Roachdale PRIDE Fund

Year Founded

2008

Purpose of Fund
The primary purpose of the Fund shall be to benefit the Roachdale community and its citizens, provided that such programs and contributions are consistent with the exempt purposes and status of the Foundation.

History of Fund

PRIDE (ie Preserving Roachdale's IDentity Enthusiasticly) grew out of a Delta Theta Tau committee effort. The original committee included Barbara Brookshire, Nancy Buser, Joanne Miller and Barbara Phelps with Bonnie Yahraus serving as chairperson. The Theta Lambda Chapter members agreed upon the importance of a broad base of community residents taking the responsibility for seeking to preserve and improve Roachdale community life. From the start the effort of the committee would be to focus on initiating a spirit of community involvement to address community issues. Such issues might include the appearance and economic well being of the community as well as the quality of life of community residents. Furthermore, as quickly as possible this sorority initiative should grow into a community directed and supported effort.

The first committee meetings were held in April, 2008 with the committee of five determining to hold a meeting of representatives of the businesses, churches, organizations, and schools. Printed invitations were for the most part hand delivered to over fifty citizens with an explanation of what the sponsors hoped to accomplish in gathering people together. Contacts were made with the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) and the Putnam County Community Foundation (PCCF) as the committee sought to gather information on resources available to the community.

On May 8, 2008 approximately three dozen citizens examined the community's strengths and weaknesses and reflected on what they might like for the future of Roachdale to hold. Representatives from OCRA and PCCF spoke to those present about help that their organizations might be able to provide to Roachdale citizens. It was agreed that a second meeting would be planned to reach a larger representation of the population with the results of the first meeting. It was also decided to attempt to get further community opinion through a survey.

A second meeting was held May 28, 2008 at the Roachdale Elementary School. Those present were made aware of the content of the first meeting. They were also reminded that the greatest asset that any community has is its citizens. Survey forms were provided to collect additional input and several citizens spoke to issues of concern to them. The gathering was asked to put the "YOU" into Comm"YOU"nity. Several responded to the invitation to join with the VFW and Bob Allen Family to help to expand the activities to be held on July 11 and 12. This resulted in the welcome return of the sorely missed Summer Fest of a previous time. It demonstrated the power of community effort and generated both enthusiasm and funds to move ahead in addressing further comm."YOU"nity supported endeavors.

Roachdale Community Garden

The Delta Theta Tau Initiative Committee through their efforts of combining with others in the community for positive results added community members Jenni Engle and Howard Harris to their number. In keeping with the original purpose of growing the initiative to a community directed and supported effort, the decision to open a PCCF fund seemed the appropriate next step to take. Opening a fund at PCCF makes available a means for individuals to support the future activities of PRIDE to benefit the community by bringing back the small town community spirit of earlier times as well as by pursuing the desires of a wholesome, prosperous future for Roachdale. The resources that we have available today can help the community build toward a sustained and improved future for the citizens of the community.

Bonnie Yahraus