous calendar year’s Endowment income as a grant to an educational institution, nonprofit organization, or individual with a need for funds to support a volleyball purpose benefiting either junior volleyball or community volleyball. Such purposes have included establishment of high school varsity volleyball programs, purchase of padding to make a volleyball system safe, acquisition of referee stands to allow the conduct of volleyball tournaments at a college facility, and installation of new and safer volleyball systems in school gymnasiums.
The Tom and May Ridge Endowment of the Keystone Region Volleyball Association evolved from a decision by the Region Board to establish a permanent endowment to ensure the perpetuity of its charitable purpose. Within days after the Board decision to establish a permanent endowment, Tom Ridge died of a heart attack while playing volleyball in a suburban Philadelphia league. Tom’s friends and family decided to contribute to the Endowment in memory of a man whose passion for the game, perpetual positive spirit, supportive attitude, sportsmanship, competitive drive, and joy characterized the ideal volleyball teammate. The Board named the Endowment after Tom, a former USA Volleyball age group National Champion. Some years later, May Ridge passed away. Again, Ridge family and friends contributed to the Endowment. Although not a volleyball player, May supported her husband and two sons in their enjoyment of the game of volleyball. The Endowment also has grown from contributions honoring the late Robert D’Antonio, a former Region Commissioner, and from contributions of the local community, United Way donor option program [donor option number 10061], and other non-profit corporations.