Grant and Scholarship Awards for 2015
Grants
The Community Foundation of the Virginias awarded 52 grants totaling more than $103,000 in 2015 , the 19th annual Grants Cycle supporting local nonprofit groups.
With the inclusion of the 2015 awards, the Foundation has returned more than $1,300,000 to the area since 1997 in grants and scholarships.
The Grants Committee is chaired by Robert Perkinson and comprised of: Mary Jo Babbitt, Marie Blankenship, Kathleen Blaydes, Carole Dodson, Kermit Moore, and Doris Sue Kantor.
I-Education
Appalachian South Folklife Center's Learning Day Camp - $2,000 - activity supplies for camp, Warren Ashby and Elizabeth Featherstone Thornhill Memorial Fund
Bluefield College New Opportunity for Women - $1,275 - leadership sessions, Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill Fund
Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce Reading Bee - $2,000 - Reading Bee Mercer and Tazewell counties, Jeffrey Edward Shott Memorial Fund, Charles A. and Marjorie M. Peters Fund and the Bluefield Daily Telegraph Literacy Fund
North Tazewell Elementary School - $2,000 - to purchase stability balls, Unrestricted Fund
II-Health
Greater Bluefield Community Center - $2,400 - exercise equipment for cardiac rehabilitation, American Electric Power Community Services Fund and the Charles A. and Marjorie M. Peters Fund
Preferred Hospice DBA Legacy Hospice - $2,000 - to assist Tazewell county patients who are under-insured or uninsured, Unrestricted Fund
III-Human Services
Abel Crisis Pregnancy Center - $2,000 - to purchase diapers, wipes and pack n' plays, Unrestricted Fund
American Red Cross Southeast WV Chapter - $2,000 - emergency services in Mercer County, Charles A. and Marjorie M. Peters Fund and the Unrestricted Fund
Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens, Inc. Generations Childcare Program - $2,000 - equipment for child development for Tazewell county residents, Unrestricted Fund
Bluefield State College Foundation - $2,500 - update and enhance the Student Center patio, Unrestricted Fund
Brain Injury Services of SWVA - $2,000 - concussion prevention program in Tazewell county, Unrestricted Fund
Child Protect of Mercer County, Inc. - $2,000 - items to improve the safety of children, Jeffrey Edward Shott Memorial Fund and the Unrestricted Fund
City of Bluefield - $2,000 - to help with costs associated with fencing at the dog park, Unrestricted Fund
City of Princeton Fire Department - $2,000 - to update cardiac treatment capabilities, Unrestricted Fund
Friends Unlimited F.U.N. - $2,500 - spring prom for disabled adults, Sandra Gayle Monk Memorial Fund
Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council - $3,000 - Healthy Habits Program, Jeffrey Edward Shott Memorial Fund and the Unrestricted Fund
Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home, Inc. - $1,000 - Substance abuse counseling to those through the drug court in Mercer County, Unrestricted Fund
Make a Wish - $3,900 - wish-maker grant for a Mercer County wish, Unrestricted Fund
Mercer County Civil Air Patrol - $2,000 - air force style uniforms for cadets, Ghia M. Borg Memorial Fund
Mercer County Spay Association - $1,500 - to help low income with spay and neutering costs, Unrestricted Fund
Mountaineer Marine Detachment 957 / Toys for Tots - $2,000 - program support, Ghia M. Borg Memorial Fund
New River Community and Technical College Foundation - $1,138 - repair and restore chandeliers, Unrestricted Fund
Oakvale Elementary School - $2,000 - letters and installation of a gymnasium sign, Unrestricted Fund
Princeton Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners - $1,176 - two youth size basketball goals, Unrestricted Fund
Princeton Police Department - $2,080 - Police, Your Friends for Life program, Unrestricted Fund
Richlands High School - $2,000 - field tarp for newly constructed softball field, Unrestricted Fund
Royal Family Kids Camp - $2,000 - to provide a "Constant Person" for children, Unrestricted Fund
Save a Pet Food Bank - $2,400 - to provide free dog and cat food for low income, The Fannie Kate and Betty Gardner Bailey Fund and the Unrestricted Fund
Second Chance for Cats - $1,850 - spay/neuter and vaccinate 30 cats, The Fannie Kate and Betty Gardner Bailey Fund and the Unrestricted Fund
Sparks - $2,000 - to support field trip expenses, Jeffrey Edward Shott Memorial Fund and the Unrestricted Fund
Tender Mercy Ministries - $2,200 - copying machine, American Electric Power Community Services Fund and the Unrestricted Fund
The Salvation Army - $2,197 - purchase a utility trailer and security system, Anonymous Fund and Unrestricted Fund
Town of Bluefield, VA Rescue Squad - $2,000 - replace stove, paint and repair floor for a community room, Unrestricted Fund
Wade Center - $2,000 - backpack program, Community Action Grant Fund, Jeffrey Edward Shott Memorial Fund, American Electric Power Community Services Fund, and the Judge Jerome and Hilda R. Katz Memorial Fund
WISE - $2,800 - materials and refreshments for seminars, Unrestricted Fund
IV-Arts & Humanities
4 Pals Productions - $3,000 - portable stage, Unrestricted Fund
Alliance for the Arts - $2,500 - clean and renovate basement of the arts building, Unrestricted Fund
Blue Mountain Performing Arts - $2,000 - support for the Young Irelanders, The Fannie Kate and Betty Gardner Bailey Fund and the Unrestricted Fund
Bluefield Beautification Commission - $2,000 - benches and trash receptacles on Commerce Street, Ammar Family Memorial Fund and Unrestricted Fund
Bluefield Preservation Society - $2,996 - tables and chairs for The Historic Granada Theater, Rotary Club of Bluefield, WV Fund
Bluewell Lions Club - $1,399.96 - four solar powered light for new welcome signs, Unrestricted Fund
Chuck Mathena Center - $2,000 - to help cover donated and reduced rates for the facility for Mercer County schools, Unrestricted Fund
Craft Memorial Library - $4,000 - 3D Printer, Unrestricted Fund
Historic Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park - $2,000 - security cameras and monitoring equipment, The Fannie Kate and Betty Gardner Bailey Fund and the Unrestricted Fund
Mercer County Historical Society - $2,000 - expenses for professional storytellers and presenters, Unrestricted Fund
The Sanders House Charitable Trust - $2,000 - restoration of historic mural, Unrestricted Fund
Town of Bluefield, VA Beautification Commission - $2,044.24 - replace worn material on benches throughout town, Unrestricted Fund
Donor Designated Fund Grants
I-Education: Bible in the Schools - $2,328.90 - The B. G. and Rachel Blalock Fund
II-Health: Mercer Charitable Clinic - $735.80 - The Charles E. and Jerry Ann Myles Fund
III-Human Services: The Wade Center - $1,012.15 - The Sylvester C. and Janice M. Myers Fund
Scholarships
The Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. awarded 61 scholarships totaling more than $79,000 in the 2015 Scholarships Cycle. Many thanks to the Scholarships Committee, chaired by Carole Dodson: Gene Bailey, George Brooks, Mary Raub, Jim Steorts and Bettye VanDyke.
The scholarships were awarded from 18 different funds, and were awarded to graduating seniors from seven high schools, as noted.
Alex B. Mahood, Jr. Scholarship – 2 recipients (GHS, BHS)
Bluefield High Schools’ Alumni Scholarship - 2 recipients (BHS)
C.B. and Ora Hunter Hancock Memorial Scholarship - 1 recipient (BHS)
E.R. Gillespie Scholarship - 4 recipients (3 PSHS, BHS)
East River Mountain H.O.G. #5432 scholarship - 1 recipient (GHS)
Graham High School scholarship - 1 recipient (GHS)
Harman Lodge #222 scholarship - 1 recipient (GHS)
James and Rebecca Steorts Fund - 1 recipient (PSHS)
Joetta Collins Hooker Memorial Scholarship - 4 recipients (3 prior, River View)
Kendrick Scholarship Fund - 4 recipients (Concord University)
Lindsay Rebekah Haun Memorial Scholarship - 1 recipient (PSHS)
Margaret “Trika” Smith-Burke Scholarship - 3 recipients (Richlands)
Marsha A. Mead, PhD. Scholarship - 1 recipient (Bluefield College)
Maurice and Grace Hanna Weinberg Scholarship Fund - 2 recipients (BHS)
Robert Austin Family Scholarship Fund - 3 recipients (GHS)
Rose Sinicrope Scholarship Fund - 3 recipients (2 prior, PSHS)
Roy R. Raub Memorial Scholarship - 25 recipients (24 prior, Hurley)
William G. Skewes Memorial Scholarship - 2 recipients (Mercer Christian, PSHS)
Prior recipients currently attend a variety of schools, including (alphabetically): Bluefield State College, Concord University, Covenant College, James Madison University, Marshall University, University of Maryland, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest University, and West Virginia University.