Community Foundation of
the Virginias, Inc.
"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill
The Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. promotes philanthropy by fostering charitable giving, serving our donors' interests, and effectively responding to the needs and opportunities of communities in Mercer County, West Virginia and Tazewell County, Virginia.
Through scholarships and grants in the areas of Education, the Arts, Culture and the Humanities, Health, and Human Services, the Community Foundation matches the generosity of the people of our area with the needs of area organizations and individuals.
Leave A Legacy
The Community Foundation provides you a method to positively affect your community for generations to come.
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The Community Foundation is now accepting applications for grants in the 2013 Grant Cycle. Applications must be received or postmarked by the last business day of June, 2013.Use the link at right to access complete information about applying for a grant.Featured Grant Recipient:Southwest Virginia Community CollegeEducational Foundation, Inc.
Southwest Virginia Community College Educational Foundation, Inc.'s 2013 Festival of the Arts -- NO LIMITS! has ended and has been termed a great success. The Festival, the 19th annual edition, featured 13 days of performances, workshops, exhibits, master classes, culinary and experiences.
The Community Foundation is pleased to have supported this year's Festival with a $2,000 grant from the Foundation's Unrestricted Fund.
Community Foundation Celebrates Twenty Years of Community Service
The two foundations merged in 2002 to form the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc., and in March of 2003 the new organization announced its first grant awards.
With its Board of Directors and committees comprised of dedicated
volunteers from the communities it serves, the Community Foundation
has worked diligently to provide funding for important and
beneficial projects in the areas of Human Services, Health,
Education and the Arts and Humanities, and to assist deserving
students in continuing
Today, the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. has well over 50 individual endowed funds aimed at supporting community projects and prospective college students, and since those beginning days 20 years ago, the Community Foundation and its parent organizations have awarded nearly $900,000 to dozens of worthy community projects managed by nonprofit organizations, and to scores of students seeking to continue their education.
The Foundation is grateful for the confidence fund donors have shown by entrusting our organization to carry out their charitable desires, and the strong level of support of the general public whose annual contributions make it possible to continue supporting area projects and students.
Scholarships Committee now reviewing Applications for Scholarships for the 2013 Cycle The Scholarship Application period has ended and the Scholarships Committee has begun the arduous process of evaluating 218 applications for the various funds that provide financial assistance to students seeking to further their education. The evaluation process will continue through April, and the Scholarships Committee will submit its recommendations for awards to the Foundation’s Board of Directors at its May meeting on May 14. Following the Board’s action, applicants who have been approved to receive a scholarship award will be notified at their high school’s Awards Ceremony, or if not attending a high school, by letter within a few days of the Board meeting Each year the Community Foundation assists aspiring students attend the college of their choice, and last year awarded 56 scholarships. The Scholarship Committee is chaired by Carole Dodson and includes members Mary Azzo, Gene Bailey, Carl Gillespie, Eugenia Hancock, Harry Kammer, Mary Raub, Jim Steorts, Susan Cooper-Snyder, Bettye VanDyke, and Susan Whittaker. Featured Grant Recipient:John Chapman Chapter, DAR - Davidson Cabin
Members of the John Chapman Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met on October 17 with Community Foundation President Charles Carter and Executive Director James Shott to show the improvements to the historic Davidson Cabin in Bluefield, WV, resulting from a Foundation grant from the Unrestricted Fund.
Pictured left to right, front row, seated: Lynn Burnette, Carolyn Denopolous, and Mary Kay Mosco. Standing, left to right: Ruby Harrison, Emily Maxwell, Toni Russell and Betty Bailey. Recognizing the Impact of Community Foundations Community Foundation Week: November 12–18, 2012 During the week of November 12-18, 2012, the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. will join more than 700 community foundations across America for Community Foundation Week to tell the stories of communities improved and transformed through philanthropy’s partnership with community leaders and organizations.
The Community Foundation of the Virginias works every day to help address the most pressing issues facing our community in the areas of Human Services, Health, Education and the Arts and Humanities. Community foundations impact lives, solve problems, and improve conditions in their communities.
Community foundations are independent, public entities that steward philanthropic resources from donors and provide funds to local nonprofits that are the heart of strong, vibrant communities. Each year the Community Foundation of the Virginias funds scholarships and grants in Mercer and Tazewell counties averaging more than $90,000. These funds support disadvantaged children’s projects, food pantries, energy bill assistance, health clinics, education projects and scholarships, and programs aimed at broadening the cultural aspects of the communities it serves.
Community foundations represent one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy. Every state in the United States is home to at least one community foundation—large and small, urban and rural—that is advancing solutions to a wide range of community issues. The 2011 Columbus Survey found that despite the recession, giving by the nation’s 100 largest community foundations actually increased slightly in 2010 to $3.7 billion and exceeded prerecession levels seen in 2006 and 2007.
Launched in 1989 through a proclamation by former president George H.W. Bush, the first Community Foundation Week included a congressional briefing about the work of community foundations throughout America and their collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community problems.
Annual Dinner Held October 18
A good crowd was on hand at Fincastle Country Club for good fellowship, a great dinner and a fine program discussing the future of coal as an economic engine for our area.
Guest Speakers Bill Raney (left), President of the West Virginia Coal Association, and legendary West Virginia University Head Football Coach Don Nehlen, spokesman for "Friends of Coal."
The Foundation presented an award of appreciation to the Hugh I. Shott, Jr. Foundation in recognition of the strong financial support the Shott Foundation provided to the Bluefield Area Foundation (BAF) during its formative years. In 2002, The Bluefield Area Foundation merged with the Greater Mercer County Charitable Foundation to form the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc.
Pictured, left to right: Nick Ameil, member of the Community Foundation Board of Directors and emcee for the evening's activities; R.W. "Buz" Wilkinson, an original member of the Board of Directors of the BAF, and President of the Shott Foundation; John H. Shott, member of the Shott Foundation Board of Directors, receiving the award for the Shott family; and Community Foundation President, Charles Carter.
Featured Grant Recipient:Beautification Commission of Bluefield, Virginia
James Shott, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc., presented two checks to support the Town of Bluefield, Virginia.
Janet Gunn (left) and Donna Kelly, Co-Chairs of the Bluefield, Virginia Beautification Commission, receive the award for the replacement of picnic tables in Jack Asbury Park.
Lesley Catron, Town Clerk (left), and Kim Hernandez, Executive Assistant, receive the award to help fund the installation of audible pedestrian signals at the four-way intersection downtown.
Grant Awards for 2012
The Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. is pleased to announce it has approved 30 grant awards for 2012. These awards totaling more than $50,000 represent the Foundation’s 16th annual grant cycle supporting local nonprofit groups and community projects.
Go here to see the organizations and projects the Foundation has funded this year.
Featured Grant Recipient:Beautification Commission of Bluefield, Virginia
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Twenty
years ago last month the first of two organizations that eventually
merged to form the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. was
founded. A group of community leaders formed the Bluefield Area
Foundation serving Mercer and Tazewell counties. A few years later,
community leaders in Princeton formed the Greater Mercer County
Charitable Foundation in 1998.
their education at the college or university
of their choice.
Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc.
128 North Street ● P.O. Box 4127 ● Bluefield, WV 24701
Phone: 304-324-0222 ● Fax: 304-324-7716
Email: admin@cfvinc.org
Information Links
Contact Us
The Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. is a proud member
of the following organizations:
The South Bluefield Merchants and Professional Association
Community Foundation
of the Virginias, Inc.
128 North Street ● P.O. Box 4127
Bluefield, WV 24701
Phone: 304-324-0222
Fax: 304-324-7716
Email: admin@cfvinc.org
Problems on our Web site? Email webmaster@cfvinc.org