Ravenna – Ryann Kuchenbecker, Executive Director for the Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce took it to heart when she got phone calls from distressed business owners during the pandemic shutdown. Their financial livelihoods were being traumatically impacted, which in turn was a great disruption of the economic development of Ravenna, where in just the last five years many new businesses have been opening and even expanding to a second location. Not wanting to see that momentum lost due to unforeseen forces, the need for a positive community project evolved.
Kuchenbecker, who helped develop the Rise Up! Ravenna Video and Fundraiser, explained how it all got started. “Getting the phone calls with them in tears, panic and stress — hysteria at all hours of the day was really emotional for them and myself.” The idea of a tribute video was hatched to represent the small business owners who often get overlooked in many aspects, whether it be through funding or just the fact they are still pushing through to make ends meet. Locals wrote positive affirmations, took pictures, and sent them in for the video set to the inspirational song “Rise Up” by Andra Day, which is how the movement got its name. The full video can be seen on YouTube and is well worth viewing. Fallon Schwab-Davis is credited with assisting in the creation of the footage.
In the course of making the video, Tom Freborg of Pioneer Insurance, who contributed a guitar instrumental, suggested an initiative that took place in Chicago. The idea was that each business donated a certain amount of money or gift cards to this fundraiser and then tickets would be sold, and all the proceeds would go back to the actual businesses who originally donated. Kuchenbecker presented the idea to the Chamber Board of Directors and had to poll area business and see who would be interested in participating. She came back with a resounding yes as the overall answer. She could not promise anything would come from it “other than creating awareness to show that regardless of the current situation there is an opportunity to help in some capacity.” 52 businesses donated $100 worth of gift certificates. Once the tickets were sold, they would get an equal share of the total of the ticket sales so all the proceeds went back into Ravenna. Many of those involved wanted to donate their share of the proceeds to other businesses that are in need right now instead of accepting their portion.
Sandy Knotek, owner of Tavern 1888 suggested a drive-thru ticket sales event since a traditional fundraising event could not be hosted due to social distancing. The Police Department and Mayor Frank Seman were consulted, and it was approved at the corner of Parkway and Main Street for music to be played for the drive-thru event on July 8-9th. In those two days an additional $4000 just from the ticket sales was raised.
Jeremy Taugner, of Sudzzz Carwash, suggested holding out a firefighter’s boot for cars just driving by wanting to make a donation but not necessarily wanting to stop for tickets. From that alone, over $476 was raised on the first day Kuchenbecker said and the next day over $500. “It’s just amazing because of the amount of kindness. This was truly a give back not only to our community, because they had an opportunity to win those gift cards — over $5000 worth of gift cards.”
The grand total collected to help area establishments was a little more then $15,000. The main concept behind Rise Up Ravenna was to give people the chance to help, if they could, to pull our city back up on the horse that keeps bucking us all off. It seems we have gained more than we have lost because at this rodeo we call 2020, we proudly stand as one for the next go round. (I’m referencing a country song just in case you missed my stellar pun.)
