Funds raised by Paddlefest are used to:

1. Run the Kids' Outdoor Adventure Expo Expo, the largest boating safety and environmental education program for children and teens in Ohio. Over 2,100 children ages 5-16 have participated in the EXPO over the past three years.
2. Proceeds from Paddlefest 2008 supported the following river education & advocacy organizations:
   • Friends of the Great Miami
   • Licking River Watershed Watch
   • Little Miami, Inc.
   • Mill Creek Restoration Project
   • Ohio River Foundation
   • ORSANCO Education Foundation
   • Rivers Unlimited
3. Provide mini grants up to $500 to local river organizations for advocacy, education and clean up projects.
4. Benefit these organizations which teach paddlesports to children and adults:
   • Cincinnati Recreation Commission - Vision Quest & River Trek programs
   • Miami Group Sierra Club Canoe & Kayak School
5. Produce the "Ohio River Way Boater's Guide to the Ohio River - Markland Pool". 25,000 copies printed and distributed over the past two years.
6. Promote passage of an official “no wake zone” designation on the Ohio between the I-75 and I-471 bridges by the states of Ohio and Kentucky to improve boater safety.

If you would like to support the work of the Ohio River Way, Inc. please send your tax-deductible contribution to:

The Ohio River Way, Inc.
P.O. Box 43261
Cincinnati, OH 45243

For additional information about the Ohio River Way and Paddlefest, call the Paddlefest Hotline at 513-588-6936 or e-mail us at dcoates@ohioriverway.org.

Small Grants Program

The Ohio River Way is pleased to offer for the first time a Small Grants Program to support projects/activities that:

1. Support the mission of the Ohio River Way
2. Educate young people (K-12) about the history, ecology or water quality of the Ohio and its tributaries;
3. Occur partially or wholly in the Ohio River Basin, and
4. Follow sound environmental practices.

The Ohio River Way will offer this program to schools (K-12) and non-profit educational, environmental and/or recreational 501(c) (3) organizations including Boy Scout/Girl Scout/Boys & Girls Clubs. Special consideration will be given to projects which provide "hands-on, minds-on" learning opportunities as well as those that engage young people in environmental stewardship projects

Grant applications will be reviewed by a grant committee comprised of staff from Ohio River Way, educators and volunteers of Paddlefest and a member of our presenting title sponsor, Duke Energy and the Duke Foundation.

A total of $2,500 has been made available for the grant program from the proceeds of Paddlefest 2008, the largest canoe/kayak festival and kids' outdoor educational event in the Midwest. Up to 5 organizations may receive grant monies for their specific project as outlined in the grant application. Please download this Microsoft Word document or PDF document to apply. Applications must be postmarked May 31, 2009 or received electronically on or before that date.

If you have any questions about the application or process, please send an email to info@ohioriverway.org and someone will answer those questions.