Hunters for the Hungry
This Virginia based organization distributes and processes to food banks across
the state. Since 1991, this organization has provided more than 450,000 pounds
of meat to the needy. Hunters for the Hungry is one of Ruritan’s most
successful partnerships with literally hundreds of clubs providing the funds for
processing wild game for the tables of the area’s less fortunate.
Farmers and Hunters Feeding the
Hungry (Maryland)
This Maryland program helps processed and distributes venison donated by farmers
and hunters to food banks in Maryland and surrounding areas. This partnership
has provided new opportunity for service by the Ruritan in Maryland and
bordering areas. Since 1998, both organizations have achieved possibilities for
individuals who are in need for food.
4-H
Ruritan and 4-H have had a long history of helping each other. Each year,
hundreds of 4-H students are sponsored to 4-H "Citizenship and Washing
Focus" seminars in Washington D.C., and to other youth based activities.
Since 1995, both organizations have had a great impact on the future of youth in
our communities.
SkillsUSA (formerly VICA)
SkillsUSA-VICA strives to increase pride in work through education and
competitions in many vocational skills area. The organization has strong ties
with business and industry and has chapters in more than 13,000 public school,
community colleges and vocational schools.
Freedoms
Foundation at Valley Forge (FFVF)
The Freedoms Foundation, in corporation with the Congressional Medal of Honor
Society, Boy Scouts of America, and Ruritans, sponsors the Medal of Honor
Adventure each October. Student perform service work in the 52 acre Medal of
Honor Grove and hear inspirational messages from Medal of Honor recipients. Each
spring, the Freedoms Foundation and Ruritan National sponsor two Freedom and
Leadership conferences at the Freedom Foundation.
Adventure Camp, Inc.
Adventure Camp, Inc.is a camp held each summer for children and adolescents with limb loss. Adventure Camp, Inc. was started in 1981 and has been held annually since that time in the summer.
The camp staff includes amputee and non-amputee volunteers who are health professionals such as therapists, prothetists, orthotists and nurses as well as members of the communities which the camp serves. They volunteer their time to do the planning as well as provide the counseling and food preparation.
National D-Day Memorial
Foundation
The primary objective of the nine-acre National D-Day Memorial is to recognize
the exemplary contribution of individual military personnel, all of whom
encountered extreme hardship and particularly those who were asked to make the
ultimate sacrifice. To date Ruritans have donated nearly $200,000 to various
projects at the National D-Day Memorial.
Prevention Through Service
Alliance
This organization is made up of more than 20 civic, fraternal and veterans’
organizations which have all agreed to take a public stance on the issue
affecting all communities. The alliance recognizes that youth are “our
greatest asset for a promising future,” and that preventing drug abuse is
essential to youth “becoming contributing and responsible citizens.” This
organization also calls for the leading volunteer’s associations and youth
development agencies to unite in promoting drug free environments, positive
choices by the youth, and character development so that productive citizens and
future world leaders will be ensured. Since the partnership began, Ruritan has
provided a liaison with PTSA, usually a member of our Youth Committee, and have
used the RURITAN magazine to share anti-drug messages with youth leaders in the
Ruritan community.
National FFA Organization (FFA)
The National FFA Organizations has nearly 450,000 members nationally in local
high schools or in secondary schools that have an agriculture program. Through
competition and skill-building exercises, FFA members learn discipline,
responsibility, and dedication to the field of agriculture. Ruritan clubs can
help sponsor entire local FFA chapters or can sponsor individual members to
local, state, or national levels of competition. Since 1998, Ruritans have
supported the FFA in public services and development.
Boy Scouts of America
More than one-third of all Ruritan Clubs sponsor scouting in some way. Ruritan
clubs and districts can sponsor scouts to state and national meetings, help
scouts with Eagle Scout projects, and sponsor scouts with their leaders to
attend the Medal of Honor adventures. In the past years Ruritans have helped
with events such as the BSA National Jamboree and the new Ruritan Scout Leader
Service Award.
Virginia War Memorial
The Virginia War Memorial was built in the mid 1950's on a high point
overlooking the downtown skyline and the James River in Richmond to honor those
who served in World War II and Korea. Later additions honor veterans of Vietnam
and the Persian Gulf. The names of 11,631 Virginians who made the supreme
sacrifices in battle are engraved on the soaring glass and stone walls of the
Memorials Shrine of Memory. Ruritan National and the Virginia War Memorial have
announced the formation of a partnership to teach patriotism and citizenship to
future generations. To help achieve this goal, the War Memorial has started a
program called Virginians At War: Historic Interviews. This history program of
World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf is brought to life through
the videotaped interviews of Virginia veterans who were there. Ruritans have
participated in special military holiday ceremonies at the Memorial and articles
about the Memorial have appeared in the RURITAN magazine.
Liberty Day
Liberty Day is a non-partisan grass roots celebration of the Declaration of
Independence and the U.S Constitution. The ultimate goal of Liberty Day is the
protection and continuation of American liberties. Its primary mission is
education: to make all citizens aware of the significance and content of both
the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, in order that voters
might appreciate the incredible rights and responsibilities to be found in those
documents. In pursuit of this goal, Liberty Day activities throughout the state
focus attention on these two crucial documents and events leading up to the
founding of the United States. A number of Ruritan Clubs have sponsored youth
groups to Liberty Day events in their state capitals under the title “Liberty
Kids”. In 2005 Congress passed a new law requiring all schools and educational
institutions to teach the U.S. Constitution on September 17 every year - the
anniversary date of the document. Ruritan Clubs have been involved in helping to
promote that instruction and have volunteered to assist with programs in many
schools.
Telephone Pioneers of
America
Several Ruritan clubs already active with the Telephone Pioneers of America's
"Books about Me" program led Ruritan National to formalize the
arrangement with an organizational partnership. That project later blossomed
into the partnership (below) with “I Like Me” book program. Ruritans have
also worked with the Telephone Pioneers of America to develop playground sized
maps of the United States that are used by schools to teach geography.
Kindergartners
Count, "I Like Me"
In 2005 both the Ruritan and “I Like Me” organizations have been
establishing a personalized approach with the children. This program motivates
students to learn to read and also encourages healthy self-concept. “I LIKE
ME” has a positive impact on a child’s self concept through significant
developmental qualities such as character, sincerity, effort, etiquette, and
self control. Self-esteem and self-efficacy, components of self-concept, include
acceptance, caring, recognition, teamwork, and achievement.