UNITED WAY DONOR OPTION
In or about 1994, the Keystone Region Volleyball Association established the Tom and
May Ridge Memorial Endowment as a permanent fund with long-term dreams of a Region facility and possible scholarships and an immediate commitment to make an annual grant based on the previous year’s Endowment income for a worthy purpose advancing community and/or youth volleyball. The Region Board established a policy that all unqualified contributions or gifts to the Region would be added to the Ridge Endowment. The Endowment was named in honor of the late Tom and May Ridge because of their many contributions to the game and its extended family and for the exemplary examples they set on the court and as a family. Shortly thereafter, the Region qualified as a Donor Option through the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

As Donor Option number 10061, individuals can contribute to the Keystone Region Volleyball Association through any United Way in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, or New Jersey. All such contributions are added without reduction to the Tom and May Ridge Memorial Endowment to advance progress toward long-term goals and increase income for the annual Ridge Grant. Direct contributions are also possible.

The Region Board recently approved a Ridge Grant of $2,000 to C3 of State College, Pennsylvania to help construct a facility with three new volleyball courts. A Junior Olympic volleyball club already practices in C3's existing gymnasium and plans are in place for community leagues and expanding the organization’s volleyball skills clinics.

If interested in contributing through the United Way to the Keystone Region Ridge Endowment, please identify your Donor Option as “No. 10061, Keystone Region Volleyball Association, c/o David M. Lockwood,, 1901 JFK Boulevard, No. 1912, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

TOM AND MAY RIDGE MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT AND GRANT

Some dozen years ago, Tom Ridge suffered a fatal heart attack playing volleyball in the Phoenixville Men’s Volleyball League. A quiet man, Tom loved the sport and played a key role on the Sunoco Golden Masters team which captured the 1994 USA Volleyball 55+ National Championship in Raleigh, North Carolina. A model teammate, Tom played the game with a positive fervor, always encouraging and never critical – a gentleman athlete. He passed his passion for the game to sons, Greg and Steve, and to wife May who supported the countless volleyball competitions and travels of her family. When Tom’s friends and family contacted the Keystone Region Volleyball Association to inquire about a fitting memorial, it was noted that the Region’s then recently established permanent endowment lacked a name. Tom’s team spirit, accomplishments, and devotion to the game made him a perfect namesake for the endowment.

Originally funded with a modest sum as the seed for Region financial security and with an eye toward long-term goals such as a volleyball facility and, secondarily, scholarships, donations have been made to the Endowment in honor of Tom Ridge, Bob D’Antonio, and May Ridge.

Shortly after creating the Endowment, the Region Board decided to offer annual grants in amounts up to the previous year’s income (currently around $2,000) for volleyball-related charitable purposes with a particular focus on community and youth volleyball. Over the years, grants have been made to help establish two high school varsity programs (seed money was also granted for a third program which failed to take root), new and safer net systems at three institutions where school, community, and Junior Olympic volleyball were played), pads for referee stands, and other such purposes.

Grant applications should be submitted by March 31 of each year to the Keystone Region Volleyball Association. Applications should be for a volleyball-related purpose that is charitable in nature and fosters community and/or youth volleyball. The purpose and application of prospective grants should be described in detail and substantiated by objective estimates and/or contracts. As grants are limited to a maximum round number in the vicinity of the previous year’s Endowment income (interest and dividends), applications should be realistic in expectation and should describe the source of any other funds needed to complete or fulfil a proposed project.

As the Tom and May Ridge Memorial Endowment grows, the income it generates also should grow. Unless specified for another purpose, all charitable contributions to the Keystone Region Volleyball Association are and have been placed into the Endowment. Although it has not been well-advertised, the Keystone Region Volleyball Association qualified as a United Way Donor Option with the hope of adding to the Endowment annually. The United Way Donor Option number for the Keystone Region Volleyball Association is 10061 and the address for United Way purposes is c/o David M. Lockwood, 1901 JFK Boulevard, No. 1912, Philadelphia, PA 19103. All United Way monies over the years have been added to the Endowment.

For more information about the opportunity to apply for the Tom and May Ridge Grant or about contributing to the Endowment through United Way or directly, click RESOURCES above and drop down to FORMS/POLICIES, then go to the bottom of the page that appears; or contact Dave Lockwood.