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.”