2009 Community Grant Awards Ceremony

Held at the Augusta Medical Center's Community Care Building on May 28, 2009, the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge awarded over $120,000 in grants to local non-profits through it's competitive grant process.  Becky Kohler, President/CEO of the Foundation, provided a warm welcome, reviewing the grant process before turning the presentation of the grants over to Board Members Rich Evans and Stacey Strawn.

The Community Foundation also thanks the 2009 Grant Awards Committee for their time and commitment to this process.  Committee members include:

                   Debbie Metz                Cheryl Gerhart

                   Rich Evans                   Doug Noland

                  Stacey Strawn                Lisa Moore

                 Becky Kohler                    Ed Clymore

2009 Community Grant Recipients

 AMC Hospice Camp Dragonfly -Offers children's bereavement services through a summer camp program. Award will provide supplies for arts and crafts and a memorial bonfire.

 AMC Hospice Shenandoah House - A non-institutional facility in a home-like setting for hospice patients who do not have a caregiver available. Award will provide financial assistance when needed.

 Augusta Regional Dental Clinic Award will provide dental services to approximately 600 children from low-income families in the area. The treatments will take place at the clinic and at area elementary schools.

 Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Award will help fund the Kids Café program, which provides nutritious after-school snacks and meals to at-risk children.

 Blue Ridge Legal Services A legal aid society committed to eliminating poverty-based inequities in the civil justice system. Award will provide free high-quality legal advice and representation to low-income elderly persons.

 Boys and Girls Club of Waynesboro, Staunton, and Augusta County Award will support the SMART Program, which ensures young females, ages 8-18, develop and enhance skills for a healthy lifestyle. Participants practice life skills for nutritional eating, physical fitness, accessing the heathcare system, resolving conflict, and building healthy mentoring relationships.

 Casa d'Amistad Award will provide assistance to the Hispanic families in our community, with an after-school tutorial program, an adult ESL program, emergency assistance, and school supplies.

 Cat's Cradle Award will provide spay/neuter assistance for low-income residents in the community, allowing them the psychological benefits of pet ownership.

Children's Art Network Provides traveling studio programs which support the SOL's for students in Augusta County, Waynesboro and Staunton city schools.  Award will allow approximately 6,000 children to benefit from a reduction in fees in the Traveling Studios Program, making the program accessible for all.

 Community Childcare Center Provides child care on a sliding-scale basis for children who's parents work, are in job training, schooling, or have special needs. Award will provide scholarships to low-income families. 

 Family Resource and Referral Center Award will support Project       S.T.A.R., a parenting program that empowers parents to help their children, gives kids a solid foundation for school success, and prevents child abuse/neglect.

 Nelson County Pantry Award will provide emergency and supplemental food to needy residents of Nelson County.

 Rebuilding Together Performs critical home repairs for low-income, elderly, disabled, or disadvantaged home-owners in our community. Award wll allow for roof replacements, wheel chair ramp construction, and barrier-free bathroom construction, among other projects. 

Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Habitat for Humanity award will help provide family education and home ownership classes to Habitat families. These classes are essential to the program and to successful home ownership.

 Schola Cantorum Award wll fund a joint concert by Schola Cantorum and the Waynesboro High School Concert Choir of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, with over 140 singers participating.

 Special Olympics of Virginia Award will allow 70 athletes and coaches to compete in the Special Olympics Fall Championship Competition in Virginia Beach.

 Staunton Music Festival Award will provide a free concert series as part of the renowned Staunton Music Festival, providing world class caliber classical music to underserved areas in our community.

 The Wildlife Center Award will support the Wildlife Center's compelling environmental education programs to public elementary schools in our area.

 Valley Aids Network Award will provide emergency rental, utility, and heating assistance to Valley residents diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. The program provides ongoing case management services with an emphasis on restoring financial stability, wellness, and self reliance.

 Valley Hope Counseling Center Award will provide low-fee family counseling services to low-income, uninsured local residents, helping to resolve emotional and relational problems.

 Valley Program for Aging Award will fund Breakfast for your Brain, a program to encourage older adults to realize the benefits of consistent mental exercise combined with a commitment to physical exercise and good nutrition.

 Valley Symphonic Concerts Award will sponsor professional musical performances and education to local students during the In-School Music Program, designed to enhance student interest in classical music. 

 Vector Industries Award will support much-needed restroom renovations. Vector Industries employs and trains persons with diverse disabilities with fair wages and benefits.

 Verona Community Food Pantry Award will secure approximately two months of nutritious food to serve needy families in the Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County Area.

 Wayne Theatre Alliance Award will support live entertainment for area children and their families, in order to expose as many children as possible to the unique world of the live performing arts.

 Waynesboro Family YMCA Award will support Project IGNITE (Interactive Games, Nutrition, Inspiration, through Education), a creative program designed to combat childhood inactivity and obesity, issues that challenge our community.

These grants would not have been possible with out the support of our funds and fund partners.  The 2009 Community Grants are awarded with sincere appreciation from the Following Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge Unrestricted and Field of Interest Funds:

•  J.B. Stombock Memorial Fund                   
• J.B. Stombock Family  Fund
• Dal and Jane Simmons Fund                        
• Lewis M. Coiner Endowment Fund
• McKee Foods Corporation Fund               
• Jean and John "Jack" Moore Fund
• Walter and Marelia Dixon Fund               
• Lucy Coyner Endowment Fund
• A.P. and Rachel Boxley Fund                     
• Nelson County Current Fund
• Coyner Endowment for the Elderly                 
• Meadows Fund for the Intellectually Disabled