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Community Foundation Awards Annual Grants

 
Lexington, VA (Nov. 10, 2023) - The Community Foundation for Rockbridge, Bath & Alleghany hosted its annual reception recently at the Virginia Horse Center Appomattox Mezzanine. The event was attended by over 200 guests, which included community leaders, not-for-profit leaders, donor and philanthropic minded citizens.

In her opening speech, Lori Turner, executive director said “Tonight we are celebrating philanthropy- your philanthropy individually and our foundations philanthropy collectively. Through your generosity we can improve the quality of life and Rockbridge, Bath Allegany County’s not only today, but far into the future. We hope tonight’s reception will give you a sense of the accomplishments made possible by our donors who believe in on mission.

The Community Foundation for Rockbridge Bath, and Allegany has grown to over $8.5 million dollars, managing over 85 endowment funds. The annual reception highlighted how they were able to distribute over $335,000 to ninety area nonprofit organizations from these endowments.

“It is such an honor to be here with all of you tonight,” said Steve Grist, chairman of the board of directors, “We are proud to have the privilege of supporting the communities we serve through thoughtful philanthropy. The work that we do together is built on deep history and is dedicated to a brighter future. Together we are creating stories that will be a lasting legacy. “

Agencies who received annual grants included Alleghany Highlands Arts & Crafts Center, Alleghany Highlands Arts Council, Alleghany Highlands Community Services, Alleghany Highlands YMCA, ARC of Rockbridge, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Blue Ridge Legal Services, Boxerwood Education Foundation, Boys Home of Virginia, Bridge to Hope Food Pantry, Brownsburg Community Association, Buena Vista Arts Council, Buena Vista City Schools, Campus Kitchen at W&L, Care Portal- Patrick Henry Community Services, CARE Rockbridge, CASA for Children, Christmas Mothers of Alleghany, Christmas Mothers of Bath, Clifton Forge Food Pantry, Concerned Citizens of Glasgow, Connection Plus, Friends of Chessie Trail, Friends of Greenwood Cemetery , Friends of Natural Bridge State Park, Friends of Woods Creek, Garth Newell Music Center Foundation, Grace Episcopal Church , Halestone Foundation, Half-Halt Inc Equine, Helping Other People Excel H.O.P.E, Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center, Kendal at Lexington (Employee Education Fund), Lexington City Schools Fund (Koones), Lexington Police Foundation, Lexington Sunrise Rotary Club Foundation, Lexington Woman’s Club, Lexington-Rockbridge Juneteenth, Lime Kiln Arts, Main Street Lexington, Mission Next Door, Mountain Gateway Community College, Nature Camp Foundation, Parry McCluer Middle School, Project Horizon, Rockbridge Animal Alliance, Rockbridge Area Conservation Council, Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity, Rockbridge Area Health Center, Rockbridge Area Relief Association, Rockbridge Area SPCA, Rockbridge Area Transportation System, Rockbridge Christmas Baskets, Rockbridge Recovery, SafeHome Systems Inc, Samuel's Supper, South Covington Food Pantry, St. Johns Church of Glasgow, St. Luke’s Outreach Program, The Community Table for Rockbridge , Town Creek United Methodist Church , United Way of Rockbridge, Valley Program for Aging Services, Vet First, Virginia Horse Center Foundation, Virginia Institute of Autism, West Virginia Helping Hands, Wintergreen Music and Yellow Brick Road Learning Center.

Also awarded this year were scholarships from the Community Foundation totaling nearly $30,000, which included camp, Mont Shenandoah Spirit scholarship, Edward F. Turner Memorial Scholarship, Charles L. Lauck Memorial Scholarship, Eric Charles Bowyer Scholarship, Lexington High School Alumni Scholarship, Jacqueline Corbin Pleasants Democratic Scholarship, George C Marshall Chapter of MOAA Scholarship, Blair Family Scholarship, Pastor Fred of the Bethesda McElwee Church Scholarship, Stonewall Jackson Hospital Ladies Auxiliary Scholarship and the Covington Women’s Club for GFWC Scholarship.

“We have grown from $800,000 to over $8.5M dollars, said Greg Madsen, vice chairman of the board of directors. “Our prudent investment policies are aimed at preserving the funds while still allowing impactful payouts each year.”

The Community Foundation for Rockbridge Bath, and Allegany grants, help not-for-profit to sustain and expand the valued work in the community. “Being a good community partner is a critical component of the community foundation. We are honored to be a vehicle for important and impactful projects, which make a difference in the lives of so many,” said Turner. “We are leaders in community projects which address the critical needs of the areas we serve.

The Community Foundation is currently managing three active projects which include the Harry & Eliza Walker Entrepreneurship Program which has granted over $220,000 to support the start-up of over thirty black owned businesses, The HOPE House project which is aimed to build the first-ever sober living home in the region, supporting Rockbridge Recovery has brought in over 20 in kind and monetary partners and secured Opioid Abatement Authority funding in cooperation with locality leaders who believe in the project and the Hull’s Angels renovation project which will include building the Buddy Derrick Stage, bathroom renovations and expansion of the patio area to offer an additional revenue stream and a place for the community to host a series of events.

Beth Wofford, daughter of the late Buddy Derrick Jr. was selected as the donor advise speaker for this year’s event said “When I think of Lexington today, words that come to mind include history, natural beauty, preservation and innovation, kindness and caring. That’s the kind of community Lexington has always been. It's a very special and increasingly rare place to live and work. I know the CFRBA recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, and I am grateful that the original members of the board created an entity that would protect, support and develop this special place. My grandfather and my father both earned their living and every dollar right here in Lexington and Rockbridge County, and it's important to me to have the fruits of their labor returned and reinvested in this community.”

More information about the Community Foundation can be found at its website https://cfrba.org or by calling/emailing Turner at lori.turner@cfrba.org (540)-463-0943.
 
 
 

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