The Biz for Kidz Partnership

The Grants Pass Kiwanis Club created the Biz for Kidz partnership in 2014.  This partnership allows individuals and local businesses to support numerous youth-based organizations and scholarships administered by the Grants Pass Kiwanis Club.  Kiwanis is a service club of volunteers. 

100% of donated funds are distributed to local Josephine County youth-based programs and scholarships.

Since its inception, the Biz for Kidz Partners have raised more than $421,128 for local youth.

The Biz for Kidz Partnership benefits the numerous youth-based efforts we support in Josephine County, including: 

  • The Boys & Girls Club of the Rogue Valley
  • Canine Angels
  • Crossing Bridges
  • Josephine County Foundation
  • Joe’s Place
  • Josephine Community Library Foundation
  • Kidzone Community Foundation
  • Our Foster Kids
  • Project Youth+
  • Sleep in Heavenly Peace
  • Wildlife Images’ Camp EEK
  • Fusion Performing Arts Alliance
  • Grants Pass YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day
  • Student-of-the-Month Awards for Grants Pass, Hidden Valley and North Valley High Schools
  • Renewable high school scholarships

and other various organizations and causes within Josephine County. 

The Grants Pass Kiwanis Club has branded projects serving children in Josephone County such as the Julie Horowitz Reading is FunPeanut Butter for Kids; and Quilts for Kids Programs


2024 Academic Scholarship Awards2024 Vocational Scholarship Awards
Madison Hafele, HVHSCole Calleja, GPHS
Camille Noriega, GPHSAdam Hardman, GPHS
Jozia Williams, IVHS Matthew Rieman, GPHS
Rita Zhao, NVHSVictor Serra, GPHS  
2024 Kiwanis Project Youth+ Awards2024 Dick Hall Service Award
Dulce Flores-Olmos, GPHSCamille Noriega, GPHS
Elleanore Jones, NVHS
Savitri Legari, IVHS
Chloe Owens, HVHS 

THANK YOU!
BIZ FOR KIDZ PARTNERS

In 2024, through your continued partnership and generosity, you sponsored the following programs in Grants Pass & throughout Josephine County:

  • 10,000 Books for Kids Learning to Read
  • 1,500 Jars of Peanut Butter for Hungry Kids
  • 1,438 Blankets & Quilts for Kids in Need
  • 13 Scholarships (Academic & Vocational) Awarded to High School Graduates


Our 2024 Biz for Kidz Partners

We would not be able to accomplish what we do without the generosity of our Biz for Kidz Partners.  We THANK YOU for your Generosity to the Grants Pass and Josephine County Community!

Diamond PlusGoldSilver
Dutch Bros.Dan Horowitz221 Property Services, Inc.
 Marzi Sink FactoryAction Rehabilitation & Sports Med. PC
DiamondLes Schwab TiresBradley Realty
Allcare HealthCascade Storage
RubyConcierge Home & Business Watch
Platinum PlusVirgil BarnesEmblem Club of Grants Pass
AllCare HealthBBSI Grants PassKaylynne Grant
Evergreen Federal BankBehymer, Sorenson & Price, LLCGrants Pass Property Management Co.
 Jay HaberCanine Club aka Canine AngelsNeat & Tidy – Terri Seal
Rogue Valley DoorCondor Management Corp.Lewis Power Equipment
Dance Fusion/Training with JocelynJerry Lomas
PlatinumE.S.A.M., Inc.The Kitchen Company
Brian McKennonGalice ResortJeff & Julie Thomas
First Community Credit UnionFirst Interstate BankThe Twisted Cork
Dick & Carol Fowler/Tech ScholarshipGrants Pass SurgerySoul Canyon Training
 Grants Pass ToyotaLonnie & Debbie JohnsonTom & Pat Bange
Hart InsuranceRudi & Nancy MarziTom Randall, State Farm Insurance
Human BeanMid Rogue Imaging CenterIrv Vodovoz
Little Caesars PizzaMTE Plastics, Inc. Wild Rogue Emporium
Thomason HospitalityKristine Paulsen
Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co.RealWise PropertiesBronze
Redwood GlassFrank Boothby
Gold PlusRedwood Hyperion SuitesToni Pyatt
Fields Home CenterRobinson Orthodontics 
First Community Credit Union, South & NorthRoe Motors
Grants Pass ToyotaRogue Advisors
Hill DentistryBea Ryan
Shamrock Plumbing
So. Oregon Drywall & Insulation 
 

The Biz for Kidz Story

Biz for Kidz Program

A Strategic Planning Committee was formed by Dick Fowler in 2013, the committee’s goal was to identify ways and means to raise money for causes supported by the Club. Fowler recognized the need to secure other sources of funds as the Fair Parking Project was limited to about $10k per year and was not likely to last forever. Committee Members were Chairman Dick Fowler, Todd Thompson, Beth Harden, Marilyn Pratt, Bill Rossknecht and Duane Marzi. Many ideas were explored including a bigger and better raffle, a return to an annual auction, a sponsored parade etc., in the end, it was decided we’d just ask the business community to partner with the Club.

Bill Rossknecht advocated an effort to enlist the support of the business community citing the ease at which businesses bought raffle tickets if they knew monies were going to a good cause. In the summer of 2014, it was decided to focus the Club’s energies on the concept of forming a partnership with the business community. Biz for Kidz, although un-named initially, was born. The original committee consisted of Al Paulsen, Lonnie Johnson, Dick Fowler, Marilyn Pratt, Beth Harden, Liz McKinney, John Chionchio, Rich Scheffel and was chaired by Bill Rossknecht.

The initial committee knew they were onto something when they were able to secure enough partnerships to reach $8,600 in financial support in the first 4 months of the effort. A goal of $10,000 was set for calendar year 2015, Biz for Kidz not only reached its goal but exceeded it, $10,750 in year two. Year 3 saw a 20% increase to $13,450. In 2017, the Committee set a goal of $30,000; Biz for Kidz partnered with business community to the tune of $32,000! In 2018 Biz for Kidz kept it going and reached $35,000! It was at this time, a special committee was formed by  Dick Fowler and Steve Loftesnes to identify, vet and support new youth-based causes.

2019’s goal was $40,000 previously thought unattainable but with the program’s very low rate of partner attrition and partners actually increasing their support levels, the goal was attained. The Youth Causes supported in 2019 were College Dreams, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, GPHS Key Club, YMCA “Healthy Kids Day”, Wildlife Images, Quilts for Kids, Our Foster Kids, RV Boys and Girls Club, Josephine Community Libraries, Hearts with a Mission, Joe’s Place, the Julie Horowitz “Reading is Fun” Program, Siskiyou Health Children’s Dental Program and Peanut Butter for Kids.

Along came 2020 and with it came COVID. To the Club’s surprise, businesses when asked, stepped up big time. By the end of 2020, Biz for Kidz brought in a record $45,000 with about 45 Partners.

For 2021, the Finance Committee asked Biz for Kidz to attempt to raise $45,000 again as some of the 2020 monies had not been invested yet. Under President Joe Henner’s watch, in late 2021, an online Grant Request system was set-up led by Quin Collins. Grant applicants were encouraged to make financial requests systematically, early indications are very favorable. Also in late 2021, Dutch Bros. decided they loved the Julie Horowitz Reading is Fun Program so much that they dedicated November 30, 2021 as GiveBack Day.  They donated $16,512 from coffee sales, a $10k extra donation. Virgil Barnes, the children’s literacy program’s director became immediately tasked with taking his remarkable program to the next level!

In 2022, the Biz Committee established $60,000 as the fundraising goal recognizing that Dutch Bros may or may not continue with their significant support level. Amber Boersma, who led the Dutch Bros charge to support “Reading is Fun” left Dutch Bros. in 2021, and fortunately, Clayton Martin took over and in August, their Giveback Day raised $18,215.00! The Biz for Kidz Committee was well on its way and reached and surpassed it’s 2022 Goal of $62,000.

Text