Common questions, clear answers.

Youth are identified through trusted counselors, case workers, and school staff who know them personally. We do not accept general applications or require essays. The people closest to these young people bring them to us, and we take it from there.

No. RROPI was intentionally built without an application process. No essays, no committees, no waiting lists. Support is extended directly to youth identified by people who know and trust them.

Every dollar donated goes directly to a specific child for a specific need. There are no administrative fees taken from donations. When you give to RROPI, a real young person feels the impact immediately.

Yes. RROPI is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Please consult your tax advisor for guidance specific to your situation.

We measure impact one young person at a time. We track every youth we serve, every program they participate in, and every milestone moment we fund. Our goal is not to serve thousands broadly. It is to serve each individual deeply and meaningfully.

The youth RROPI has served to date were mostly still within the children and youth system, or part of families navigating difficult seasons. These individuals do not want to be photographed and placed on a public platform for likes. Legally, RROPI is also unable to use the name or image of certain youth for safety reasons. As RROPI grows and hosts more community based events, those moments will be shared and a social media presence will be built the right way, with consent, dignity, and purpose.

Michael Rascoe was in 3rd grade when he first experienced the uncomfortable feeling of standing out in all the wrong ways at public school. Not having the ability to look the part on the first day of school, and in other situations, left a mark that never left him. Because of that, RROPI has helped youth as young as 9 years old all the way through age 18 as they transition into young adult life.

RROPI exists to fund the everyday rites of passage that state resources do not cover for youth in the system. School pictures, prom, interview attire, driving permits, sports camps. The moments that make a young person feel normal, seen, and valued.

RROPI is based in Harrisburg, PA and currently serves youth in the greater Harrisburg and York area. As we grow, we aim to expand our reach to additional communities across Pennsylvania.

RROPI was founded by Michael Rascoe, a foster care survivor who grew up navigating shelters, placements, and homelessness. He built this organization from personal experience because he knew firsthand what it felt like to miss those milestone moments. For the first six years, every dollar spent came out of his own pocket.

Every youth we serve is known by name. We track their milestones, follow their progress, and stay connected through the counselors and staff who referred them. Impact is not measured in statistics here. It is measured in moments.

The Rascoe Rite of Passage Initiative held its first outreach during the summer of 2016. What began as one man showing up for a few young people has grown steadily over the past decade into a structured nonprofit serving youth across the Harrisburg and York area.