Foundation - Clovis Rodeo

Rodeo Foundation

The Clovis Rodeo Association is a 501c4 (non-profit) corporation, because it pays out funds to reward the cowboys it is not a tax deductible organization. But it remains an all volunteer Board and committee.

Early in 2012 Rodeo board directors, Chuck Rigsbee and Joan Lassley met with a non-profit attorney, Richard Wheeler to see about obtaining a 501c3 foundation designation to raise tax deductible funds to erect a statue for the entrance of the grounds. Clovis Rodeo Foundation was formed as the Association started working on the celebration of the rodeo’s 100 year Anniversary. Vince Genco and his committee members started a fundraising drive to sell plaques at the base of the statue to help fund that project. Sponsors to this remarkable endeavor were approached and the planning took off. In November of 2012 the Association received confirmation that the Foundation was recognized by the IRS.

Since that time the Foundations mission has been to support the heritage and promotion of the Clovis Rodeo, provide scholarships and resources for education in the area of agriculture, livestock, animal welfare, rodeo and related fields. Provide enhancement and maintenance of facilities used by the corporation to accomplish those purposes.

At its inception the Foundation was run by the same board as the Rodeo Association, but in December 2023 it was voted on by the Rodeo Board to have the Foundation have a board that included outside members on it’s board to be more inclusive. So the new board was elected:

2026-27 Foundation board is:

Vince Genco – President
Dan Rigsbee – Vice President
Gene Bruce – Treasurer
Katy McDougald – Secretary
David Camenson
Joan Lassley
Monte Person
Chuck Rigsbee
Justin Witte
Kerry Wolf

The Foundation in an effort to continue the financial support of our community has supported 4-H, Clovis FFA, Sierra FFA, Clovis Art Guild, Clovis Police and its explorers, California High School Rodeo Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Fresno State Mule Packers, Break the Barriers, Boy Scounts of America (several troops), Clovis Community Hospital (with Tough Enough to Wear Pink funds ) Marjorie E, Radin Breast Center and the hospital guild in earlier years. Fresno State Veteran’s Education Program, the Honor Flight, Friends of the Big Fresno Fair, Fresno-Madera Cattlemen’s Assn, Clovis Kiwanis, Old Town Kiwanis, Valley Children’s Healthcare Foundation, Central California Blood Center, Camp for the Boy Scouts, A Blood Mobile, Boys and Girls Club, Clovis Unified Schools, Clovis Unified Schools Sober Graduation, College and High School agriculture education and rodeo events.

Clovis Rodeo Gives Back!!

Here are a few of the check presentations of the organizations who received these much needed funds.

Rodeo Foundation

Learn More About the Foundation

Clovis Rodeo Gives Back!!