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Financial Boost for 18 Nonprofits

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Financial Boost for 18 Nonprofits

Eighteen local nonprofit organizations just received a financial boost to do much more good in the community.

The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge (“Community Foundation”) recently announced a special round of grants to 18 local organizations.

The one-time only grants, which range from $50,000 to $150,000 for a total of $2.3 million, are intended to make a meaningful and positive impact on the community. These are made possible by two donor-advised funds administered by the Foundation.

“These two funds were created through the generosity and foresight of the Clifton Forge Waynesboro (CFW) Telephone Company,” said Carl Rosberg, retired President of NTELOS (formerly CFW).  “As we exit the pandemic, we are pleased to distribute what remains in the funds to make a meaningful immediate and lasting difference in our community.  We are grateful for the support of the Community Foundation in helping us fulfill the philanthropic intent of these funds.”

The diverse group of recipients were chosen by several former NTELOS and Lumos Networks executives.  The work of these 18 organizations ranges from providing health and human services, addressing food insecurity and homelessness, offering education and youth development, and enriching our community through arts and culture.  

“Community foundations naturally bring together people who care with causes that matter,” shared Dan Layman, the Community Foundation’s CEO. “We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to partner with community leaders to facilitate grants of this magnitude and long-term impact.”

The recipients are:

  • ARROW Project: To facilitate sustainable growth of mental health services.
  • Augusta Health Foundation: To support increased options for remote healthcare access.
  • Augusta Regional Clinic: To introduce and sustain affordable oral surgery.
  • Blue Ridge Area Food Bank: To increase its capacity to address food insecurity.
  • Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation: To establish a medical laboratory technology program.
  • Boys & Girls Club of Waynesboro, Staunton, and Augusta County: To create a new teen center.
  • LIFEworks Project: To develop the River City Bread Basket.
  • Mary Baldwin University: To fund new scholarships for local residents.
  • ShenanArts: To build new cultural programs for all ages.
  • Sin Barreras: To grow their services for local immigrant families.
  • Staunton-Augusta Family YMCA: To support affordable, quality childcare.
  • Valley Alliance for Education: To fund creative ideas to educate local youth.
  • Valley Mission: To better serve the needs of those who experience homelessness.
  • The Wayne Theatre: To develop a new outdoor performance venue.
  • Waynesboro Area Refuge Ministry: To sustain their cold weather shelter for the homeless.
  • Waynesboro Family YMCA: To improve health and wellness facilities for all ages.
  • Waynesboro Players: To enhance opportunities for youth development via the arts.
  • Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra: To expand musical offerings and sustain youth education.

These grants, some of which the Foundation will distribute in their entirety this year while fulfilling others over several years, will give a tremendous lift to these local nonprofit organizations.

“With this generous grant the LIFEworks Project will be able to open a client-choice, completely free, supplemental grocery outlet to meet the needs of ALICE  (asset-limited, income-constrained, employed) households,” said Adrienne Young, co-founder of LIFEWorks, an organization that provides practical support to everyday people. “This endeavor will be a game-changer for those struggling to make ends meet, and we are grateful and humbled to be a part of better outcomes for families.”

The grant to the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic will make possible new critical services for patients.

“There is literally no affordable oral surgery care available for low-income residents in our area,” said Sophie Parsons, Executive Director of the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic. “Patients who need wisdom teeth extractions, who suffer from dental injuries or other complex dental pathologies must travel to neighboring counties or even to Richmond. This is now about to change, and we cannot wait to welcome patients in our new oral surgery program.”

With this grant the Boys & Girls Club of Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County will realize their long-term goal of creating a teen center.

“According to recent data from the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, there were nearly 400 delinquency cases in our small region,” said Debra Freeman-Belle, CEO and Executive Director of the local Boys & Girls Club chapter. “This initial teen center funding from the Community Foundation will help us create a safe and supervised space for local teens to spend their free time, which National Collaboration for Youth studies show can help reduce juvenile crime rates by up to 30 percent.”

 “Once developed, our teen space will promote positive behavior, reduce negative outcomes, and provide a supportive community for SAW teens.”

The CFW Foundation, a private foundation established in 1990 and later known as the NTELOS Foundation, transferred its assets to the Community Foundation in 2015 to create the NTELOS Wireless and Lumos Networks donor-advised funds. The advisors to these two funds are distributing the bulk of the assets through these 18 grants.

The Harlow Family Scholarship

The Harlow Family Scholarship was created by Jim and Sarah Harlow. They are residents of Augusta County and currently live in Mt. Solon.  All three of their children graduated from Fort Defiance High School (FDHS) The Scholarship is something that both Jim and Sarah are passionate about. This scholarship is not merit- or performance-based. Which means that grit and courage are key elements in determining who wins. This scholarship requires an evaluation of financial need as well as the character and perseverance of the individual. Jim and Sarah both understand the value of education after high school and want to make the road a bit easier for individuals who are willing to work hard and persevere to improve their situation.

 

Dan Layman

President & CEO

Dan Layman joined the Community Foundation in March 2013. He spends his days helping individuals and companies explore how they can accomplish their charitable objectives through the Foundation and making sure that those who have already made that choice enjoy what they have created. He also offers his assistance and friendship to the leaders of local nonprofit organizations. Since graduating from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) in 1988, Dan has dedicated his career to helping others through fundraising and planned giving. He and his wife, Pamela Fox, have been Staunton residents since 2003…and for many years to come.

Menieka Garber

Chief Operating Officer

Menieka Garber joined the Community Foundation in 2006 and ensures that the day-to-day operations run smoothly and align with the Foundation’s mission. She supports a variety of accounting and finance functions and helps to ensure compliance with financial and record-keeping procedures.  Menieka received a B.A. in Business with a concentration in Accounting from Mary Baldwin University and A.A.S. degrees in Business Management and Accounting from Blue Ridge Community College. A native of the Shenandoah Valley, Menieka lives on a farm in Augusta County with her husband, Brian, and their two children, Kiersten and Samuel.

Miriam Burrows

Director of Educational Programs

Miriam Burrows joined the Community Foundation in August 2018. She administers our Scholarship Program, the Youth Philanthropy Council, and the Dawbarn Education Awards.  Miriam received a B.A. in Theatre from DeSales University, has a certificate from the Beverly Hills Bar Association’s Legal Secretary School, graduated from CNE’s Board Academy, and continues to take classes whenever she can. Miriam came to Staunton in 1999 to join the American Shakespeare Center where she has worked as an actor and has served as a board member. She lives in Staunton with her husband Daniel, and their two beautiful children.

Lora Hamp, J.D.

Legal Counsel and Director of Nonprofit Relations

Lora Hamp joined the Community Foundation in 2022, after serving on the Foundation’s Board of Directors and working with the CFCBR Community Grants Committee for several years. She formerly practiced law as an estate planning attorney and is excited to combine her legal background and prior Board experience to support and promote the nonprofit sector in our community.  In addition to administering the Foundation’s Community Grants Program, Lora provides for the delivery and oversight of nonprofit sector programming, including trainings, peer learning experiences, and other professional development events. She enjoys working with her colleagues and community partners to support a healthy, vibrant nonprofit sector.

Lora’s early interest in the nonprofit world developed within the fields of gerontology and elder rights advocacy. Immediately after graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law, she served as a Borchard Fellow, collaborating with various nonprofit partners to design and establish an elder law clinic at the law school.

Chris Lassiter

Director of Community Engagement

Chris Lassiter joined our team in January 2022 as our new Director of Community Engagement.  Chris leads our work to broaden the Foundation’s relationships with community members and deepen our understanding of the challenges within our community and our opportunities for affecting real change.  Chris comes to us from the Staunton-Augusta Family YMCA where he served as Marketing and Communications Director.

Harlow Family Scholarship

Jim and Sarah Harlow established the Harlow Family Scholarship in 2023 to support Fort Defiance High School graduates in their pursuit of higher education.

We wished to recognize FDHS athletes – one male and one female – who show grit, courage, character, and perseverance. We value the importance of continuing your education after high school and want to make the road a bit easier for individuals who are willing to work hard.

 

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