Foundation for Roanoke Valley Awards Grant to Prevention Council of Roanoke County

Foundation for Roanoke Valley announced that it has awarded a grant of $70,000 to Prevention Council of Roanoke County for its Urgent Love Initiative.  The grant comes from the Foundation’s Thomas P. and Lewise S. Parsley Fund which was established in 1991 to support a number of interests including community outreach programs that address substance abuse.

The Urgent Love Initiative is a research-supported model of community engagement to directly address our region’s runaway opioid epidemic. Extending across 26 counties in southwestern Virginia, the nonprofit grassroots initiative will put actionable information and resources at the fingertips of those who need it, along with video-rich content to bring local faces and voice to the epidemic of addiction.

“Moving the conversation of addiction out of the shadows and into greater community awareness, this unique “all-in” approach of local engagement will create opportunities for local communities to collaborate in affecting change – including media partners, the medical community, faith communities, local businesses, educational institutions, local governments, law enforcement, addiction treatment providers and nonprofit stakeholders,” says Nancy Hans, Executive Director of Prevention Council of Roanoke County,  “Working with sister organizations and funding partners, this initiative will generate shared ownership for the challenges facing our neighbors, as an evidence-based model of engagement that can be shared across the state and the nation.”

Alan Ronk, Executive Director of the Foundation, noted “Mrs. Parsley created her fund over 25 years ago, and although she is no longer with us, her concern for the community continues to make important work like this special initiative possible.   We look forward to the many lives changed for the better through her generosity and through the leadership of the many folks involved.”

For more information on the Urgent Love Initiative, please visit www.UrgentLove.org.

For more than 29 years, Foundation for Roanoke Valley has enabled those who love the community to easily give back.  The Foundation currently holds and administers 324 named endowment funds established by individuals and families for the perpetual benefit of the community.  For more information about the community foundation, visit www.foundationforroanokevalley.org.

Photo Credit: Hank Ebert

    

Foundation for Roanoke Valley Awards Grant For Botetourt YMCA

Foundation for Roanoke Valley announced it has awarded a $50,000 grant to YMCA of Virginia’s Blue Ridge to support its campaign to build a YMCA in Botetourt County.  The facility will have over 43,000 square feet of health and wellness space, including an eight lane lap pool.  There will also be a warm water recreation and therapy pool, state of the art fitness equipment, three group exercise studios, and a basketball gymnasium with an elevated track.

“The grant from Foundation for Roanoke Valley is incredibly impactful to our campaign and came at just the right time.  The Foundation’s support of the Y will be a difference maker for families and kids in the Botetourt community for years to come,” says Mark Johnson, President, YMCA of Virginia’s Blue Ridge.

“The Foundation has Basic Human Needs and Education as two of its priority funding areas, and this campaign clearly addresses our focus on promoting healthy lifestyles, nutrition and improved fitness and providing after-school and summer educational programs,” says Michelle Eberly, Program Officer for Foundation for Roanoke Valley, “We are thrilled to be in a position to support the Y’s vision in bringing the Botetourt Family YMCA to the community.”

To learn more about the Botetourt County YMCA, please visit www.ymcavbr.org.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley, the region’s community foundation, has served the Roanoke Valley for more than 29 years and currently administers more than 320 named endowment funds established by individuals and families on behalf of the community. Unrestricted endowments are particularly powerful as they provide the Foundation with the flexibility over time to seek out and fund highly-effective programs across a wide-range of community needs.  Individuals interested in establishing their own personal or family legacy through an unrestricted endowment or any of the many types of endowment funds offered by the community foundation should visit Foundation for Roanoke Valley’s website at www.foundationforroanokevalley.org or call 985-0204. # # #

Foundation for Roanoke Valley Announces $250,000 in Grants to Local Nonprofits

Nonprofit organizations that provide services to the elderly received over $250,000 in grants awarded by Foundation for Roanoke Valley.  As part of the Foundation’s Special Interest Grants process, nonprofit organizations were given the opportunity to apply to the Foundation’s Mary Louise Home Fund and Marion S. and Willie Z. Camp Fund for Eldercare, both which support services to the elderly.

“We continue to see an increasing need for services to the elderly population.  The Foundation is thrilled to be in a position to award such large impact grants in an attempt to meet the need,” says Michelle Eberly, FRV Program Officer.

The following organizations are recipients:

·         Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley received $35,000 to support its Sue Nutter Scholarship Fund.  This Fund would provide its senior clients with financial constraints the opportunity to use the Center’s services.

·         Alzheimer’s Association, CWVA received $50,000 to supports its Arts Fusion Plus program.  This program targets older adults in the region and offers creative arts and social activities to persons with early stage dementia in order to improve the quality of life for the person and their caregivers.  “Growing research indicates there are steps we can take to promote brain health and to enhance well-being in persons with early dementia.  Interventions such as social clubs and creative, expressive arts allow individuals living with dementia to express themselves in ways that are satisfying and communicate with others, and improve quality of life.  Generous funding provided by Foundation for Roanoke Valley will allow the Alzheimer’s Association to expand our reach in providing the ARTS FUSION program for persons with early stage dementia to engage in social, musical, and arts programming throughout the region,” says Ellen Phipps, Alzheimer’s Association VP Programs & Public Policy.

·          Botetourt Resource Center received $20,000 to support its services to older adults.  The Center offers services such as recreation, fuel assistance, co-prescription, home repair, basic needs as well as information assistance, referral to human resources, and advocacy to help balance the needs of older adults who struggle economically and socially on fixed incomes.

·         LEAP for Local Food received $11,952 to expand its Senior Incentive Program to target seniors living in housing units in NW Roanoke that are managed by the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority.  With this program, during the off-season, LEAP will transport seniors who live at Melrose Towers to the monthly Grandin Village Community Winter Markets and during the market season, the LEAP Mobile Market will stop weekly at two RRHA sites.

·         Local Office on Aging received $40,793 to provide assisted transportation to its clients who currently receive intensive case management services.   While LOA provides transportation, the service is only door to door.  Often frail seniors need help to assist them in getting to the vehicle and getting from the vehicle into the doctor’s office for their appointments.   With this grant, LOA can hire a certified nursing assistant (CNA) to provide this service of not only assisting clients into the vehicle, but also accompany clients to their doctors appointments.

·         Mental Health America of Roanoke Valley was awarded $25,000 to continue supporting its Senior Extravaganza for the elderly.  The Senior Extravaganza is an annual event held in the Roanoke area and is well attended by older adults.  There are health screenings, pharmacy consults, exhibits about health and safety issues, workshops, and entertainment.  Approximately 400 seniors attend this event each year.

·         New Vision was awarded $21,000 to provide equipment and training in the use of voice-activated virtual assistants. This equipment, used by its elderly clients, can report weather, read audiobooks, play music, communicate with caregivers, and more. 

·         Roanoke Symphony Orchestra received $50,000 to support its Wellness Arts program.  Small, trained ensembles of RSO professional musicians will bring music to populations through sessions in older adult facilities throughout Roanoke.    This program will address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of memory care patients in those facilities.  "We are excited to share the power of music and its ability to impact our health through this new Wellness Arts program. The Roanoke Symphony is grateful to Foundation for Roanoke Valley for their support of this groundbreaking work in our community," Says David Crane, RSO Executive Director.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley, the region’s community foundation, has served the Roanoke Valley for more than 28 years and currently administers 318 named endowment funds established by individuals and families on behalf of the community.  For more information about Foundation for RoanokeValley, visit www.foundationforroanokevalley.org.

L to R: David Ward, New Vision; Mike Pyle, Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley; David Crane, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra; Ron Boyd, Local Area Office on Aging; Ellen Phipps, Alzheimer’s Association; Sam Lev, LEAP for Local Food; Robyn Dobyns, Botetourt Resource Center; Ashley Reynolds Marshall, Mental Health America