In 1989, a group of concerned activists got together to create a new type of grantmaking for our region. Using their own personal resources, they established the Three Rivers Community Fund (now Foundation) as an alternative to more traditional avenues of support, such as United Way and larger foundations that frequently could not fund grassroots efforts. This visionary group included:
Founders (signed on 1989/1990):
- Pauline Cooper
- Allen Goodman
- Penny Lytle
- Irene McLaughlin
- Jan Neffke
- Dolores Patrick
- Mark Peterson
- Suzanne Polen
- Ken Regal
- Jeff Richardson
- Judy Ruszkowski
- Lucy Spruill
- Cynthia Vanda (founding President)
- Bill Wekselman
- Arthur Young
Early Board Members (signed on 1991/1992):
- Nancy Bernstein (past President)
- Felecia Bute
- Bonnie DiCarlo
- Frances “Penna” Drew
- Molly Rush
- Nancy Washington
The Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) is a community formed through collaboration, bringing together agency, organization, and religious leaders, as well as individuals.
The Tides Foundation, founded in 1976, grew out of a need for the facilitation of philanthropic giving. Tides works to promote a change towards a society founded on a few basic principles: social justice, shared economic opportunity, a healthy democratic process, and sustainable environmental practices. 
