COVID-19 Local Response Fund Distributes Final Round of Grants   Lexington, VA (May 28, 2021) - The Community Foundation for Rockbridge, Bath and Alleghany established a COVID-19 Local Response Fund last March with charitable contributions from generous donors and corporate sponsorships. Throughout the pandemic, the Community Foundation response fundraised over $130,000 and provided resources to charitable organizations and businesses supporting the residents of the cities Lexington, Buena Vista and Rockbridge County impacted by COVID-19. The fund was supplemented by CARES funding from the area government leaders who contributed an additional $267,000 towards the effort. “We were able to make a considerable impact during the COVID19 crisis,” said Lori Turner Executive Director of the Community Foundation. “We formed partnerships for guidance in order to use of the COVID-19 funds. These partnerships leveraged each member’s strengths and connections to direct the resources where they were needed the most.”  Throughout the year, CFRBA collected applications, which allowed them to disperse three rounds of grants and left a small pool of money. The remaining funds were marked as emergency funds. The Community Foundation called out to area not for profits in April to distribute the remaining funds. The last of the COVID19 funds were distributed to the YMCA of Rockbridge to support of their preschool programs, Valley Program for Aging Services for assistance with outdoor equipment for senior services, Rockbridge Area Health Center for PPE for COVID testing and vaccination efforts and the Lime Kiln to assist with costs associated with safely reopening their facility. For more information about the Community Foundation, please visit their website at cfrba.org or contact Lori Turner Executive Director at lori.turner@cfrba.org.

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