Foundation for Roanoke Valley Scholarship Applications Available

Foundation for Roanoke Valley is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2011 academic year.  By completing one scholarship application, applicants can be considered for multiple scholarships.  Students about to complete their senior year of high school, students already enrolled in a trade school, college or university, and non-traditional students who have waited a number of years before starting their post-secondary education are eligible to apply.

To access the scholarship guidelines and application, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.foundationforroanokevalley.org.  Guidelines and applications will be available through the guidance offices of local high schools and some college financial aid offices.

Completed applications should be mailed to Foundation for Roanoke Valley, Attention: Michelle Eberly, P.O. Box 1159, Roanoke, VA  24006.  All completed applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 4, 2011, at the Foundation’s office.  This is not a postmarked deadline.  Applications received after the submission deadline will not be considered, and incomplete applications will not be accepted.  Some scholarships require applicants to complete the FAFSA (Federal Application for Free Student Aid) and submit a Student Aid Report (SAR).  For more information on the FAFSA, please visit www.fafsa.gov.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley administers over 240 endowment funds totaling over $40 million and works diligently to help local individuals and families establish permanent charitable legacies which will touch the community now and for generations to come.  Foundation for Roanoke Valley is one of the largest providers of educational scholarships in this region, annually awarding hundreds of thousands to hundreds of deserving students.

Local High School Students Continue to Give Back in Big Ways

            Foundation for Roanoke Valley’s Youth Leadership Committee kicked off its fifth year of “The Philanthropy Project” with a big announcement and over fifty-five yards of fleece material.  

The Youth Leadership Committee (YLC) is comprised of local high school students who are responsible for determining what they believe are the most important community needs, seeking to address those needs through a competitive grants process, reviewing grant applications, and making funding recommendations to the Foundation’s Board of Governors using a $25,000 budget.  

Over the past four years, the YLC has received in excess of $500,000 in grant requests and has awarded tens of thousands of dollars in grants to many local nonprofit organizations, with those grants typically totaling from $1,000 to $7,200 and covering a wide range of community programs, needs and opportunities.  However, this year the youth leaders will have an even greater task ahead of them:  to gain consensus amongst the group on a single community need or program that will receive the entire $25,000 grant.  This large impact grant will take the YLC over the $100,000 level in cumulative grants.

This year’s funding priorities will be determined by the YLC in January, and agencies will be able to apply online on or about January 14. 

As for the fifty-five yards of fleece, YLC members and Foundation staff made eighteen fleece blankets to give to children and teens staying at The Rescue Mission.  According to Lee Clark, Rescue Mission Director of Development and Finance, “For the first time ever in the Mission’s 62 year history, the numbers of women and children have outpaced the numbers of men in emergency shelter this year.”    

The fleece blankets will be added to “move out baskets” given to children and teens as they transition from emergency shelter to more permanent housing.   “We are so grateful for the continued support of the Foundation for Roanoke Valley’s Youth Leadership Committee in gifts like cozy fleece blankets to time spent volunteering with families in shelter to funding for special projects like the Mission’s Dr. G. Wayne Fralin Free Clinic for the Homeless,” said Clark.

YLC members also plan to visit a local retirement community on Valentine’s Day, work on a Habitat for Humanity project, volunteer at the Blue Ridge Marathon, and carry out other service projects still in the works.

The Philanthropy Project was established in 2006 by Foundation for Roanoke Valley to introduce high school students to the world of philanthropy, both in terms of philanthropy’s role in being a productive citizen of the community and philanthropy as a possible career option.  The program also develops leadership and consensus-building skills.  The following students comprise this year’s Youth Leadership Committee:  YLC:  Jordan Bazak, Patrick Henry; Leslie Brittain, Salem; Matthew Crush, Lord Botetourt; Emma Kauffman, Salem; Claire Martin, Northside; Elizabeth Sherer, Glenvar; Evelyn Strope, Franklin County; Cameron Todd, Hidden Valley; and Kelsey Tripp, William Byrd. 

Foundation for Roanoke Valley Accepting Applications for Winter Grants Cycle

Foundation for Roanoke Valley is accepting grant applications from local nonprofit organizations for three of its endowment funds.  Interested organizations should check the Foundation’s website, www.foundationforroanokevalley.org, to determine eligibility and to learn how to apply.
            Foundation for Roanoke Valley has switched to an online, internet-based grant application process. Applications for the Katherine Nelson Fishburn Foundation Fund, The Spetzler Fund, and the Roanoke Valley Children’s Fund must be submitted by January 18, 2011.
             The Foundation encourages organizations to visit the grants section of its website to learn more about the grant application process and to sign up for the Foundation's email list to receive future notifications of grant opportunities.
Foundation for Roanoke Valley administers over 240 endowment funds totaling $43 million and works diligently to help local individuals and families establish permanent charitable legacies which will touch the community now and for generations to come.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley Announces First Grants from its "Grants 4 Teachers" Program

Article by Courtney Cutright, Roanoke Times, November 23, 2010

The Foundation for Roanoke Valley last week awarded 20 grants totaling nearly $5,000 to Roanoke teachers through the new Grants 4 Teachers program.
The recipients are:

•  Laura Augustin, Jeri Barger, Marlene Dooley, Amy Duffy, Megan Lawson and Laura Totty; Monterey Elementary.
•  Leigh Anne Brewster, Garden City Elementary.
•  Stephanie Doyle, James Breckinridge Middle.
•  Andrea Greene, Roanoke Academy for Mathematics and Science.
•  Michelle Hallman, Hurt Park Elementary.
•  Cheryl Hambrick and Amy Tlockowski, James Madison Middle.
•  Cara Kenney and Teresa Sutherland, Fairview Elementary.
•  Laurie Matko and Jude Prashaw, Fallon Park Elementary.
• Eileen McCaul, Westside Elementary.
•  Leslie Rueff, Stonewall Jackson Middle.
•  Keith Thomas, Highland Park Elementary.
•  Jasmin Venable, Preston Park Primary.

Only Roanoke teachers were eligible for the pilot year, but foundation officials plan to extend the program to additional school divisions next year.

The Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center New Facility Upgrades with Foundation's Help

Foundation for Roanoke Valley has provided a number of significant grants to the Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center. Carly Oliver, Associate Director, and Alan Ronk, Executive Director, joined dozens of other community leaders and parents at the Center today for a ribbon-cutting celebrating the Center’s newly refurbished facilities. Included among the upgrades were a totally new computer lab and new smartboard technology to help train teachers, both made possible by Foundation support. The event also coincided with April being Autism Awareness Month.

Foundation Awards Large Impact Grant to Salem Nonprofit Organization

Foundation for Roanoke Valley today awarded a $25,000 grant from the Marion S. and Willie Z. Camp Fund for Eldercare to Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley, allowing the organization to continue providing daytime medical, social and physical care to hundreds of disabled adults and seniors. Established in 2001 by the late Willie Z. Camp, this fund addresses the needs of older adults in the Roanoke Valley.

“We are expecting reductions in local and state funding this year, so this grant goes a long way in mitigating the impact these budget cuts would have on our programs,” said Sue Nutter, executive director of Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley. “With this Foundation money, caregivers can have peace of mind that their loved ones will continue getting the care they need and deserve.”

Founded 27 years ago, the Salem-based facility provides services such as medical supervision, medication management and social activities to adults and seniors who cannot be left alone during the day due to physical, cognitive and mental health issues. Adult Care Center is an alternative to institutional care for families who prefer providing care at home but need assistance during the day to accommodate working schedules.

“With the population of aging adults in our area, it’s imperative that we sustain the services provided by Adult Care Center,” said Alan Ronk, executive director of Foundation for Roanoke Valley.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley has served the Roanoke Valley for more than 20 years and currently administers over 240 named endowment funds on behalf of the community. For more information about Foundation for Roanoke Valley, visit www.foundationforroanokevalley.org.

Unbridled Change Partners with Rivermont Schools and Foundation for Roanoke Valley's Youth Leadership Committee for Community Service

Unbridled Change, an equine assisted activities and therapies organization, has partnered with Rivermont School in Roanoke VA to mobilize more than 50 young people and community members to participate in the 21st Global Youth Service Day. Volunteers are needed for Friday and Saturday April 23rd and 24th.

Unbridled Change is excited to be participating in this global event by partnering with Rivermont Schools and Foundation for Roanoke Valley’s Youth Leadership Committee (YLC) to affect change in the community.

The mission of Unbridled Change is to partner people with horses through hands-on activities to create lasting change and true healing. Many of the clients they work with are striving to overcome obstacles in their lives due to physical impairment or a history of domestic violence or trauma in their lives. Unbridled Change provides a safe and supportive environment for clients to address a variety of different needs.

The Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) project is “Building a Safer Environment”. Activities include constructing a “pony wall” inside the indoor arena to provide a safe arena for both our riders and our horses. In addition, general improvements will be made to the landscape and facilities.

Rivermont School students will serve as the “leaders” of the service-learning project. This project helps teach youth the importance of community service and combines educational learning and life skill development. The students have been responsible for the project from the beginning with oversight and facilitation from Unbridled Change and Rivermont school staff. The students have measured the arena, developed a budget and project supply list, solicited donors and supporters for the project from local businesses and arranged for volunteers to help them execute the project completely.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley’s Youth Leadership Committee (YLC) has committed to help execute the project with volunteers on Saturday, April 24th as well. The YLC members are comprised of local high school students from the Roanoke area. Foundation for Roanoke Valley started the YLC in 2006 to help introduce students to the world of philanthropy through both community service and The Philanthropy Project. The YLC is responsible for determining important community needs, addressing those needs through a competitive grants process, reviewing grant applications, and making funding recommendations to the Foundation’s Board of Governors using a $25,000 budget.

“The rising momentum of the youth service movement is a shining example of the positive change that stems from young people contributing to their communities,” said Steve Culbertson, president and CEO of Youth Service America. “Global Youth Service Day” is a powerful glimpse into the year round participation of young volunteers. It is also an opportune time to connect children and youth who have never served with local projects that will inspire them to lead a life of service.”

“The project combines everything that Unbridled Change is about – learning and developing new skills that help participants live a more productive life plus bringing members of the community together to help change lives for the better” said Michelle Holling-Brooks, founder and executive director of Unbridled Change.

Unbridled Change needs the help of community volunteers to make this event a success! Volunteers will be installing the plywood panels around the arena, painting the boards, landscaping, and sprucing up facilities for Spring. They have projects for all ages so bring out the whole family and have a chance to show community youth what can happen when a community pulls together!

For more information about the event or to get involved, please contact: Michelle Holling-Brooks at 540-719-2171or visit www.UnbridledChange.org.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley Grants Two Thousand Dollars to Virginia Western Educational Foundation for ESL Course

The Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation has received a two thousand dollar ($2,000) grant from the Katherine Nelson Fishburn Foundation Fund of Foundation for Roanoke Valley.  The purpose of the grant is to help reduce the college's tuition costs for English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for individuals living in the Roanoke Valley.  The course assists students, who in the past have represented 35 different countries, and whose English-speaking capabilities are limited.

"Virginia Western made significant changes in the ESL program in 2005 by moving the classes from credit to non-credit.  This move allowed us to bridge the financial barrier faced by many students and has resulted in a substantially larger program, " said Elizabeth Wilmer, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the department that administers the ESL courses.  "Support from Foundation for Roanoke Valley will help to keep this initiative strong," she added.

The ESL class is offered as a non-credit course at a fixed rate of $65.00 to reduce the cost to students, many of whom would pay the out-of-state tuition rate of $285.19.  Funding to offset the cost of student tuition is provided by student fees and private sources.  State General Fund tax dollars are not used in the program.

Demographic trends indicate that the limited English proficiency (LEP) population continues to grow.  The class assists students with basic conversational English, basic English grammar and writing skills, and social and cultural literacy skills.  The class, also, prepares individuals for employment or for becoming a future Virginia Western Community College student.

Virginia Western Community College is a two-year public institution of higher education operating under a statewide system of community colleges.  The College operates under the policies established by the State Board for Community Colleges and the Virginia Western Community College Board.  It offers day, evening, and weekend classes on a 70-acre campus located in Southwest Roanoke as well as at off-campus locations in the area.  The College was established in 1966 and has grown from an initial enrollment of 1,352 to its current enrollment of over 12,500 students.

View more on WSLS.com! 

For more information about this press release, please contact Mike Shelton, Interim Public Information Officer at mshelton@virginiawestern.edu or 540.857.6532.

Foundation Awards $10,000 to Local Nonprofit Organizations

Foundation for Roanoke Valley has awarded $10,000 to non-profit organizations through The Spetzler Fund. The Fund supports the broad needs of educational, child welfare, and social opportunity programs in the cities of Roanoke and Salem and Roanoke County.

   

     Apple Ridge Farm was awarded $4,000 to support its 2010 Academic Summer Camp.  This camp offers youth ages 6-16 the opportunity to enjoy the camp experience while gaining life skills that will serve them in their home environment.

     Bradley Free Clinic was awarded $2,000 to purchase medical supplies that will be used to treat patients with acute and chronic conditions.  The Clinic provides free medical, dental, and pharmacy care to the working uninsured and temporarily unemployed citizens of the Roanoke Valley.

     Children’s Trust Roanoke Valley was awarded $4,000 to support the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program.  This program provides trained volunteers to advocate for safe permanent homes for abused and neglected children.

Foundation Staff Visits Rescue Mission's Newest Addition - Dr. G. Wayne Fralin Free Clinic

The Rescue Mission Free Clinic began in 2002 in the basement of the main Mission building. Last year, with a budget of under $200,000, the Rescue Mission Free Clinic for the Homeless provided medical services for homeless men, women and children valued at $2,309,814.07.

With a 61% increase in clinic visits recorded in 2008, and the opportunity to offer dental as well as medical and psychiatric services, it became increasingly obvious that the Mission’s clinic needed more space in order to continue its phenomenal work.

A building across the street from the main Mission became available enabling the clinic to triple its size. This expansion will allow the clinic to have 6 exam rooms, 2 psychiatric counseling offices, 4 dental operatories and a large classroom as well as a large reception area.

Being able to hold dental, medical and psychiatric clinics simultaneously (something not possible in the current cramped basement space) means more volunteer providers can work at the same time and more patients can be seen. The shared reception area means this new expanded clinic can be operated more efficiently. This new clinic is HDAC compliant and is on a city bus route making the clinic very accessible for patients and volunteers.

Foundation staff would like to thank Lee Clark, Rescue Mission Director of Development & Administration for the wonderful tour! If you would like to learn more about the Rescue Mission please visit www.rescuemission.net or contact Lee Clark at 540.777.7687.

Foundation Accepting Letters of Intent for The Roanoke Women's Foundation

Foundation for Roanoke Valley is accepting Letters of Intent for The Roanoke Women's Foundation (RWF) for organizations providing programs that support arts and culture, health and human services, and education and environment. Interested tax-exempt organizations should check the Foundation's website, www.foundationforroanokevalley.org, to learn how to apply.

RWF has switched to a new two-stage application process. Qualified organizations must first submit a Letter of Intent online by April 5.  

If the Letter of Intent is selected for further consideration, the organization will be asked to submit a full proposal. Up to ten proposals will go on the ballot for a vote by RWF members. Grant winners will be announced at a luncheon in November.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley has served the Roanoke Valley for more than 20 years and currently administers over 240 named endowment funds totaling $43 million on behalf of the community.  The Foundation works diligently to help local individuals and families establish permanent charitable legacies which will touch the community now and for generations to come.  For more information about Foundation for Roanoke Valley, visit www.foundationforroanokevalley.org.

Foundation Awards $12,113 to Local Nonprofit Organizations

Foundation for Roanoke Valley has awarded $12,113 to nonprofit organizations through the Roanoke Valley Children’s Fund.  The Fund supports programs that address the needs of children from prenatal care to their sixth birthday.

The following organizations have been awarded funding: Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center received $2,500 to support the “After the Diagnosis” workshop by providing funds to purchase ABLLS-R kits, resource brochures, and autism videos; Child Health Investment Partnership received $5,000 to support the “Parents as Teachers” curriculum; Greenvale School, Inc. received $2,913 to offer tuition scholarships assistance to disadvantaged families; Unbridled Change received $1,000 to purchase specialized children’s riding equipment for children ages 2-5; and Young Audiences received $700 to provide one Curriculum Plus performance as a Salem City Elementary School for preschoolers.

The Big Read Roanoke Valley Receives $5,000

Check out the article by Kevin Kittredge at www.roanoke.com!

Plans for the first Big Read Roanoke Valley were launched in June, 2009, by the board of the Friends of the Roanoke County Public Library. Two members of the Friends’ board serve as coordinators for the project, and the Friends underwrite a large portion of the expenses. Other public libraries as well as college libraries in Salem, Botetourt County and Roanoke, two newspapers and a business magazine also help fund the initiative.


The goals of The Big Read Roanoke Valley are to encourage people to make reading a part of their daily lives and to foster a stronger sense of community. As part of The Big Read in Virginia, Roanoke Valley residents will read Ernest Gaines’ A Lesson Before Dying. Activities based on the book are open to the public and will take place throughout the Valley In March, 2010.

For a calendar of events, please visit www.bigreadroanokevalley.org.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley Scholarship Applications Available

Foundation for Roanoke Valley is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2010 academic year.  By completing one scholarship application, applicants can be considered for multiple scholarships.  Students about to complete their senior year of high school, students already enrolled in a trade school, college or university, and non-traditional students who have waited a number of years before starting their post-secondary education are eligible to apply.

To access the scholarship guidelines and application, please visit the Foundation's website.  Guidelines and applications will be available through the guidance offices of local high schools and some college financial aid offices.

Completed applications should be mailed to Foundation for Roanoke Valley, Attention: Michelle Eberly, P.O. Box 1159, Roanoke, VA  24006.  All completed applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 5, 2010, at the Foundation's office.  This is not a postmarked deadline.  Applications with all necessary attachments received after the submission deadline will not be considered, and incomplete applications will not be accepted.  Some scholarships require applicants to complete the FAFSA (Federal Application for Free Student Aid) and submit a Student Aid Report (SAR).  For more information on the FAFSA, please visit www.fafsa.gov.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley administers over 200 endowment funds totaling $43 million and works diligently to help local individuals and families establish permanent charitable legacies which will touch the community now and for generations to come.  Foundation for Roanoke Valley is one of the largest providers of educational scholarships in this region, annually awarding hundreds of thousands to hundreds of deserving students.

Foundation Awards $10,700 to Franklin County Perinatal Education Center, Inc.

Franklin County Perinatal Education Center, Inc. recently received a $10,700 grant from the Unrestricted Pool of Funds.  FCPEC is in the process of remodeling a 7,500 square foot, two-story building that will house four additional local nonprofit organizations.  Among the many items donated to FCPEC were three heating units.  This grant will pay for the installation costs of each.

 

Here are few before and after photos of the building renovations.

To learn more about Franklin County Perinatal Education Center, Inc. visit www.fcpec.org or contact Amy Pendleton, Executive Director, at 540.489.1800.

Stepping Stone Mission of Franklin County Receives $5,000 Grant

The Stepping Stone Mission of Franklin County recently received $5,000 from the Unrestricted Pool of Funds to support its daily operational expenses.

Stepping Stone Mission was founded in 2006 on the vision of serving individuals in need of food and shelter.  Founder and President Joanne Patterson envisioned a place where the hungry could go for a hot meal each and every day, even on holidays. This vision became what is now known locally as "the soup kitchen." It is the only of its kind in the Rocky Mount area and has grown to serve over 1200 meals monthly.  The soup kitchen operates 365 days a year, and in 2009, Stepping Stone served 13,251 hot meals to 1,243 individuals. 

For more information about Stepping Stone Mission of Franklin County, visit http://www.steppingstonemission.org/index.php or contact Joanne Patterson, Founder/President, at 540.483.9018.