Lunch and Learn - Non-Profit Panel

Our special presentation this month is highlighting a few our local Non-Profit organizations. You will be learning from the following:

Ridgefield Art Association:

Mission: RAA helps connect artists to our local art community. We also connect the community itself to art. Now that we have a gallery we hope residents and visitors will be able to see and appreciate the talent that we have in this town.

Goals: Keep awareness of how important art is in our lives. Continue to help support visual artists and also musicians. Hope to expand outreach and offer classes and also would like to see theater arts be available in RIdgefield.

Key Highlights: The bimonthly show in the library is an opportunity for any RAA member to display their art. The downtown gallery is a co-op business model that is still non-profit and run by volunteers. Less visible are the support we give to the schools via Ridgefield Youth Arts Month, donation to projects and a scholarship for graduating seniors.

Leadership Clark County:

Leadership Clark County is a non profit civic leadership program aimed at developing effective leaders to serve Clark County. Each year we run a nine month program from September-June in which 36 individuals from diverse backgrounds participate in monthly sessions on different systems in Clark County, such as Education, Economic Drivers, Legal, Government, etc. We conduct a dive deep into current issues facing that system and bring in expert businesses, non-profits, and individuals who are doing the work to make a difference and help connect class members to get involved with something they are passionate about. At the end of the 9 months participants walk away with a better understanding of the issues Clark County is facing and feeling more connected with their class members and their community. LCC has been in business for 33 years and has over 900 alumni serving the community on various boards, commissions, elected positions, and other volunteer roles.

National Wildlife Refuge:

Mission:

The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is a non-profit membership organization that champions the protection of wildlife and their habitats by broadening public understanding of and engagement in the natural and cultural resources of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

Goals:
-Fundraise to support the organization's mission, including raising money for the new Community Nature Center's interpretive and functional needs
-Provide outreach and education about Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

-Promote wildlife and habitat conservation efforts through social media, workshops, events, and education programs

-Promote the Refuge's programs and support their funding and volunteer needs

-Engage with local community businesses to help spread the above messages

Neighbors Helping Neighbors:

For 40 years, Neighbors Helping Neighbors has worked to alleviate
hunger in our community.
Through the efforts of volunteers and donations from local residents, and support from
organizations including Green Bag Ridgefield, the Clark County Food Bank and Rosauers
Supermarkets, we provide food, clothing and household staples to needy residents of Ridgefield, La
Center, Felida and Salmon Creek.
In addition to weekly distributions of food baskets of shelf-stable food, fresh produce, frozen and
refrigerated food and bulk dry food products, and weekly distribution of household staples such as
dishwashing soap, toilet paper, and paper towels, we also distribute holiday food boxes with
turkeys, produce and foods traditionally eaten during the holidays and gift bags for members of the
families served.

Remember to bring your business cards for networking and a door prize if you would like to promote your business! We look forward to seeing you all there as we learn from our non-profit panel of guests.