Rickenbacker Woods Foundation

The Rickenbacker Woods Foundation (RWF) is the caretaker of the boy hood home of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, World War I Ace of Aces, airline industry pioneer, entrepreneur & philanthropist. Captain Eddie’s home is a registered National Historic Landmark, one of three in Central Ohio. The foundation also honors the work of Columbus native Granville T. Woods a world renowned African American scientist and inventor of over 60 patents, including the “third electric rail” that powers subways and streetcars today.

RWF provides a host of no cost programming opportunities for the greater Livingston Avenue corridor and the entire Southside of Columbus. These programs include adult and teen financial literacy, healthy eating/cooking classes, homeownership & credit repair classes, community clean-ups, annual college visitation bus trip, annual community festivals and holiday light tour. Our signature program is the “Inborn Excellence Initiative”, an after-school program for elementary students offered to families at no cost. This education initiative has been in operation for five years. In January 2023 the Creators, Originators, Innovators of Tomorrow Workforce Initiative enrolled 21 design & architecture interns in its inaugural cohort. In 2019 RWF was awarded the “Paul E. Young Outstanding Achievement in Education Award” by the Columbus Landmarks Foundation. President Michael Aaron was awarded the Ohio Museum Association’s 2020 “Professional of the Year” award.