The Kitchell Giving Circle awards grants for youth sports in Dave’s honor
The creation of the Dave Kitchell Endowment at Ashland Community Health Foundation in 2024 brought together an enthusiastic community of donors committed to supporting youth sports and honoring late educator and coach, Dave Kitchell. Through their generous support of the endowment, a foundation has been laid for funding access to sports for young people in Ashland, Talent, and Phoenix for years to come. The passion surrounding Dave’s legacy of caring for each other created another opportunity for even greater impact: a youth sports giving circle.
Established this year by ACHF, the Dave Kitchell Giving Circle is a group of people who want to honor Dave Kitchell by helping kids in our community. As members, they amplify the impact of the endowment by pooling their resources together to support sports programs for kids. The members identify local groups in need and select those who receive funding.
In its first year, the Giving Circle awarded a total of $20,000 to eight local youth sports programs.
Ashland Elite Girls Basketball
Ashland Family YMCA
Ashland Football Club
Ashland Youth Baseball
Bellview Elementary School PE
Girls on the Run, Phoenix-Talent School District
Phoenix High School Football
Talent Middle School Athletics
Funds will be used to support new equipment and uniforms, costs related to travel for competitions, scholarships, coaching fees, and more.
A celebration was held for giving circle members and grantees on October 23, where grant funds were presented and the Kitchell Family shared more about Dave’s impact.
Dave’s son, Brian Kitchell shared, “My dad genuinely cared for and helped others and was well known for his mantra, ‘we love and care for each other’. The endowment and Giving Circle are a way to keep his spirit alive and offer the possibility for kids today to experience what he created for so many.”
Kitchell Giving Circle members invite those who value supporting student athletes and honoring the memory of Dave Kitchell to consider becoming a member. For more information, contact Boone Kizer at 541-482-0367 x3.
Group photo of the Kitchell Giving Circle members with grant awardees by Bob Palermini.
