.jpg)
Rockbridge Community Health Foundation (RCHF) hosted its second annual Community Impact Event Wednesday, Oct. 25, at the Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization’s pavilion at Brewbaker Field.
The event was well attended by community members as well as the 28 nonprofit organizations that received a portion of the $540,000 given away in 2023.
“There is no greater reward than to see the large crowd of folks gathered to celebrate our ability to support organizations in the community,” said Bobby Hobbs, chairman for the Rockbridge Community Health Foundation board of directors. “Even though only one or two representatives from each organization attend the event, the size of the crowd is illuminating. Each of those two individuals represents dozens if not hundreds or even thousands of community members who benefit from our support. It really puts into perspective the number of lives we are able to touch with the help of our grant partners.”
The 28 organizations to receive funding this year and to be awarded RCHF’s Community Impact Champion Awards were Blue Ridge CASA for Children, Boxerwood Education Association, Bridge to Hope Food Pantry, Campus Kitchen, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Greater Rockbridge County Skateboarders Coalition, Hoofbeats, Jaclyn’s Hope, Rockbridge Area Conservation Council, Rockbridge Area Community Services, Rockbridge Area Hospice, Rockbridge Area Relief Association, Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization, Rockbridge Area Transportation System, Rockbridge County High School PTA, Rockbridge Christmas Baskets, Rockbridge Community Church of the Nazarene, Rockbridge Recovery, Rockbridge Regional Jail, Shepherd Program, The Community Table for the Rockbridge Area, Valley Program for Aging Services, Virginia Institute of Autism, W&L ESOL, Yellow Brick Road ELC, and Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital.
Rockbridge Community Health Foundation continues its tradition of giving away a bench to one of the various grant recipients each year. The bench contains the RCHF logo and will be a reminder around the community of the collective impact both the Foundation and nonprofit organizations make on the health of the community and its residents. This year’s bench was placed in the pavilion at Brewbaker Field.
“The Rockbridge Community Health Foundation would like to express our gratitude to all of our local nonprofits for their enduring commitment to the health and wellbeing of our community,” said Hobbs. “Our purpose for existing is to support these generous groups and enhance their ability to fulfill their various missions. Every citizen of Rockbridge, Lexington, and Buena Vista benefits in some form or fashion, whether directly or indirectly, from the work of the grant recipients. We want them to succeed at the highest possible level.”
