Community Foundation of
the Virginias, Inc.
"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill
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, West Virginia, Tazewell County, Virginia, and surrounding area.
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.
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Community Impact Project funds new food storage unit for the Sacred Heart food pantry
The Foundation's Community Impact Project focused on assisting the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bluefield upgrade its food pantry buy funding the purchase of a food storage cooler/freezer to replace the old and outdated refrigerators and freezers it had been using for many years. The cooler/freezer and associated installation work was funded by a $25,300 CIP grant.
The new unit provides more storage space and allows the food pantry to purchase larger quantities of fresh and frozen groceries. In a given month, the food pantry serves 500 area households, comprised of 862 adults and 373 children which adds up to 1,235 people.
The Community Impact Project is a separate funding path from the Foundation's traditional Grants Program.
Foundation assists Bluefield, Virginia Police Department
Bluefield, Virginia police officers are shown with 18 rechargeable flashlights purchased with a grant from the Community Foundation of $2,771.82.
Officers and supervisors report that increased safety in doing their jobs that the flashlights provide helps them do their jobs more effectively.
Community Foundation Crosses the $10 Million Threshold
A great December pushed Foundation invested assets near the $10 million mark, but stock market doldrums kept those assets below the mark.
However, as the market improved in January, invested assets stood at $10.4 million.
2018 Community Foundation Recap
As the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons and end of 2018 approach, the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. thanks you for your support of its efforts to improve the lives of the people of our region.
The Foundation focuses its support on beneficial organizations and deserving students in our region, and asks you to consider including it on your list of year-end charitable contributions. In 2018, the Foundation Board of Directors approved 48 applications through the traditional Grants Cycle, and one application for the Foundation's Community Impact Project.
The following applications in the four areas of charitable giving were approved:
Education - eight awards totaling $15,024 Health - six awards totaling $10,800 Human Services - twenty awards totaling $46,230 Arts and Humanities - eleven awards totaling $32,782
In addition, three awards totaling $6,343 came from Donor Designated funds.
All grants awarded through the traditional Grants Cycle totaled $111,180
The Community Impact Project award totaled $25,300.
The Foundation thanks the members of the Grants Committee for their time and dedication: Bob Perkinson, Chair; Mary Jo Babbitt, Marie Blackwell, Kathleen Blaydes, Gina Boggess, Carole Dodson, Deborah Garton, Craig Hammond, Kermit Moore, Foundation President; and Peter Taylor.
The Foundation assisted 93 area students pursue their goal of a college education this fall with Scholarship awards in the 2018 Scholarship Cycle.
These awards total $142,200 from 26 individual scholarship funds. Graduating seniors from the following high schools benefited from Foundation scholarship funds: Bluefield, Graham, Montcalm, Pikeview, Princeton, Richlands and Tazewell, as well as some students already attending college.
The Foundation acknowledges and appreciates the devotion of the members of the Scholarships Committee: Carole Dodson, Chair; Gene Bailey, George Brooks, Tom Chaffins, Harry Kammer, Lisa Lineberry, Mary Raub, Becky Steorts, Bettye VanDyke, and Cathy Zimmerman.
And, of course, the Officers and members of the Foundation's Board of Directors who make all of this possible:
Vice President - Gene Bailey Secretary - Betty Bailey Treasurer - Kevin Worley Board Members: Jack Asbury, Mary Azzo, Mary Jo Babbitt, Marie Blackwell, Kathleen Blaydes, Gina Boggess, Frank Brady, Charlie Carter, Tom Chaffins, Carole Dodson, Deborah Garton, Craig Hammond, Stacey Hicks, Sam Hill, Julie Johnson, Harry Kammer, Doris Sue Kantor, Rick Kendrick, Bob Perkinson, Mary Raub, Dan Shortridge, Peter Taylor, Bettye VanDyke, Sara Whitt
Foundation Board approves 2018 grants
The Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. Board of Directors acted on recommendations from the Grants Committee on Tuesday.
The Board approved 48 applications through the traditional Grants Cycle, and an application for the Foundation's Community Impact Project.
Applications in all four areas of charitable giving were approved for grant awards: Education - eight awards; Health - six awards; Human Services - twenty awards; and Arts and Humanities - eleven awards. The Board also approved awards from three Donor Designated funds, and one application for the Community Impact Project.
Members of the Grants Comittee are: Bob Perkinson, Chair; Mary Jo Babbitt, Marie Blackwell, Kathleen Blaydes, Gina Boggess, Carole Dodson, Deborah Garton, Craig Hammond, Kermit Moore, Foundation President; and Peter Taylor.
Letters to successful applicants have been mailed. The awards will be provided to recipients upon request.
Foundation awards nearly 100 scholarships
The Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. will assist dozens of area students pursue their goal of a college education this fall with 93 Scholarship awards in the 2018 Scholarship Cycle.
These awards total $142,200 from 26 individual scholarship funds. Graduating seniors from the following high schools benefited from Foundation scholarship funds: Bluefield, Graham, Montcalm, Pikeview, Princeton, Richlands and Tazewell.
The Foundation acknowledges and appreciates the devotion to their task of the members of the Scholarships Committee: Carole Dodson, Chair, and Members Gene Bailey, George Brooks, Tom Chaffins, Harry Kammer, Lisa Lineberry, Mary Raub, Becky Steorts, Bettye VanDyke, and Cathy Zimmerman.
Foundation grant funds fireworks event to celebrate the Fourth of July
A large and enthusiastic crowd was on hand for
fireworks after the Bluefield Blue Jays game on July 3rd, which was
funded by a Foundation grant from the Payne-Cofer Fund for Bluefield.
Foundation presents award to Bluefield High School Theater Department for stage production
The Bluefield High School Foundation Fund, administered by the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc., recently granted an award of $7,000. The grant was presented to the BHS Theater Department, and will be used to fund the production of "Grease," with two showings, on Saturday, May 5 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 6 at 3 p.m.
Pictured, left to right, Michael Collins, Bluefield High School Principal; Steve Hopta, Chairman of the Bluefield High School Foundation; Shawn Williams, English and Drama instructor; and Kermit Moore, President of the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc.
The Community Foundation is pleased to be able to support educational activities and the arts in the Mercer/Tazewell area through endowments interested individuals and groups have funded at the Foundation.
Foundation funds Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce Mercer-Tazewell Reading Bee project with grant award
Shown above receiving the $2,000 grant for the Mercer-Tazewell Reading Bee are (l to r) Becky Ritter, GBCC Board Chair and Michael Johnson, Community Life Division Chair. Gene Bailey (at right), Vice President of the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc., made the presentation at the March Chamber meeting.
The Reading Bee project is one of the annual projects that the Foundation has been funding for several years, and one of the ways the Foundation supports education in our area.
Town of Bluefield, Virginia receives grants
Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. Executive Director James Shott recently presented two grant awards to the Town of Bluefield from the 2017 Grants Cycle.
In photo at right, Executive Assistant Kim Hernandez receives the $2,100 award to the Beautification Commission to install basketball goals at the Pinehill Park Playground.
In the left photo, Community Development Coordinator Billie Roberts receives the second award for $730 which went to the IDA for banners and cards for marketing purposes.
Young Life receives Foundation grant
Erin White, a staff associate with Young Life, receives a Foundation grant in support of the organization's 2018 camp for Graham High School students from Foundation Executive Director James Shott.
The grant will help defray transportation costs, and thereby reduce the costs for participants to attend the camp. About 40 students will attend the camp in Goshen, Virginia.
Two recipients acknowledged Foundation grants
Abel Crisis Pregnancy Center employees and clients were on hand November 9th to display items purchased with a $1,900 grant.
These items are sold to clients to help them take care of their newborn children, and are paid for with "dollars" earned by attending educational classes at the Center.
Four members of the East River Amateur Radio Club came to the Foundation office on November 13th to receive a $2,800 award.
The award will help the Club update its equipment to be used in emergencies to provide emergency communications when other methods are unavailable, such as in power outages.
Foundation grant assists Bluefield State College
The Community Foundation awarded the Bluefield State College Foundation $3,530 for the purchase of five gonfalons (banners and poles), one for each of the five schools on campus, to assist the College in its rebranding project.
Pictured at right, BSC President Dr. Marsha Krotseng receives the award from Foundation Executive Director James Shott.
Bluefield College ACE receives Foundation Grant
Wayne Pelts, Assistant Director of the Academic Center for Excellence at Bluefield College, receives a grant from The Community Foundation's Executive Director, James Shott, for funding for improvements to the Center.
The $1,995 grant will be used to provide furniture for outdoor study spaces just outside of the Center.
CIP-funded upgrades to Earl Muse Park completed
The Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. provided a $16,500 grant to the City of Princeton Park and Recreation Department last year through its Community Impact Program for upgrades to Earl Muse Memorial Park.
The Park is located in a low income neighborhood, and is well utilized by residents as a playground for children, and also for birthday parties, family reunions and church gatherings.
The grant helped to fund a playground unit, two benches and a trash receptacle in the $19,076 project to upgrade the Park, according to Amanda McCabe, Executive Director of the Park and Recreation Department. Additional funding came from the Mercer County Commission and Mountaineer Lifelines.
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Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. 128 North Street ● P.O. Box 4127 ● Bluefield, WV 24701 Phone: 304-324-0222 ● Fax: 304-324-7716 Email: admin@cfvinc.org
Problems on our Web site? Email execdir@cfvinc.org
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The Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. is a proud member
of the following organizations:
Community Foundation
of the Virginias, Inc.
128 North Street ● P.O. Box 4127
Bluefield, WV 24701
Phone: 304-324-0222
Fax: 304-324-7716
Email: admin@cfvinc.org