Rodeheaver Foundation Receives Grant to Create Military-style Obstacle Course to Honor Fallen Soldier Sgt. Timothy Officer.
One of our greatest success stories at the Ranch was Tech Sgt. Timothy A. Officer, who was a Tactical Air Control Party Airman. After staying at the Ranch as a child, he later served 14 years in the Air Force, during which he deployed several times in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded the Bronze Star twice, once with the “V” device for valor, and over 20 medals and ribbons. Sadly, he was killed in 2015 after a parachute-training incident during a military free fall training at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Tim visited the Ranch right before the accident, showing interest in building an obstacle course at the Ranch similar to ones he would use for military training and exercise. He was appreciative of the time he was able to spend at the Ranch as a child while his own father served in the military. We were awarded a grant from Lastinger Family Foundation and have completed building this military-style obstacle course in December 2017 for the boys, while helping to honor Tim’s legacy.
Rodeheaver Foundation Selected as
First Recipient to Receive Grant from Clay Electric Foundation Operation Round Up
Rodeheaver Boys Ranch has been selected as one of Clay Electric’s first Operation Round Up recipients. Participating Clay Electric Cooperative members’ bills are rounded up each month to the nearest dollar and the additional change is considered a charitable donation.
Rodeheaver Boys Ranch will use this grant to provide electricity to their own Boy Scouts Camp. Poles and service lines will be ran over 200 feet to provide electricity to the Camp. This will provide access to multiple electrical outlets, allowing the boys to plug in tents, have better lighting, and the ability to cook or heat food.
Rodeheaver Foundation and Rodeheaver Boys Ranch Awarded Grants from Rotary Clubs of St. Johns and Putnam Counties for Learning Center Project
Rodeheaver Foundation was awarded a grant from the Quad Club Rotary Collaboration of St. Johns County. The award was $4,000 from each of the four St. Johns County Clubs (Rotary Club of St. Augustine, Rotary Club of St. Augustine Sunrise, Rotary Club of St. Johns, and Rotary Club of Coastal St. Johns County). In addition to the $16,000, the Quad Club applied and won a match of $4,000 from their Rotary District, totalling $20,000 from the Quad Club Committee in grant funds for the Learning Center.
The Rotary Clubs of Putnam County quickly jumped in to support the Learning Center, including a $10,000 grant from the Rotary Club of Palatka. Rodeheaver Foundation wants to replicate a modern library or student center at Rodeheaver Boys Ranch to be used as a Learning Center, where cottage parents and volunteers can tutor and help the boys with their homework,
SAT prep, or other academic endeavors.
Rodeheaver Foundation and Rodeheaver Boys Ranch Thank Frank V. Oliver, Jr. Endowment at the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida
Rodeheaver Foundation accepted a grant challenge from the Frank V. Oliver, Jr. Endowment at the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida to raise funds for a new 15-passenger van for Rodeheaver Boys Ranch. Upon successfully completing the challenge, we purchased the new van in May 2016! The van is essential to transport the boys who reside at Rodeheaver Boys Ranch.
Many community members came together to support Rodeheaver Boys Ranch and Rodeheaver Foundation with this project including: Stellar Foundation, Lastinger Family Foundation, Don Reid Ford, and many
private donors.
Georgia Pacific
We accepted a grant from Georgia Pacific in August 2016. Sharon Ormiston, Human Resources Manager for Georgia-Pacific Palatka Operations presented the check to Krista Purcell, Director of Development, at Rodeheaver Boys Ranch.
Capital City Bank
Janette Wagner, President at Capital City Bank for Putnam and St. Johns Counties, presented a check to Rodeheaver Foundation’s Executive Director, Dan Martinez, in May 2016.