Paradise Chocolate Fest

Foundation history

Founded in 2006. Over $440,000 to Ridge youth groups.

Bill and Pam Hartley of Joy Lyn’s Candies founded Paradise Chocolate Fest in 2006, with community volunteers, to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Paradise Ridge. In 2010 it became its own nonprofit. In July 2014 the corporate name became Youth on the Ridge Community Foundation, Inc.

The Foundation supports groups that offer educational, enrichment, recreational, and leadership programs for Ridge youth. Since 2006, the Fest has distributed over $440,000 to more than 60 nonprofits.

After the November 8, 2018 Camp Fire, the work stayed the same: keep funding childhood — sports, music, camp, food, and belonging — while the town rebuilds.

Youth basketball on the Paradise Ridge Cub Scouts at Chocolate Fest

2026 beneficiaries

  • American Legion Post 259
  • Boy Scouts Troop 316
  • Civil Air Patrol Cadets
  • Cub Scouts Pack 316
  • Friends of Outdoor Adventures
  • Paradise Friends of the Library
  • Paradise High School Link Crew
  • Paradise Host Lions Club
  • Paradise Piranhas Swim Team
  • Paradise Recreation & Park District
  • Paradise Rotary Interact
  • Paradise Stronger
  • Rainbow Girls
  • Ridgeview Rangers

Recognition

  • Retail Confectioners International awards, Hershey, PA
  • Cookbook: 1st place Community Cookbook in the Nation (Morris Press, $5,000) and 1st place regional Tabasco award ($2,000). Cookbook II, “A Second Serving,” published 2018.
  • American Profile Magazine: one of the top 2 California events in May
  • 2020: My Name Is Haley and I Live in Paradise … by Steve Ferchaud, designed by Jessica Cummings, concept by Debbie LaPlant Moseley
  • 2021: Rediscover the Ridge campaign with Watershed Media — rediscovertheridge.org
  • Butte County Tourism visitor-draw recognition
  • Cal Expo: among the top festivals in the Golden State

PO BOX 8188 Chico, CA 95927 · 530-342-4896
chocolatefest.us · info@chocolatefest.us
IRS tax-exempt #27-0772654