ROCKY Launches Major Legacy Initiative for Community Betterment
NELSONVILLE, Ohio - ROCKY Brands, Inc., a major manufacturer of footwear and apparel, announced today it was launching a legacy community outreach program fueled by employee donations.
The ROCKY Community Improvement Fund (RCIF) will focus on enhancing the quality of life for Nelsonville residents and the surrounding communities by promoting philanthropy among ROCKY associates, building an endowment and awarding grants.
The company has already raised more than $30,000 for the fund, aims to raise $50,000 by the end of the year, and an additional $50,000 every year thereafter. Each year, all of the interest from the prior year's investments and one-half of new contributions will be distributed to qualifying educational and cultural organizations in Nelsonville and the surrounding communities.
RCIF Chairperson Sarah Martin said community involvement and investment has always been a priority and is an important tenet built into the company's culture.
Mike Brooks, CEO of ROCKY, said, "We're all in this together. ROCKY is only successful because of the hard work and dedication of our associates, and many of our associates work, live and attend school in this community. It's important for us as a whole to support and promote the initiatives that are working to make Southeastern Ohio a better place to live."
The fund hopes to address issues, such as the area's 26 percent poverty rate, unemployment and education, while building on the success of community programs that are already producing positive momentum.
Historically, state statistics show, only 4.1 percent of all charitable contributions in Ohio benefit causes in the Appalachian region, despite this region accounting for 8.2 percent of the state's human need.
"We hope the ROCKY Community Improvement Fund will help correct this by funneling money directly into the Nelsonville area," Martin said.
A committee of seven volunteers from the company will direct the RCIF, which will focus its charitable efforts in Nelsonville, Buchtel, Glouster, Carbon Hill, Murray City and other nearby communities. One of the criteria in the selection of these volunteers was that they had to be residents of Nelsonville and the immediate surrounding communities.
Funds will be distributed through a tightly regulated grant-and board-approval process and the investments will be managed through an arrangement with The Athens Foundation.
Furthermore, The Athens Foundation, a nonprofit organization active throughout Athens County, will partner with ROCKY, providing professional experience, resources and knowledge to help the new fund achieve its financial goals.
Photo: RCIF Steering Committee Members (left to right, front to back) Theresa Ragosta, Sarah Martin, Jessica Kasler, Janelle Gellerman, Heather Campbell, Casey Jones (not pictured is Amy McCulloch)
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The ROCKY Community Improvement Fund (RCIF) will focus on enhancing the quality of life for Nelsonville residents and the surrounding communities by promoting philanthropy among ROCKY associates, building an endowment and awarding grants.
The company has already raised more than $30,000 for the fund, aims to raise $50,000 by the end of the year, and an additional $50,000 every year thereafter. Each year, all of the interest from the prior year's investments and one-half of new contributions will be distributed to qualifying educational and cultural organizations in Nelsonville and the surrounding communities.
RCIF Chairperson Sarah Martin said community involvement and investment has always been a priority and is an important tenet built into the company's culture.
Mike Brooks, CEO of ROCKY, said, "We're all in this together. ROCKY is only successful because of the hard work and dedication of our associates, and many of our associates work, live and attend school in this community. It's important for us as a whole to support and promote the initiatives that are working to make Southeastern Ohio a better place to live."
The fund hopes to address issues, such as the area's 26 percent poverty rate, unemployment and education, while building on the success of community programs that are already producing positive momentum.
Historically, state statistics show, only 4.1 percent of all charitable contributions in Ohio benefit causes in the Appalachian region, despite this region accounting for 8.2 percent of the state's human need.
"We hope the ROCKY Community Improvement Fund will help correct this by funneling money directly into the Nelsonville area," Martin said.
A committee of seven volunteers from the company will direct the RCIF, which will focus its charitable efforts in Nelsonville, Buchtel, Glouster, Carbon Hill, Murray City and other nearby communities. One of the criteria in the selection of these volunteers was that they had to be residents of Nelsonville and the immediate surrounding communities.
Funds will be distributed through a tightly regulated grant-and board-approval process and the investments will be managed through an arrangement with The Athens Foundation.
Furthermore, The Athens Foundation, a nonprofit organization active throughout Athens County, will partner with ROCKY, providing professional experience, resources and knowledge to help the new fund achieve its financial goals.
Photo: RCIF Steering Committee Members (left to right, front to back) Theresa Ragosta, Sarah Martin, Jessica Kasler, Janelle Gellerman, Heather Campbell, Casey Jones (not pictured is Amy McCulloch)
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