Innovia Foundation starts endowment pledge drive for Ray Scholarship

In the past 16 years, the David L. and Frances G. Ray Scholarship has awarded 53 scholarships to local area graduates, totaling near $45,000. The scholarship was established and totally funded by the Ray’s son Gerald. Gerald started the scholarship to honor his parents, who were involved in and supported their communities through their lives. He also wanted to generate interest in the Ralston and Rimrock Granges, organizations that have been active since 1930, sponsoring and supporting community activities.

To continue this legacy and the financial support through awarded scholarships, the Innovia Foundation, which administers this scholarship, has set up an endowment pledge drive. With the help of the two Granges and community support, it is hoped to grow the endowment enough to continue to offer this program to area high school graduates for many years to come. The first $1,000 donated by the community will be matched by Innovia with a $5,000 donation to the endowment for each of the next 5 years; building the endowment to $25,000 contributed by Innovia plus community donations or pledges. The number of scholarships given will depend upon how large the contributions are by the community each year.

There will be a number of ways to donate, which will be outlined in an insert to be included in next week’s paper or you can contact locally, Randy Roth at 659-0893 or [email protected].