Community Foundation of the Virginias Inc

A Community for
Generations To Come

Lending a Helping Hand to the Community

 

Celebrating 30 Years of Assisting

Area Non-Profits and Students!


Trusted Grantmaking Public Charity in Bluefield, West Virginia

The Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. promotes philanthropy by fostering charitable giving, serving our donors’ interests, and effectively responding to the needs and opportunities of communities in Mercer County, WV, Tazewell County, VA, and surrounding areas.

 

Through scholarships and grants in the areas of Education; the Arts, Culture, and the Humanities; Health; and Human Services, the Community Foundation matches the generosity of the people of our area with the needs of area organizations and individuals.


 

Longtime Foundation supporter passes away

 

The Foundation is deeply saddened at the passing of Nick Ameli on May 8 following a brief illness. Nick was involved with the Foundation from 1997 until about a year or so ago when he became unable to participate.

 

He served as our President, was on the Finance Committee and other committees, and on the Board of Directors for many years, and was the regular emcee of our Annual Dinners for many years. Nick was a wonderful person and a strong supporter of the Foundation, and he will be greatly missed.

 

His daughter, Debbie Froy, notified us that she and her sister and brother are starting a scholarship fund with the Foundation in Nick’s memory, and will ask for donations to it in his obituary.

 


Community Foundation of the Virginias

awards scholarships

 

The Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. approved 150 scholarships for graduating seniors at high schools in Mercer County and Tazewell County at its meeting on May 9, 2023.

 

The Foundation’s Scholarships Committee recommended awards for 81 applicants in the 2023 Scholarships Cycle. Awards were also approved for 32 college students who were eligible to renew scholarships they had received previously.

 

These awards totaled $419,000, and were funded by 51 separate scholarship funds at the Foundation.

 

The Foundation appreciates the dedication and hours of time invested by the Scholarships Committee, the members of which are: Tom Chaffins, Chairman; Gene Bailey, Deborah Garton, Lisa Lineberry, Cathy Corte Payne, Peter Taylor, and Cathy Zimmerman.

 

Recipients will be notified by letter in the next several days.

 


 

The 2023 Grants Application Period

is now open.

 

Deadline is June 30!

 

Marine Corps Toys for Tots

presents a plaque to the Foundation

Rodney Mayberry (right) is shown presenting a plaque expressing the appreciation of the Marine Corps Toys for Tots organization to Community Foundation Executive Director James Shott.

 

2022 Is the 75th year of Toys for Tots.

 

The Foundation’s $2,500 grant was made to help fund the 2022 Toys for Tots program.

 

 

Foundation Awards 75 Grants

 

At its September 13 meeting, the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. approved 75 Grants totaling $405,583.42 in the four categories of charitable giving in the 2022 Grants Cycle.

The number of Grants by category are:

Human Services = 50

Arts and Humanities = 13

Education = 6

Health = 6

The Foundation’s Grants Committee reviewed and recommended 67 applications, six others grants came from Donor Designated Funds, and nine were from Donor Advised Funds.

The Foundation deeply appreciates the time and diligence of the Grants Committee in their work in this year’s Grants Cycle: Kathleen Blaydes, Chair; Mary Jo Babbitt; Gene Bailey; Marie Blackwell; Deborah Garton; Peter Taylor; Daniel Wells; Cathy Corte Payne; and Mike Swatts.

Approved applicants will be notified by letter, with information needed to receive funds and to successfully complete the grant process.

 


Community Foundation Awards $408,000 in Scholarships

 

The Community Foundation of the Virginias has awarded 135 scholarships to 99 applicants in the 2022 Scholarship Cycle. The Board of Directors approved awarding $408,200 to assist deserving area students in furthering their education on May 10.

 

The awards came from 37 individual scholarship funds and benefit students from Bluefield, Graham, Montcalm, Pikeview, Princeton, Tazewell, and Richlands high schools, as well as several existing college students who qualified for awards to continue their education. The scholarships help students attending 27 colleges and universities.

 

The following funds awarded scholarships this year:

Alex Mahood Civitan Scholarship

Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill Scholarship

Ann and Geno Preservati Scholarship

B. and Ora Hunter Hancock Family Scholarship

Cole Harley-Davidson Military and First Responder Scholarship

Cyrus Leroy and Blanche Mae Nicholson Scholarship

Don and Brenda Brohard Scholarship

Dr. David A. Kovach Family Scholarship

Dr. Jack Walter Witten Scholarship

Dr. Margaret “Trika” Smith-Burke Scholarship

R. Gillespie Scholarship

Graham High School Scholarship

Grants Supermarket Scholarship

Harmon Lodge #222 A.F. & A. M. Scholarship

Iona Pauline Wilson Dooley Scholarship

James C. Ramey, Sr. Memorial Scholarship

Jane Bobbitt Scholarship

Joshua Lee Shutt Memorial Scholarship

Ken and Rick Kendrick Scholarship

Larry and Patsy Douglas Scholarship

Lauren Alexis Perdue Memorial Scholarship

Lil’ Tony Webster “Forever 5” Scholarship

Lindsay Rebekah Haun Memorial Scholarship

Marshall Miller Scholarship

Mary Ellen and Ralph McCue Scholarship

Maurice and Grace Hanna Weinberg Scholarship

Ralph H. and Shirley D. Kiser Family Scholarship

Robert Austin Family Scholarship

Rose Sinicrope Scholarship

Roy R. Raub, M.D. Memorial Scholarship

Sue Mandeville Scholarship

Susanne Nelson, Ph.D. Memorial Scholarship

Wayne Christian Scholarship

William G. Skewes Memorial Scholarship

Foundation of Health Services of the Virginias, Inc.

Joetta Collins Hooker Memorial Scholarship

Marsha A. Mead, PhD. Scholarship Endowment

 

The Community Foundation thanks Scholarships Committee members Gene Bailey; Tom Chaffins and Deborah Garton for their diligence in the scholarship application evaluation process.

Foundation provides grant to Read Aloud of Mercer County

The Community Foundation funded a project for Read Aloud of Mercer County. The grant was for $4,250, for materials and activities for the “Leap into Science” and the “Snuggle and Read” programs. Funding came from the Rotary Club of Bluefield, WV Fund and the Unrestricted Fund.

Grants and Scholarships for 2021

The Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. awarded a total of $617,784.74 in Grants and Scholarships in 2021.

 

Scholarships:
There were 111 total scholarships awarded to 71 recipients for a total of $278,800.00 in awards in May.
 
Thirty-seven graduating high school seniors received awards, and 35 college students received awards.
 
The Foundation appreciated the work of the Scholarships Committee: Carole Dodson, Chair; and members Gene Bailey; George Brooks; Tom Chaffins; Deborah Garton; Harry Kammer; Mary Raub; Dan Shortridge; Lisa Lineberry; Sharon Webster; Cathy Zimmerman.
 
Grants:
Fifty-five Grant recipients were approved in September in the Annual Grants Cycle for $333,276.23.
 
In addition, five grants from Donor-Designated Funds, and two grants from Donor-Advised Funds awarded an additional $5,708.51.
 
Total Grants awards totaled $338,984.74.
 
The Foundation appreciates the work of the Grants Committee: Bob Perkinson, Chair; and members Mary Azzo; Mary Jo Babbitt; Gene Bailey; Marie Blackwell; Kathleen Blaydes; Carole Dodson; Deborah Garton; Craig Hammond; Kermit Moore; Dan Shortridge; Mike Swatts; Peter Taylor; Daniel Wells; and Cathy Zimmerman.

Call us at (304) 324-0222 to learn more about our scholarships, grants, donation programs, and more.

Call us at (304) 324-0222 to learn more about our scholarships, grants, donation programs, and more.

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