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The Community Foundation for Rockbridge, Bath & Alleghany hosted its annual reception recently at the Virginia Horse Center’s Appomattox Mezzanine. The event was attended by over 200 guests, which included community leaders, not-forprofit leaders, donor and philanthropic- minded citizens.
In her opening speech, Lori Turner, executive director, said, “Tonight we are celebrating philanthropy - your philanthropy individually and our foundation’s philanthropy collectively. Through your generosity we can improve the quality of life in Rockbridge, Bath and Alleghany counties, not only today, but far into the future. We hope tonight’s reception will give you a sense of the accomplishments made possible by our donors who believe in on mission.
The Community Foundation for Rockbridge Bath and Alleghany has grown to over $8.5 million, managing over 85 endowment funds. The annual reception highlighted how it was able to distribute over $335,000 to 90 area nonprofit organizations from these endowments.
“It is such an honor to be here with all of you tonight,” said Steve Grist, chairman of the board of directors. “We are proud to have the privilege of supporting the communities we serve through thoughtful philanthropy. The work that we do together is built on deep history and is dedicated to a brighter future. Together we are creating stories that will be a lasting legacy.”
Agencies who received annual grants included Alleghany Highlands Arts & Crafts Center, Alleghany Highlands Arts Council, Alleghany Highlands Community Services, Alleghany Highlands YMCA, ARC of Rockbridge, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Blue Ridge Legal Services, Boxerwood Education Foundation, Boys Home of Virginia, Bridge to Hope Food Pantry, Brownsburg Community Association, Buena Vista Arts Council, Buena Vista City Schools, Campus Kitchen at W&L, Care Portal - Patrick Henry Community Services, CARE Rockbridge, CASA for Children, Christmas Mothers of Alleghany, Christmas Mothers of Bath, Clifton Forge Food Pantry, Concerned Citizens of Glasgow, Connection Plus, Friends of Chessie Trail, Friends of Greenwood Cemetery, Friends of Natural Bridge State Park, Friends of Woods Creek, Garth Newell Music Center Foundation, Grace Episcopal Church , Halestone Foundation, Half-Halt Inc. Equine, Helping Other People Excel, H.O.P.E, Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center, Kendal at Lexington (Employee Education Fund), Lexington City Schools Fund (Koones), Lexington Police Foundation, Lexington Sunrise Rotary Club Foundation, Lexington Woman’s Club, Lexington-Rockbridge Juneteenth, Lime Kiln Arts, Main Street Lexington, Mission Next Door, Mountain Gateway Community College, Nature Camp Foundation, Parry McCluer Middle School, Project Horizon, Rockbridge Animal Alliance, Rockbridge Area Conservation Council, Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity, Rockbridge Area Health Center, Rockbridge Area Relief Association, Rockbridge Area SPCA, Rockbridge Area Transportation System, Rockbridge Christmas Baskets, Rockbridge Recovery, Safe-Home Systems Inc., Samuel’s Supper, South Covington Food Pantry, St. Johns Church of Glasgow, St. Luke’s Outreach Program, The Community Table for Rockbridge, Town Creek United Methodist Church, United Way of Rockbridge, Valley Program for Aging Services, Vet First, Virginia Horse Center Foundation, Virginia Institute of Autism, West Virginia Helping Hands, Wintergreen Music and Yellow Brick Road Learning Center.
Also awarded this year were scholarships from the Community Foundation totaling nearly $30,000, which included Mont Shenandoah Spirit scholarship, Edward F. Turner Memorial Scholarship, Charles L. Lauck Memorial Scholarship, Eric Charles Bowyer Scholarship, Lexington High School Alumni Scholarship, Jacqueline Corbin Pleasants Democratic Scholarship, George C. Marshall Chapter of MOAA Scholarship, Blair Family Scholarship, Pastor Fred of the Bethesda McElwee Church Scholarship, Stonewall Jackson Hospital Ladies Auxiliary Scholarship and the Covington Women’s Club for GFWC Scholarship.
“We have grown from $800,000 to over $8.5 million,” said Greg Madsen, vice chairman of the board of directors. “Our prudent investment policies are aimed at preserving while still allowing impactful payouts each year.”
The Community Foundation is currently managing three active projects. They include the Harry & Eliza Walker Entrepreneurship Program, which has granted over $220,000 to support the start-up of over 30 Blackowned businesses; the HOPE House project that aims to build the first-ever sober living home in the region and Rockbridge Recovery, which brought in over 20 in-kind and monetary partners and secured Opioid Abatement Authority funding in cooperation with locality leaders; and the Hull’s Angels renovation project, which will include building the Buddy Derrick Stage, bathroom renovations and expansion of the patio area to offer an additional revenue stream and a place for the community to host a series of events.
Beth Wofford, daughter of the late Buddy Derrick Jr., was selected as the donor advise speaker for this year’s event. “My father was a generous man who cared deeply about the community he loved,” she said. “I am honored to be able to carry on his wishes though a family fund at CFRBA. We’ve had a lot of fun this year supporting so many initiatives and I am looking forward to continuing to utilize these funds to support ongoing needs in the area.”
More information about the Community Foundation can be found at its website, https://cfrba. org, or by calling or emailing Turner at [email protected] or (540)-463-0943.
