Foundation News Newsletter Spring/Summer 2019 Before desegregation, there were 22 one-room schools for African American children in Caroline County. One of them, the Old Port Royal School, stands as a modern monument of African American heritage and provides an essential tool for local history education.
The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region
cfrrr.org 540.373.9292
Grant Refurbishes A Monument to African American History
Atlantic Union Bank gifted the school building to Historic Port Royal, Inc., a nonprofit organization responsible for preserving and sharing the history of Port Royal and Caroline County. Thanks to an $8,200 grant from the Duff McDuff Green, Jr. Fund of The Community Foundation, Historic Port Royal is now better able to preserve artifacts and welcome students and other visitors at the Old Port Royal School. Grant support enabled Historic Port Royal to install a heating and air conditioning system in the building and to repair and paint the school building exterior. These improvements allow Historic Port Royal to open the Old School during regular history museum hours and host special tours regardless of cold or hot weather. The exterior work has restored the building’s visual integrity and protected it structurally, as well. Staff report significant reduction in musty smells, dust accumulation, and seasonal mildew growth. Being able to open the school regularly has increased Historic Port Royal’s visitor rate, which in turn increases donations, gift shop sales, and overall member support.
Historian and Historic Port Royal Co-founder, Cleo Coleman is honored for her preservation work.
“Most importantly, regularly opening the school gives us the opportunity to expand the presentation of Port Royal’s African American history,” said Historic Port Royal President Carolyn (Cookie) Davis.
“Since there are so few schools like Old Port Royal School still standing today, it is important to preserve and present this historic resource in the manner that its community (both past and present)
Photo: Dawn Haun
would expect. These funds from The Community Foundation have allowed us to do so.”
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Foundation News
Spring/Summer 2019
Something More Important than Fishing Fredericksburg Area Military Service Initiative Fund
After retiring from his Fredericksburg cardiology practice, Dr. Michael Cherwek began teaching fly-fishing to injured and recovering soldiers and Marines at Walter Reed Hospital as a volunteer with Project Healing Waters. Now Mike has established the Fredericksburg Area Military Service Initiative Fund of The Community Foundation to support charitable efforts like those of Project Healing Waters and others. This new fund offers permanently designated funds to provide early and long-term support to injured and recovering service members returning to civilian life. As founder and managing partner of Fredericksburg’s longest continually operating cardiology practice, Mike understands the value and necessity of a firm plan for long term success. When responding to
the pressures of his cardiology career, Mike also recognized the restorative benefits of “Vitamin N” getaways (N for nature) enjoying the outdoors. Mike explains, “No one serving in a war zone returns unchanged. Adverse physical and emotional consequences of war can easily go unrecognized or even ignored and they can unfortunately remain dormant for years.” After his own experience volunteering with Project Healing Waters, Mike is certain that early proactive and sustained engagement with the civilian community can be a valuable way to help veterans and their families mend and adjust to a healthy and successful civilian life. There are more ways to engage and support service men and women than fishing alone, for example canoeing and biking. Many programs offer mentorship, respite time, camaraderie and healing to veterans and their families.
Mike concludes, “It would not be possible to overestimate the restorative value of community outreach and philanthropic support to the recovery of our fellow citizens who have voluntarily sacrificed to serve our country.” The Fredericksburg Area Military Service Initiative Fund will support programs that help transition returning American military service members back to our communities through prospective and collegial initiatives. Grants from the fund will support initiatives that inclusively welcome all military service members with gratitude for their service to our country. The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region is proud to collaborate with the Fredericksburg Area Military Service Initiative to improve the lives of all our returning military service members.
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The Spire that Inspires The St. George’s Landmark Fund The spire of St. George’s Episcopal Church is iconic to the City of Fredericksburg. It’s difficult to find a postcard or website depicting Fredericksburg that doesn’t show the church as a central feature. The new St. George’s Landmark Fund of The Community Foundation will support maintenance, restoration, and preservation of the historic structure of St. George’s Episcopal Church to ensure that the prominent historic landmark lives on. Founded before Fredericksburg itself was established, St. George’s Church has stood witness to critical moments in our community and our nation’s histories. When Virginia was a British colony, the Church was responsible by law for the welfare of orphans, widows, the sick and the needy
in the community. From 1795 to 1802, St. George’s established male and female charity schools. It operated Sunday Schools for enslaved children before the Civil War and was used as a hospital and for revival meetings during the war. The present St. George’s Church building, the third constructed on its site, was built in 1849. The Romanesque Revival style structure refers architecturally to 11th and 12th century European designs. The original pews are still in use. Ten stained glass windows, including several Tiffany glass windows, were added in the early 20th Century. Through the St. George’s Landmark Fund, our community can ensure that one of its most recognizable and beloved historic treasures endures.
A 2010 grant from the Community Foundation’s Duff McDuff Green, Jr. Fund supported restoration of the Tiffany stained glass window entitled Angel of Victory or Guardian of Medical Science
Left photo: Michael Kotrady / CC-BY-SA-3.0
Foundation News
Spring/Summer 2019
1000 Women
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Despite being the fund’s first event of its kind, 1000 Women sold out in just 3 weeks with nearly 250 people attending. The event garnered a great deal of support from many local women-owned and women-led area businesses.
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The signature event’s name – 1000 Women – is also The Women and Girls Fund’s goal: One thousand women giving $1,000 to create a $1 million endowment fund. This endowment will ensure future grants to local nonprofits that directly support women and girls.
During dinner, The Women and Girls Fund’s Grants Committee revealed the 2019 grant winners. Each spring Women and Girls Fund members vote to determine which nonprofit will receive a grant. There were 4 grant finalists at the event - Virginia Community Food Connections, Stafford Junction, Girl Smarts, and Rappahannock CASA. This year, two grant winners were awarded: Rappahannock Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Girl Smarts.
[is] incredibly supportive and dedicated to creating opportunity for women and girls in our area,” said Chris Repp, Women and Girls Fund Board President.
thoounsea wom d enn Women and Girls Fund board Vice President,
The Women and Girls Fund has granted $175,000 dollars to local nonprofits over the last 10 years.
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Women applauded, hugged, danced, and donated at the sold out 1000 Women event hosted by The Women and Girls Fund of The Community Foundation.
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Michele Mansouri, encouraged the crowd to continue to respond to the needs of women and girls in our region. “The Women and Girls Fund has supported programs to help girls understand teen violence, science and math programs that provide paths for better paying jobs, anti-bullying programs, and nutritional support for those struggling with poverty. This is what it means to be one of 1000 Women!”
“Our vision is for strong, committed women coming together to fund community programs that enable women and girls to reach their full potential. Our membership
Women and Girls Fund Board members: Vice President Michele Mansouri, President Christine Repp, Events Committee Chair Robin Huddle
Women and Girls Fund member Tanya Singleton with Meg Bohmke.
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Philanthropy Speaks Volumes at Annual Luncheon Our community is hungry for ideas that put our values into practice. The Community Foundation delivered them at its annual Philanthropy Speaks event on Wednesday, May 1st. An audience of 165 local leaders, philanthropists and professional advisors gathered at University of Mary Washington’s Jepson Alumni Executive Center. The featured 2019 guest speaker was Andrew Kassoy, co-founder of the global nonprofit B Lab, which certifies companies as B Corporations using a rigorous system that measures companies’ impact on their workers, customers, their local communities
Andrew Kassoy, co-founder of global nonprofit B Lab.
and the environment, while still maximizing profits. B Lab is creating a movement of people using business as force for good. Kassoy explained how he and two friends from Stanford co-founded B Lab to provide a framework that recognizes and rewards companies that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. The presentation sparked a number of interesting questions about obstacles companies might face pursuing the certified B Corporation distinction, ways policies governing the process differ across states, whether trends related to benefit corporations are included in business school curricula and about the profitability of certified B Corporations.
The Community Foundation thanks these 2019 Sponsors for bringing bold ideas to our community: • Atlantic Union Bank • Stafford Printing • Bishop Farmer and Co., LLP • Hirschler • Parrish Snead Franklin Simpson, PLC • Wack General Contractor • Anonymous
The Community Foundation shares ideas, convenes leaders and advances collaboration for the vitality and well-being of the Rappahannock River region.
Clint Manning asks a follow up question. Carter Fitch listens on. Center Board member Samer Shalaby greets guests Mike Adams and Rick Frank.
Former foundation board member George Snead introduced speaker Andrew Kassoy.
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Foundation News
Congratulations to the 54 area students who won a 2019 scholarship through The Community Foundation!
2019 Scholarship Awards
Supporting higher education for local students is an effective and essential way to preserve and grow the quality of life in our region. Generous individuals, families, companies and organizations establish endowed scholarship funds at The Community Foundation. Proceeds from these funds benefit deserving students.
When a donor establishes a scholarship fund, they work closely with foundation staff to create student application criteria that align with their highest aspirations for their gift. In order to ensure each scholarship is awarded to the most suitable candidate, the foundation convenes a panel of volunteer reviewers. After evaluating 643 applications -- each volunteer reads about 50 -- the reviewers gathered in April to discuss their top choices and select winning candidates for each of 41 separate scholarship funds. “I was honored to be asked to read the applications for scholarships The Community Foundation gives to high school seniors each year,” said community
Spring/Summer 2019
volunteer Nancy Cross. “The experience was rewarding, as so many are deserving of help for college.” Congratulations to the 54 area students who won a 2019 scholarship through The Community Foundation! Altogether, 72 scholarships totaling $149,174 were awarded from 41 individually named scholarship funds. A complete listing of our 2019 winners is available at cfrrr.org.
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Cornerstone College of Virginia and the Micah 6:8 Benevolence Fund
Servants at Work (SAWS) and the Alan F. Courtney Fund
Fredericksburg Trails Alliance and the Duff McDuff Green, Jr. Fund
Christ centered. Career focused. A grant from the Micah 6:8 Benevolence Fund of The Community Foundation is fueling outreach and engagement for a fast-growing local bible college. The school offers degree programs, dual-enrollment classes for Christian high schools and home schools, and seminars for churches and nonprofit Christian organizations. Cornerstone College of Virginia, formerly known as Fredericksburg Bible Institute and Seminary, will use the communications grant funds to expand audiences and involve more students.
Excerpt from RadioIQ report Helping the Disabled Out of Their Homes, by Mallory Noe-Payne
The Fredericksburg Trails Alliance fosters healthy living by offering and supporting events that encourage active lifestyles and promote fitness and wellness in our community for all age groups. The organization is developing and maintaining a vibrant trail system throughout our region.
Grant Impact
The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed almost 30 years ago. And since then public spaces and businesses have become much more accessible. But that doesn’t mean anything to someone who can’t make it out of their home. Glenn Martin is a retired firefighter. He injured his back rescuing a toddler during a fire. He now lives in rural Caroline County with his wife and brother-in-law. His wife’s diminished eyesight makes it difficult for her to use stairs, and his brother-in-law recently had a leg amputation. The family were the first recipients of a new ramp, built at their home by volunteers with SAW, or Servants at Work, a nationwide faith-based nonprofit that builds wheelchair ramps.
Cornerstone College Assistant for Academic Partnerships and Professor, Mike Adams
After this year’s storms, the need for trail maintenance was great. A grant from the Duff McDuff Green, Jr. Fund of The Community Foundation purchased specialized equipment and materials to replace a frequently used footbridge traversing a small creek. Three sections of trail also required gravel and pavers. The grant is maximizing Fredericksburg Trails Alliance’s trail workday events by getting more volunteers involved and creating a stronger sense of stewardship for our trails and the environment.
A grant from the Alan F. Courtney Fund of the Community Foundation to SAW’s first Virginia chapter in the Fredericksburg area supported this build that means so much to the Martin family.
Fredericksburg Trails Alliance volunteers receive grant check.
Cornerstone College Provost, Jonathan Henry
Volunteer builders create ramp for disabled Caroline County firefighter.
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Foundation News
The Community Foundation’s program makes it even more rewarding to help students access education.
Donors to Education Receive $83,200 in State Tax Credits While Helping Kids
Donate money to provide scholarships for low income students to attend regional independent schools and get 65 percent or more of your money back when you give through Virginia’s Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits Program.
scholarship foundation available to receive donations through EISTC. The foundation distributes scholarships to qualifying students at local private schools throughout the region.
Through the Virginia Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits (EISTC) Program, donations to approved foundations provide scholarships to students from low income families as they transition to non-public education. Individuals or businesses then receive a 65% state tax credit on top of federal and state deductions, and families are able to send their children to their school of choice. The Community Foundation is an approved Virginia Department of Education
Area donors who gave through the EISTC program received a total of $83,200 in Virginia State Tax Credits. Thanks to their generous support, The Community Foundation was able to award $141,018.96 to three area private schools for the 2018-2019 school year.
Spring/Summer 2019
Take advantage of Scholarship Tax Credits or learn more about EISTC visit cfrrr.org. If we may be of assistance in processing your qualifying gifts and tax credits, please let us know. Call or email if we can help: Ali Thomas, Program Manager 540 373-9292, ali.thomas@cfrrr.org.
School Name
Total Award No. of Students Amount Awarded
Fredericksburg Academy Fredericksburg Christian School Holy Cross Academy
$ 55,000 $ 55,500 $ 30,519
13 14 9
Total
$ 141,019
36
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