Foundation Awards $10,000 to the Salem Ministers Conference Community Food Pantry

The Salem Ministers Conference Community Food Pantry recently received $10,000 from the Mary Louise Home Fund to provide food assistance for needy senior citizens (age 55 and older).

The Salem Food Pantry serves individuals who live in Salem or Roanoke County whose income is below 150% of the poverty rate.  In 2008, the Food Pantry served 3,488 food orders to 9,879 people. The Pantry's Snack Buddies Program also provided 25,700 snacks to elementary and preschool children.  For more information about the Salem Food Pantry, contact Jenny McCormick.

Foundation Announces Newest Members of the Youth Leadership Committee

The Foundation would like to welcome its newest members of the Youth Leadership Committee!

Jordan Bazak, Patrick Henry High School
Claire Martin, Northside High School
Elizabeth Sherer, Glenvar High School
Kelsey Tripp, William Byrd High School

Returning members include:
Leslie Brittain, Salem High School
Aaron Colston, William Fleming High School
Matt Crush, Lord Botetourt High School
Alex McDilda, Roanoke Catholic School
Logan Martin, Community High School
Cameron Todd, Hidden Valley High School
Ben Weiserbs, North Cross School

The Philanthropy Project was started in 2006 by the Foundation to introduce students to the world of philanthropy.  A Youth Leadership Committee, comprised of local high school students, is responsible for determining what it believes are important community needs, reviewing grant applications, and making funding recommendations to the Foundation's Board using a $25,000 budget.

Foundation Awards $11,000 to the Presbyterian Community Center

Presbyterian Community Center recently received $11,000 from the Mary Louise Home Fund and the Thomas P. and Lewise S. Parsley Fund to support the Emergency Services program which will assist elderly, indigent clients.  In addition, funds will be used to provide prescription medications to older adults.

Emergency Services provides emergency financial assistance to eligible low-income families and individuals for utilities, rent, mortgage, prescriptions, heating oil and other necessities. The goal of PCC Emergency Services is to help clients through difficult times, avoid homelessness and ultimately allow them to maintain or improve their life situations.

Check out the Foundation's latest video!

The Foundation would like to thank Access for assisting with our project!

Click here to view the Foundation's latest video.

Foundation supports Vinton-Roanoke County Veterans Monument called "High Ground"

Veterans monument in Vinton receives grant.  Click here for the full story, www. WDBJ7.com.

(Pictured above: Vinton-Roanoke County Capital Campaign Committee, Michelle Eberly, Foundation Program Assistant, and Barbara Dillon.)

(Pictured above:  "High Ground" model.)

(Pictured above:  "High Ground" under construction.)

The Botetourt Resource Center is thriving thanks to a grant through the Foundation's "Belonging Initiative"

The Botetourt Resource Center is thriving thanks to a grant through the Foundation's "Belonging Initiative" and the leadership of Robyn Dobyns.  Click on the link below to read the front page article of The Roanoke Times.

Botetourt Resource Center's Robyn Dobyns: The center of attention - Roanoke.com 

 

Foundation Awards $10,000 to the Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley, Inc.

The Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley, Inc. recently received $10,000 from the Marion S. and Willie Z. Camp Fund for Eldercare. This grant was awarded to supplement the dietary budget for nutritious food for older adult participants diagnosed with diabetes.

Pictured above (left to right): Sue Nutter, ACC Executive Director, Carly Oliver, FRV Associate Director, and Michelle Eberly, FRV Program Assistant.

The Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley, Inc. is the only licensed adult day service program in the Valley and provides quality, daytime assistance, health monitoring, and activities to impaired, dependent adults in a congregrate setting Monday through Friday.

 

Blue Ridge Autism Center Receives $17,160 from the Foundation

Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center recently received $17,160 from the Jamison Fund to support its School Revitalization Project. This project will prepare the building to properly educate children, as well as become a model training center for those who wish to work with students who have learning challenges, including the 1 in 150 children being diagnosed with autism today.

The Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center's mission is to serve children and families who are faced with unique learning challenges, specifically autism and learning disabilities, in and around the Roanoke Valley. The Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center (BRAAC) is licensed by the Virginia Department of Education to serve students ages 2-14. BRAAC provides specialized educational programs in a private day school setting as well as direct and consultative educational services in public schools. An after-school tutoring program provides continuity and reinforces consistency for students and families. BRAAC also provides specialized services for children in their homes as well as in-home training for parents. All of these highly specialized services necessitate continued professional development which BRAAC provides to its staff, local school divisions, community support professionals and family members.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley Awards $32,537 to Local Nonprofit Organizations

Foundation for Roanoke Valley has awarded $32,537 to nonprofit organization through the Larry Woodrow Vest Fund.  The Fund supports a wide range of community needs with particular consideration given to charitable organizations providing services to Floyd County residents.

The following organizations have been awarded funding: Blue Ridge Independent Living Center, Inc. received $8,000 to provide home modifications and purchase assistive devices for individuals with disabilities who live in Floyd County; Floyd County Community Center for the Arts, Inc. received $500 to support In-School Arts Experiences Program at Floyd County Schools; Floyd County Community Educational Association received $5,000 to expand The Early Childhood Music Program into the Childhood Special Education Classes and the Virginia Initiative Preschool Classes of Floyd County; Floyd County Historical Preservations Trust received $8,000 to continue restoration and preservation of three historic Floyd County properties; the Floyd County Historical Society received $5,000 to purchase showcases and signage for its first historical museum; The Old Church Gallery received $2,287 to purchase two digital field camcorders and recording media for an Oral History Project; and Western Virginia Land Trust received $3,750 to support the "Bluegrass and Green Beans: Conserving Land with Music and Food" project.

The Melva P. Jones Fund for Music and Art Awards $12,800 to Local Nonprofit Organizations

The Melva P. Jones Fund for Music and Art, a component fund of Foundation for Roanoke Valley, awarded $12,800 to six local nonprofit organizations.  The Fund provides support to music and art programs and organizations, with a preference for those which benefit the citizens of Vinton.

The following organizations have been awarded funding:  Thursday Morning Music Club received $2,000 to provide music and dance scholarships to qualified local students; Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce received $1,500 to provide bus transportation to the Vinton Christmas Parade for area marching bands; the Vinton Historical Society/Vinton Museum received $3,000 to preserve the quality of items by storing historical items in display cases, to purchase artwork from local artists, and to help fund the annual Variety Music Program; The 2006 Vinton War Memorial Vision Committee, Inc. received $3,300 to help support and maintain a Veterans' Monument in Vinton; William Byrd High School Choir received $2,000 to partially fund bus transportation to New York City to tour and perform in the city; and William Byrd Middle School Choir received $1,000 to purchase a class set of active votes to be used along with its LCD projector and Active Board.

Back Creek Elementary School Dedicates Renovated Track

Back Creek Elementary School recently dedicated its newly-renovated and paved track at the school, thanks to a major grant from the Foundation’s Jackie and Shelborn Spangler Fund. The track is an important community asset, as it is heavily used by both the school and surrounding neighbors.

The Belonging Initiative Funds Latest 2-1-1 Virginia Video

The Belonging Initiative funded this latest video for 2-1-1 Virginia. 2-1-1 is an easy to remember phone number connecting people with free information on available community services, including those that serve the well-being of older adults. When you dial 2-1-1, a trained professional will listen to your situation and suggest sources of help using one of the largest databases of health and human services in Virginia. Nonprofit organizations and federal, state, and local government agencies are included in the database and you can access services in your community and statewide.

For more information about 2-1-1 Virginia, click here: http://www.councilofcommunityservices.org/ir/index.html

Michelle Eberly Joins Foundation for Roanoke Valley

Foundation for Roanoke Valley announces that Michelle Eberly has joined the organization as Program Assistant.

In her role with the Foundation, Eberly will be responsible for coordinating the Foundation’s extensive college scholarship program and assisting with the grants program.

Prior to joining Foundation for Roanoke Valley, Eberly served as a Financial Aid Services Coordinator for Hollins University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications, with a minor in Political Science, from Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, Va. and is currently pursuing a Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies degree at Hollins University.