Ralph Richards Tower in Clearwater. Richards built it to give low-income seniors a place to live.
Building a foundation of equality
Ralph Richards, a Clearwater banker, attorney, and civil rights champion, founded PCF in 1969. His first goal was to close the gap in social services available to African-Americans, a gap left by Florida’s history of segregation.
Richards came from Minnesota. He modeled PCF on the community foundations he had seen strengthen towns in northern states.
Every bank in Pinellas County with a trust department signed on as a PCF trustee. The original trust agreement also required public and civic organizations to appoint the Board of Governors, a system of checks and balances that still protects every gift today.
Ralph Richards, Pinellas change-maker
Richards was known for his generosity and his firm stand against prejudice of any kind. Beyond founding Clearwater Savings and Loan, he left a lasting mark on Pinellas.
Spent seven years raising $25,000 to build a swimming pool for African-American residents of Clearwater in the segregated 1950s.
Championed housing for at-risk people in the African-American community.
Encouraged his clients to give with him to historically Black colleges and to scholarships for Pinellas County graduates.
Founded Community Pride Child Care with his wife, Harriet. PCF still supports it through their endowment.
Gave the royalties from one of his most successful books to the Clearwater YMCA, now the YMCA of the Suncoast.
Built Ralph Richards Towers, low-income housing for Clearwater seniors.
Humble beginnings, lasting outcomes
Joel Hunter, MD, gave the first gift of $150 in 1969 to cover PCF’s first operating costs. By the late 1970s, PCF had received bequests of more than $1.5 million to set up funds for the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts and St. Anthony’s Hospital.
Careful investment means those funds still send steady support to both today.
