To the Supporters and Friends of the Rich May Field,
As we reflect on 2023 – we are pleased to report that interest and usage at the Rich May Field has returned to and surpassed pre-Covid numbers.
The community field users – both soccer and rugby organizations are “back” which allows kids to return to practice and games. The field is busy on school days from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm as Ravenswood Middle School uses the field for PE. We are happy to work with the new Ravenswood Middle School principal, Dr. Cristian Miley, who is committed to accountability and opportunity for all.
Here's an update:
Daily Magic
From 3pm – 5pm, EPATT (East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring) supervises an important academic program for Ravenswood School District and by 5pm the sports user groups – players, coaches and families – arrive. Practices go until 9:30 pm most days, when the lights go off. Please come and visit during this time – it is magic! On weekends, there are both soccer and rugby games, tournaments and practice.
Financials Holding Strong
Our financial numbers continue to improve as the field is rented to community sports organization from East Palo Alto, who pay user fees. We will be increasing our field rental fees on January 1, 2024, for the first time since opening the field in 2016.
Funding the Magic
Our Field Angel Program, individuals who have each committed $25,000 for 5 years ($5000 per year) makes it possible for us to close the monthly deficit between revenue and operating expense. The deficit is by design as the Rich May Board is committed to keeping field rental fees within the reach of our community field users and by not charging the users rates seen in other municipalities and jurisdictions.
- Team Angel Program: We will be introducing a new program, which gives donors an opportunity to sponsor a team, paying for yearly field rental costs.
- Brick program: The RMF Brick program continues and it is easy to buy a brick at https://www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/richmayfoundation.
- Foundations Help: We are honored to have received grants for the field from the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund, Palo Alto Community Fund and the Olympic Club Foundation.
- Individual Donors: We are grateful to the many individual donors who contribute and believe in the value of sports life lessons for both girls and boys.
Field Replacement and Maintenance
In 2024, we will focus on the upcoming turf field replacement, scheduled for 2025 or 2026. It is hard to believe the field has been in use since 2016. The average life of a turf field is 10 – 12 years. Much to our amazement. the cost has escalated to approximately $750,000 to replace the field in today’s dollars.
We said good-by to our beautiful old oak tree, which crashed to the ground during the storm last spring, destroying 5 of our 10 picnic tables. Thanks to a partnership with Canopy, www.canopy.org - we planted six new trees including one in Father Goode’s honor. Thanks to the Palo Alto Kiwanis Club members, the remaining five picnic tables were restored and look just like new.
Donor and Board Thanks and Celebration
We had a donor recognition and celebration on Tuesday, October 3, to celebrate the field and what has been accomplished, honor the donors, and look at the future. Speakers included Lisa Gauthier, Mayor of East Palo Alto, East Palo Alto Police Chief Jeff Liu, Father Goode, RMF board member Dennis Burns, RMS Dr. Cristian Miley, Rich May’s sister Tami McMillian, NFL Alumni John Paye, Reverend Paul Bains and RMF board member Anne Warner Cribbs, OLY.
If you missed the event, RMF board members have been holding office hours on Tuesdays in November. with more scheduled in the spring. This is a chance to see the magic of the field in action. Just let us know you are coming by emailing acribbs@basoc.org
The board would like to acknowledge long time board member,
Sam Sinnott, the field architect. Sam is retiring from the board but will be available for consultation. The field would not have been completed without Sam and his expertise. Thank you Sam!
Focusing on Our Purpose
We are here to assist the field users in keeping kids (boys and girls) busy, active and (hopefully) out of trouble and away from negative influences that, unfortunately, can be common among youth with nothing to do and nowhere to go.
You share our vision for the Rich May Field and its reasons to exist. With your help, we have been able to do something that we had been told, repeatedly, would never happen - build a first-rate facility and operate it successfully. Thank you!
Hot Off the Press: New Endowment
It is up to all of us to make sure that we have the funds necessary to sustain this operation. Accordingly, we have established an endowment program to ensure the Rich May Field will be sustainable and deliver programing to the youth of East Palo Alto on a field that will be replaced every 8 – 10 years.
Several ways to contribute to the new endowment called Rich May Foundation
- Donate directly from your stock account at Schwab.
Rich May Foundation Account at Schwab: 54183865
Schwab Phone number is 650.614.2024.
- If your account is not at Schwab, use a Charitable Gift transfers form.
- If wire transfer, contact either President Frank Merrill or board member Anne Cribbs, acribbs@basoc.org for transfer information.
- If check, send to RMF, 64 Moulton Drive, Atherton, CA 94027
Thanks for Keeping the Magic Alive
And to our donors and supporters, thank you for always supporting The Rich May Foundation and understanding the value of sports for all youth. As usual, we welcome your contributions and thank you again for the impact you have made in the past. Our best wishes for a happy holiday season and health, peace and joy for the coming year.
With our thanks, The Rich May Foundation Board of Directors:
Frank Merrill, President
Tami McMillan, Secretary
Bret McMillan
Dennis Burns, Retired Palo Alto Police Chief
Paul Simko, Entrepreneur
Anne Warner Cribbs OLY, Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee, CEO
Les DeWitt, St. Francis Youth Club