Ramona Community Foundation Calls for New Members

Newcomers to Ramona may not have heard that the town has a community foundation, but longtime resident John Degenfelder would like to get the word out. He's passionate about making sure Ramona can take advantage of a .

"We need everyone to know about this opportunity to bring money to Ramona through the Ramona Community Foundation (RCF) Grant Program to use on Ramona's many needs," Degenfelder told Ramona Patch this week.

The matching funds program is called the Matt McLaughlin Matching Program, named after the late Rancho Bernardo resident who donated $10 million to the SDF.

Degenfelder is the appointed chairman of the Ramona Community Foundation, which began about three years ago. He says there wasn't much follow through on the foundation because of the economic downtown that ensued.

"County Supervisor Dianne Jacob called a meeting in her El Cajon office about three years ago to ask some folks from Ramona if we would like to start a foundation for Ramona," Degenfelder said. "Attending the meeting were Bryan Woods, Dan Vengler, Carol Fowler, Jeff Gan, Rob Lewellan, Helene Radzick and myself. A representative of the San Diego Foundation was also present.

"It was explained that the SDF would assist us in getting the RCF set up by providing guidance and a SDF staff member at our meetings.  SDF would also pay for advertising, mailings, printing a Ramona Foundation brochure, a membership information event, lunches hosting prospective new members and accounting services. Dianne got us started with $30,000 to the SDF from her discretionary fund."

Degenfelder said the original Ramona Community Foundation Board was formed as follows: Helene Radzick, president; John Degenfelder, vice president; Jeff Gan, treasurer; and board members Dan Vengler, Rob Lewellan, Carol Fowler and Torry Brean. An introductory fundraising event was held in 2009, he said. 

"The room was packed with folks. Leaders from the SDF attended and spoke briefly and the Ramona Board was introduced. That evening's response was enthusiastic but it did not carry forward. The continuing state of the U.S. economy has been a very large obstacle."

Degenfelder said that Jacob asked for a report on the RCF last month.

"Dianne has received her money back and said that it still belongs to Ramona," he said. "I encouraged her to use it as seed money for the Santa Maria Creek Greenway.    

He said he looks forward to the opportunity to inspire folks to join Ramona Community Foundation using "the exciting McLaughlin Matching Program."

"Each new member's $500 contribution will be matched with $500 of new money from outside of Ramona," he said.

For more information on Ramona Community Foundation, you may contact John Degenfelder at 760-789-1716.