Double or nothing? Try 5:1

RALSTON – Community members have until Dec. 31 to take advantage of Innovia Foundation’s generous offer to match scholarship donations five to one.

If community members contribute at least $1,000 to the Ray Scholarship Fund by the end of the year, Innovia Foundation will contribute an additional $5,000.

The Ray Scholarship Fund has been distributing scholarships to students at Lind-Ritzville, Washtucna and LaCrosse High Schools for the past two decades, as well as to students who are members or descendants of members of the Ralston or Rimrock Granges.

“The first 18 years, this scholarship was funded entirely by one of our members, Gerald Ray,” Ralston Membership and Fundraising Committee member Randy Roth said last week. “Beginning in 2019, he was no longer able to continue doing that, so the Granges joined with Innovia to continue the scholarship through funding by community contributors and matching funds from Innovia.”

The Innovia Foundation is a community foundation supporting nonprofits and community grants as well as providing student scholarships. They serve a 20-county region across Eastern Washington and North Idaho, including Adams, Lincoln, Whitman, Spokane, Columbia, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Garfield and Asotin counties in Washington.

The Ralston and Rimrock Granges are long-standing community organizations, open to all, offering activities and supporting local needs in their communities.

“We believe the dream of a college degree should be accessible to every student in our community, regardless of their family’s finances,” said Roth. “That is why we are passionate about partnering with Innovia Foundation to grow the Ray Scholarship Endowment, to provide even more scholarship funds, year after year, that will positively impact the lives of local students for generations to come.”

Roth said a five-year Matching Gift Challenge with Innovia was made in 2019 to ensure the legacy of David and Francis Ray, and their son Gerald, and to grow the scholarship fund.

“Last year we were able to generate enough donations to award a $1,000 scholarship, and begin growing the funds assets,” Roth said. “Gifts from our community that exceed $1,000 will be made available immediately, to maintain annual distributions from the Ray Scholarship Fund to local students. Once the fund is fully endowed, it will support the scholarship for generations to come.”

Since the beginning of the Ray Scholarship Fund 20 years ago, 45 scholarships totaling nearly $50,000 in awards have been given to area students. Students can apply once they are in college, also.

Receiving the awards over the last five years are the following:

2015: Curt Ruzicka, Ritzville; Matthew Leffel, Ritzville; and Conner O’Neal, Lind.

2016: Connor O’Neal, Lind; Jacob Saetre, Lind; and Jazyln Webb, Washtucna.

2017: Britta Harder, LaCrosse; Erika Leffel, Ritzville; and Conner O’Neal, Lind.

2018: Peyton Curtis, Lind-Ritzville; Camden Smith, Lind-Ritzville; and Jazzmyn Gordon, Washtucna.

2019: Jazzmyn Gordon, Washtucna; Erika Leffel, Ritzville; and Bryce Kelly, Lind-Ritzville.

2020: Spencer Gering, Lind-Ritzville; and Ellie Gering, Lind-Ritzville.

Gifts and pledges can easily be made by any of the three options: online at http://www.innovia.org/rayscholarship; by calling the Innovia Foundation office at 509 624 2606; or by mail at Innovia Foundation, attn: Ray Scholarship, 421 W. Riverside Ave., Suite 606, Spokane, WA, 99201.