Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc.     

"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill        

Region Mourns the death of Max Kammer

The Foundation is saddened to learn that long-time Bluefield businessman and community leader Max Kammer passed away Monday, March 8, 2010. Mr. Kammer's business, Kammer Furniture & Appliance Company has been a staple in downtown Bluefield, West Virginia, for decades.

Mr. and Mrs. Kammer started the Max L. and Virginia S. Kammer Family Scholarship Fund in 1998 to support graduating high school seniors who plan to major in Agriculture and Forestry at West Virginia University.  

The Kammer family has requested that memorial gifts for Mr. Kammer be made to the Max L. and Virginia S. Kammer Family Scholarship Fund and made payable to the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc., P.O. Box 4127, Bluefield, WV 24701

The Tom Colley Memorial Fund

A fund in memory of long-time Bluefield Daily Telegraph executive editor Tom Colley is being established by the Center for International Understanding, one of Tom’s favorite organizations. The CIU Youth Outreach Programs Tom Colley Memorial Fund is a Build-a-Fund that will support scholarships for CIU Youth Club members to pursue international studies.

Tom, who was awarded the Distinguished West Virginian award from Governor Joe Manchin, III at the Foundation's Annual Dinner in 2008, was the Chair of the CIU Board of Directors, and also an active member of the Community Foundation Board of Directors for several years, and his work on behalf of both organizations up until his untimely death in January of 2009 was instrumental in the success that each organization has achieved.

Initial funding for the Colley Memorial has been provided by individuals who have donated to the CIU, Inc. in Tom’s memory, and from the CIU itself. Donations from the public to the Tom Colley Memorial Fund are now being accepted.

"Save the Ridge Runner Committee"

achieves $150,000 goal 

2009 Annual Dinner a Great Success!

The Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. held its Annual Dinner fund raiser, Thursday, November 19 at Fincastle Country Club.

It was a great evening, as a sell-out crowd of 175 guests gathered to celebrate another successful year, the largest number to attend an Annual Dinner.

Fincastle CC Chef Rick Tabor outdid himself, preparing a delicious dinner of salad, beef, salmon, mashed potatoes and green beans, with a specially made chocolate swan dessert.

Following remarks on the past year by Foundation President Bob Perkinson, our special guest, James C. "Jim" Justice, II, successful West Virginia businessman and the new owner of The Greenbrier resort, gave a stimulating speech on the value of hard work, not giving up, and of charitable activities.

Mr. Justice is a native West Virginian from Raleigh County who joined his family’s business in 1976. After his father’s death in 1993, he became President and CEO of Bluestone Industries, Inc. and Bluestone Coal Corporation, and in the late 90s expanded the coal operations into Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. He purchased The Greenbrier resort last spring.

Following his address, Lecia Smith, chair of the "Save the Ridge Runner" committee, presented a large framed photograph of the Ridge Runner to Mr. Justice, who unexpectedly pledged to match up to $25,000 in contributions to the train project, which will achieve the fund raising goal of $150,000.

The Annual Dinner netted the Foundation approximately $9,000 in charitable contributions, which will go to benefit area non-profit organizations and deserving students.

Community Foundation Awards 2009 Grants

During the 13^th Annual Grants Cycle the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. reviewed 48 grant applications from organizations in Mercer County and Tazewell County.

At its September meeting the Board of Directors approved 30 grants totaling just over $30,000 for area projects and organizations. Grant applicants will receive formal notification in the near future about their applications.

Due to the poor investment climate in 2008, the Foundation was hampered in its ability to fund worthwhile applicants, or was forced to make awards at reduced levels.

In its 13 years of grant making the Foundation has distributed nearly $600,000 to worthwhile community organizations and projects, and to deserving students.

Community Foundation helps with funding for YMCA

A 10-year dream has become reality with the dedication and ribbon cutting of the new Four Seasons YMCA in Tazewell. The facility cost more than $7 million, and had been open and in use for about 70 days when the August 28 ceremony was held.

The facility already has more than 3,500 members from a seven-county area, including Mercer, Tazewell and Bland counties.

The Community Foundation awarded a grant from the Sandra Gayle Monk Memorial Fund applied to the handicapped accessibility unit at the swimming pool.

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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

Member of the South Bluefield Merchants and Professional Association

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Foundation Awards Scholarships in 2009 Cycle

The Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. has approved scholarship awards for 44 deserving area students in the 2009 Scholarship Cycle. Most of the recipients are graduating seniors at high schools in Mercer, Tazewell and other nearby counties, while others are college students who qualified to receive continuing scholarship support.

The Foundation Board of Directors approved recommendations for awards totaling more than $39,000 from 15 endowed funds established to assist area students in financing their education at its May meeting. Recipients will be presented their scholarships at their high school awards assemblies in the next couple of weeks, or through the mail.

The Foundation is now accepting grant applications until June 30 for the 2009 Grants Cycle. Details on the Grants Program are available on the Internet at http://cfvinc.org, or by calling the Foundation office at 304-324-0222.

Scholarship Application Period Ends with More Than 100 Applicants

At the close of the Community Foundation's Scholarship Application period on April 3, more than 100 applications had been received. The applications will be reviewed by the Scholarships Committee, and recommendations presented to the Foundation Board of Directors at its May meeting.

Presentation of awards will be made at the Awards ceremonies at area high schools.

The 2009 Grants Application period will end on June 30. The Foundation makes grants to 501(c)(3) charitable organizations in the categories of Education, Human Services, Health, and Arts and Humanities. Awards will be announced following the Foundation Board's meeting in September.

Foundation Holds Annual Meeting

The Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. held its Annual Meeting Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at its offices on North Street in Bluefield.

The primary business of the Annual Meeting is the election of Officers and members of the Board of Directors for the following year. A complete listing of Officers, members of the Board of Directors and of Foundation Committees can be found here.

The Foundation wishes to acknowledge past and present Board members whose work has contributed greatly to the success of our organization.

We were shocked and saddened by the death of Board member Tom Colley, who served on the Board for several years, and whose assistance as Executive Editor of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph in publicizing the activities of and information about the Foundation was immeasurable. Tom was also responsible for arranging for West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin to be our keynote speaker in 2007, and for arranging for columnist Jim Davidson to appear in 2006. We will miss Tom and his tremendous support for the Community Foundation.

The Foundation acknowledges the work of Ron Campbell as Treasurer, Board member and Finance Committee Chair for the past 12 years. Ron’s sage advice and steady hand have been invaluable in helping the organization invest its assets in securities that provided both stability and growth. We look forward to Ron rejoining the Foundation Board in the future. His position as Treasurer, Board member and Finance Committee Chair will be assumed by Matt Martin, an associate of Ron’s who is a financial planner and investment counselor.

After 12 years as Chair of the Foundation’s Grants Committee, Betty Gardner Bailey has stepped down as chairperson, but will remain as a member of the Foundation Board. Betty’s tireless work with the committee in evaluating the dozens of grant applications each year, and her leadership in selecting the most deserving applicants to receive funding has been a tremendous asset for the Foundation, as each year the requests always are far exceed the funds available for grants.

The Foundation welcomed four new members to its Board: Kathleen Blaydes; Sandy Baxter; Craig Hammond and Aaron Saunders.

The Foundation’s success depends largely upon the efforts of its volunteer Directors, and welcomes these new members to the organization.

Foundation Has Good Year in 2008

Despite the economic problems toward the end of the year, 2008 was a good year for the Community Foundation, with the establishment of two fully endowed funds, the Joshua Lee Shutt Memorial Fund, and the Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill Scholarship Fund, and the Lindsay Rebekah Haun Memorial Scholarship Build-a-Fund.

 In January, Linda and Ed Shutt of Princeton endowed the Shutt Memorial fund in memory of their son Josh, who died in a car accident in October of 2005. This fund is directed toward aiding youths in Mercer County.

 The Caudill Scholarship Fund was established by Don Caudill last spring as a partner to the grant fund of the same name. The scholarship is designated for children of employees of Bluefield College, Bluefield State College and other local colleges.

 Deborah and James Haun, Jr. established the Build-a-Fund in memory of their daughter Lindsay in December. This fund is designed to assist students at Princeton Senior High School who have studied fine arts.

 Together with two successful fund raising events, the Annual Dinner and the NJO Quartet Dinner and Concert, and with contributions through the year, the Foundation collected donations of approximately $106,000. Of that amount, $5,800 came in year-end contributions,

 Actor and playwright Ed Trotta was featured speaker at the Annual Dinner in September. Ed, who is known for his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln, among other things, began in character as Lincoln, and evolved out of character and talked about the Stage II project of the Summit Players, which is what brought Ed here from Hollywood last year.

 In November, an enthusiastic audience enjoyed a great dinner and an evening of jazz featuring the NJO Quartet and Annie Sellick. The Nashville-based group is associated with the Nashville Jazz Orchestra, a non-profit musical organization founded to perpetuate jazz. The Quartet is comprised of members of the Orchestra along with Annie, who is a frequent guest vocalist with the NJO.

 In 2008, the twelfth year of grant making, the Community Foundation awarded Grants and Scholarship in the amount of $95,463 in support of area students and 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. The Foundation awarded scholarships totaling nearly $43,000 to 32 deserving area students, and grant awards went to 40 area organizations totaling more than $50,000.

Foundation put more than $90,000

back into local communities in 2008

As 2008 draws to a close the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. wants to thank the people of Mercer and Tazewell counties for their continued support of the Foundation’s efforts to help fund worthwhile local projects, and assist local students in furthering their education.

This year the Foundation awarded Grants and Scholarship in the amount of $95,463 in support of area students and 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.

The Community Foundation awarded scholarships totaling nearly $43,000 to 32 deserving area students, and grant awards went to 40 area organizations totaling more than $50,000.

Grant awards were made in the following fields of interest: Human Services received 57 percent of the total awards; Arts and Humanities received 23 percent of total awards; Education projects received 17 percent; and Health projects received 3 percent of the total.

Each year, the Foundation receives more requests from Human Services organizations than all the other fields of interest combined, and in 2008 more than 60 percent of requests for funding came from those organizations. This reflects the need in Mercer and Tazewell counties for the services provided by Human Service organizations. The Foundation always has more requests than it has funds available to support them.

Please consider the Community Foundation for your charitable contributions, and particularly your year-end giving. Your donations will go directly to assist organizations in Mercer and Tazewell counties that are solving problems in your community.

Contributions should be mailed to the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc., P.O. Box 4127, Bluefield, WV 24701

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