Friday, April 27, 2012

Foundation for Roanoke Valley Awards Initial Grant From Kinder Fund

Foundation for Roanoke Valley announced that it has awarded $50,000 to the Roanoke Valley SPCA to support its efforts to open a low-cost Spay-Neuter Clinic in Roanoke. The multi-year grant comes from the Foundation’s Phalia M. and Guy M. Kinder Fund, which was established within the community foundation last year through an estate gift from Mr. and Mrs. Kinder. The endowed fund will support agencies that prevent cruelty to animals, underwrite research toward the cure of animal diseases, make possible the professional education of animal caretakers and strengthen or implement programs that promote the positive relationship between animals and humans.


Alan Ronk, Executive Director of Foundation for Roanoke Valley noted, “The Kinders shared a special love for animals, especially their cats. In their fund agreement, they made special mention of their desire to help with capital building projects that would benefit cats. The Foundation is happy to support the Roanoke Valley SPCA through this initial grant from the Fund, and we are especially pleased that the agency will name the clinic room dedicated exclusively to cats in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Kinder.”

Carolyn Schwanhausser, Director of Development for the SPCA added, “The Roanoke Valley SPCA is very grateful to Foundation for Roanoke Valley for this leadership grant in support of our vision and pursuit of ending euthanasia of homeless cats and dogs in our community. Like the Kinders, our dream is a community where every pet is guaranteed a loving home. By preventing the birth of unwanted litters of kittens and puppies through spaying and neutering, we will save lives and stem the tide of pet overpopulation. Additionally, studies have shown that the procedures can make pets easier to manage, less aggressive and healthier. This grant brings us closer to realizing our goal to open a low-cost, high volume Spay and Neuter Clinic serving the greater Roanoke Valley region.”

The Clinic will be located on Peters Creek Road and will serve Roanoke, Salem, Vinton, Clifton Forge, Covington, and the counties of Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, Bedford, and Roanoke. The facility’s services will target pets from low-income households, pets being readied for adoption, and stray free-roaming animals. By providing an affordable, accessible solution to pet overpopulation, the Clinic can reach those pet owners who otherwise would be not able to afford the surgery.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley, the region’s community foundation, currently administers over 250 named endowment funds and awards approximately $3 million annually to benefit the community. For more information on the Foundation, visit www.foundationforroanokevalley.org or call 985-0204.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Foundation for Roanoke Valley Awards Salem Farmer's Market $14,000 For Its EBT/SNAP Program

The Salem Farmers Market will once again be able to match funds dollar-for-dollar in its EBT/SNAP program this summer thanks to a generous grant from Foundation for Roanoke Valley. At Monday night’s City Council meeting, the Foundation’s Executive Director, Alan Ronk, presented a $14,000 check to Salem City Manager, Kevin Boggess, and Laura Reilly, who oversees the program in Salem.


“Our unrestricted Community Catalyst Funds are powerful and flexible resources that enable us to move quickly to address important local needs and opportunities,” says Ronk. “We are delighted to provide this funding to the City of Salem and the Salem Farmers Market and look forward to the many good things that will come from the grant.”

Foundation for Roanoke Valley, the region’s community foundation for over two decades, awards millions of dollars annually to hundreds of non-profit and governmental organizations. This grant specifically designates $12,000 to directly match EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) funds and $2,000 to purchase additional wooden tokens.

“Two of Foundation for Roanoke Valley’s current priority-grant focus areas are basic human needs and economic development,” he says. “We felt that this program offered a very compelling opportunity to provide healthy, home-grown produce to those who could not otherwise afford it and, at the same time, to support the efforts of local farmers to bring such produce to the market.”

The Salem Farmers Market began this program last summer not knowing how it would be received. Shoppers at the market, who are part of the SNAP or former food stamps program, can basically double their money when shopping for fresh food on the market. For example, this grant will allow a family to get $20 worth of fruit and produce for just $10.

“This money will make a huge impact on those in need in our community and we are very grateful to the Foundation for their support,” says Reilly. “We were blown away by the reception this program received last summer and we believe it has the potential to double the number of people it helps this year.”

FIRST YEAR FIGURES WITH THE EBT/SNAP PROGRAM ON THE SALEM FARMERS MARKET IN 2011

JUNE 25 - OCTOBER 15

Total EBT Transactions 233

Total EBT Dollars from VDSS $4,589

Total Match Dollars $4,589

Total dollars spent by EBT participants $9,178

CONTACT:

Mike Stevens
City of Salem
Communications Director
(540)375-4112 office
(540)353-2041 cell
mstevens@salemva.gov

Laura Reilly
City of Salem
Horticulturist
(540) 375-3028
lreilly@salemva.gov