The mission of the Kelso Public Schools Foundation is to fund and give scholarships to further the education of deserving students and graduates; and to fund programs and activities in Kelso Public Schools which benefit a substantial segment of students and for which public resources are insufficient or unavailable.

Ruth Clark had a vision centered on providing students with equal opportunity to education, no matter their financial background. The Foundation, which provides thousands of dollars in scholarships each year, was part of her vision.