The Roanoke Women’s Foundation giving exceeds $2 million dollars
Celebrating its tenth year, The Roanoke Women’s Foundation (RWF), a component fund of Foundation for Roanoke Valley, has announced the recipients of its grant awards, the largest total given to date.
The latest grants, a total of $302,000 awarded at a luncheon held at The Shenandoah Club on November 17, 2014, brings to $2,096,000 the total in grants funded since the organization’s inception in 2004.
“There can be no doubt that the work of The Roanoke Women’s Foundation has had a notable impact in our community. Celebrating ten years of grant making, with 151 members, The Roanoke Women’s Foundation has now contributed over $2 million in total giving to area organizations,” says Kandy Elliott, co-founder of the RWF. Elliott and co-founder Ginny Jarrett established the RWF as a way for women in the Roanoke and surrounding communities to pool their philanthropic goals and resources in order to make significant gifts to the community.
“As one of the funds of Foundation for Roanoke Valley, we continue to be impressed with the work of The Roanoke Women’s Foundation and are excited this year’s recipients represent each of its areas of support: Arts and Culture, Health and Human Resources, Education and Environment. These latest awards continue the tradition that RWF has built of making high-impact, transformative grants,” added Alan Ronk, executive director of Foundation for Roanoke Valley.
RWF has funded 41 organizations and programs since it began. This year, 38 organizations applied for funding from the RWF. Through a rigorous grant making process, that number was narrowed to a group that was presented to the membership for their vote. Based on those results, the following grants were awarded in the 2014 grant cycle:
LEAP for Local Food – $100,000 to complete the LEAP Community Kitchen located at the new West End Village on Patterson Avenue. The Kitchen, the first of its kind in Virginia, will be located within Freedom First’s West End branch, adjacent to the West End Farmer’s market and next door to the West End Center.
New Horizons Healthcare – $72,000 to fund their new, state of the art dental clinic; specifically, a hygienist position who will provide comprehensive oral health care services to uninsured and underserved individuals, regardless of their ability to pay. In 2012, the Roanoke Community Health Care Needs Assessment cited access to affordable dental care as one of the most acute community needs.
Brain Injury Services of Southwest Virginia – $40,000 to fund research and provide operational support for two years that would allow the expansion of their internet based program called CLiC (“Community Living Connection”.) Brain Injury Services provides case management for brain injured patients at their Roanoke office. They offer counseling, life skills education, training, education and support groups for clients and their families
Healing Strides of Virginia – $30,000 to help fund its first covered roof to ensure an environment safe from outside stimuli for the young, medically fragile and elderly clients they serve. Healing Strides serves children and adults with a variety of complex physical and cognitive disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, spina bifida and dementia
Mill Mountain Theatre – $30,000 – to help fund up-to-date sound and lighting technology and replace equipment installed in 1983, some of which was “pre-owned” at the time. Currently, they cobble together equipment they need. While the actor or singer creates the dramatic center of a play or musical, the lighting and quality of acoustics support their presentation. It is anticipated the theatre will be able to reduce electric costs as well once enhanced and updated equipment is in place.
The Music Lab at Jefferson Center – $30,000 to fund additional space and extra workstations at the Jefferson Center. Due to the tremendous growth of the Music Lab and an increase in requests for services, funds will help cover construction costs for the expansion, technical upgrades, laptops and cameras, as well as additional equipment for expansion of the Mobile Music Lab and outreach services throughout the region.
For more information, visit www.roanokewomensfoundation.org or Foundation for Roanoke Valley’s website www.foundationforroanokevalley.org.
