Archives: Donor Stories

Military veterans have a special place in the hearts of Dave and Debbie Metz. A new fund at the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge seeks to honor that commitment.

The Metz-Tiderman Fund for Veterans aims to improve the quality of life of local veterans. “I’ve been wanting to do something to honor my parents,” Debbie said. “The military was so important and pivotal in their lives. I thought this is the perfect way to honor them.”

The Metz-Tiderman Fund for Veterans will provide funding to nonprofit organizations that improve the quality of life for veterans. One such nonprofit is Salute of Virginia, an organization in Waynesboro that provides a community center for veterans. “It’s a place for them to call home,” said Leah Hale, founder of Salute of Virginia. “It’s a place for them to meet like-minded people and have that camaraderie. Salute is also a resource hub.

Among its many services, Salute of Virginia offers veterans a weekly brunch on Friday mornings. This is time for them to be together that they can look forward to each week. The Metzes are thrilled about helping to fund organizations like Salute of Virginia and partnering with the Community Foundation. “This has been a dream of ours for a long time to have a family fund,” Debbie said. “I just can’t say enough about how Dan has guided us through all of this. It’s been a really great experience.”

Donations to the Metz-Tiderman Fund for Veterans can be made to the Community Foundation by check (P.O. Box 815, Staunton, VA 24402) or online.

The late Alphonso “Al” and Rachel Boxley, parents of our former Board member Al Boxley III, established this field-of-interest fund through a $40,000 estate gift following Al’s passing on July 28, 2002. He was preceded in death by Rachel, his wife of 68 year.

It was Al’s wish that the Community Foundation utilize his estate gift to further his and Rachel’s long-standing commitment to the children of Augusta County. During their lifetimes, the Boxleys helped to establish youth summer camps, recreational sites, preschool scholarships, Ronald McDonald houses, college scholarships, and much more.

The Boxley Fund has grown to over $74,000, thanks in part to routine contributions made by their son and our former Board member, Al Boxley III and his wife, Dale. Since its creation, the Boxley Fund has distributed grants in excess of $35,000. As one of the Foundation’s many “field-of-interest” funds, the Boxleys invested the authority over grant decision to the Community Foundation, as long as those grants in some way help the children of Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County.

Al Jr. was born January 24, 1907 at “Boxley Farm” in Amherst County. After graduating from Ferrum Training School and Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Al spent 40 years in the mining industry with Koppers Company of Pittsburgh, PA and Eastern Gas and Fuel Associates of Boston, MA. He completed his career as President of Eastern Associate Coal Corporation, retiring in 1970 to his Stuarts Draft farm. During his career, Al made many contributions in safety practices to the mining industry.  

For the Foundation’s 2019 Annual report, Al Boxley III offered this statement about his parents and the Boxley Fund:

“My parents loved to help children become successful and caring adults. They hoped to continue that commitment long after their lifetimes. The Community Foundation was the perfect partner for them to create such a legacy. My father added a provision to his will so that a contribution would be made to the Foundation upon his passing. That gift established the A.P. Boxley, Jr. & Rachel Barksdale Boxley Memorial Fund. Knowing that needs change over time, they also left it up to the Foundation to decide how best to use the Boxley Memorial Fund to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children each year. I share my parents’ commitment to youth, so I add my support to the Boxley Memorial Fund each year.”

The MaDee Project was established in 2010 in memory of MaDee Nicole Boxler, sister of our Board member Abby Arey. MaDee battled pediatric cancer from 2008-2010 and it was her strong spirit while battling this disease that became the inspiration of this project.

Since its beginning in 2010, The MaDee Project has received referrals from University of Virginia Children’s Hospital, local school systems, and friends and family members of those battling pediatric cancer.  Families that qualify for support from The MaDee Project have received a monthly check to assist them with medical expenses and other costs associated with the treatment and care of their child until they are no longer receiving treatment. 

In most cases of pediatric cancer, one of the parents or the only parent will need to quit their job or take a leave of absence in order to provide the daily care for their child and make the countless trips to hospitals for treatments. That loss of income is an added stressor during an already traumatic period of that family’s life. The MaDee Project has been there for numerous families since 2010, helping to reduce that stress. 

We have admired the wonderful work of The MaDee Project for many years, and we are thrilled that it joined our growing family as a charitable program within the Community Foundation in April 2022.