RAMP ACCESS MADE POSSIBLE BY STUDENTS
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Mission Statement
RampsRVA, is a Richmond, Virginia -based 501 (c)3 dedicated to partnering with volunteers to build wheelchair ramps for low-income elderly or disabled individuals in the City of Richmond, Chesterfield County, and Henrico County. Since 2005, we have built over 650 wheelchair ramps with over 1,600 volunteers. As a direct result of the service to the community, these volunteers have enabled wheelchair-bound elderly ramp recipients to return to homes they could not safely access without a ramp. These ramps improve each ramp recipient’s life, and typically impact them on a daily basis - they are able to get to dialysis, doctor appointments, visit their friends and social support structures, such as churches. Due to the expanding need for services, we now partner with corporate and other adult volunteers, providing the same positive team experience for both clients and volunteers.
About This Cause
A 2010 US Government Census Update indicates there are 4,140 low-income, elderly and disabled inhabitants in the Greater Richmond, Virginia area. According to the same census update, these numbers are expected to double in the next 25 years. While medical advances continue, there will continue to be a long-term and growing need for wheelchair ramps for the elderly and disabled in Central Virginia. The RAMPS program directly benefits these low income persons who are also elderly or disabled individuals. The direct and substantial relationships exist on 4 fronts. 1.) Each ramp assembled allows a recipient to stay in their home longer, based on past experience we know our clients will live longer in their own homes – “aging in place” – something 94% of all elderly persons say they want. 2.) Clients will expect a higher quality of life as they will be better able to keep medical appointments, visit friends and family (significantly reducing the risk of depression), shop for themselves, and attend their house of worship. 3.) Helping low-income, elderly individuals with disabilities to age in place reduces the social costs. For example, each RAMPS client is at risk of being forced to move to a group living facility where 70% of their costs are subsidized by taxpayers through Medicare/Medicaid. 4) The more ramps we build and install, the greater the benefit to our student volunteers. They learn organizational and team-building skills. And they gain an awareness of the importance of community service and philanthropy, as well as their ability to make a positive impact in our area. Our strategy engages energetic volunteers and encourages their desire to improve the lives of individuals less fortunate than them. These volunteers not only raise a portion of the funds required to build each ramp and they donate their time to assemble the ramp and meet the recipients. Our goal is to develop compassionate adults with an avid, life-long interest in community service and philanthropy. The ramps we use are 100% recyclable so they may be transferred from one client to the other once the original client no longer needs their ramp. We have found materials may be used an average of three times. Thus, an initial investment of $10,000 is projected to have an impact in the $20,000-$30,000 range. We received the Daily Points of Light Award in 2007, and the 2010 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for a non-profit. We are on Guidestar with a Gold Level status.