Report to the Community Winter/Spring 2022

REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY WINTER/SPRING

YEARS

Tagnik Caer fo Eahc Otreh

2022

The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge is a charitable organization that distributes grants, scholarships, and awards to numerous organizations and individuals each year in Staunton, Waynesboro, and the counties of Augusta, Highland, and Nelson.

We are supported by hundreds of local donors, many of whom have created permanent charitable funds within the Community Foundation.

Let us help you, as we have done for many others, act on your good intentions for our community. We make it simple.

Let’s Talk

Dan Layman,

President & CEO

Menieka Garber,

Chief Operating Officer

Lora Hamp, J.D.,

Director of Nonprofit Relations

Miriam Burrows,

Director of Educational Programs

Chris Lassiter,

Director of Community Engagement

540-213-2150 info@cfcbr.org www.cfcbr.org COVER PHOTO AND STAFF PHOTOS BY KATE SIMON AERIAL PHOTO BY DOWNTOWN CREATIVE

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Annual Financial Reports cfcbr.org/publications

YEARS

Dear Friends, In this time of unprecedented need, you responded well beyond our expectations. The immediate and sustained outpouring of support for our COVID-19 Local Response Fund and Staunton Flood Relief Fund generated $2 million of aid for our community members.

Your contributions, coupled with unparalleled cooperation among nonprofit organizations, government agencies, businesses, and our faith-based circles, helped us take on the unique challenges of 2020 and 2021.

We anticipated the severe economic strain that the pandemic would have on members of our community. It’s been no surprise that half of our Local Response Fund was needed to help families manage their routine expenses.

However, we also learned many important lessons that will shape our work during our 30th anniversary year (2022) and for years to come. These lessons are the focus of this report to you.

You are part of an amazing community of caring people. Thank you for making it possible for us to bring aid to so many of our neighbors in their time of great need.

With deepest appreciation,

Dan Layman, CEO

We invite you to view our annual Financial Reports, which include our presentation of grant, scholarship, and award recipients; funds within the Community Foundation; and our honor roll of supportive contributors, online at www.cfcbr.org/publication.

Community Foundation Central Blue Ridge Report to the Community Winter/Spring 2022

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When COVID-19 arrived in Virginia, we knew we needed to protect the health of community members unable to isolate themselves. With support from our Local Response Fund, the Valley Mission was able to move half of its residents into an empty dormitory on the campus of Mary Baldwin University.

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Annual Financial Reports cfcbr.org/publications

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VALLEY MISSION

NEW PARTNERSHIPS

Tagnik Caer fo Eahc Otreh COVID-19 LOCAL RESPONSE FUND

W

e launched our COVID-19 Local Response Fund on March 16, 2020 with $100,000 in-hand and a newly-formed local coalition of leaders representing grant making organizations, nonprofit organizations, businesses, government agencies, and municipal leaders.

The work of our coalition began with weekly meetings, talking through how we could direct our funds to address pressing needs. Those discussions generated many creative solutions, some of which will continue long after the pandemic.

We serve the community best when we are all working together. Therefore, we are committed to expanding and continuing this coalition. Our goal is to steadily shift our work from relief to long-term community resiliency.

Community Foundation Central Blue Ridge Report to the Community Winter/Spring 2022

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COLLABORATION

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Annual Financial Reports cfcbr.org/publications

PHOTO BY KATE SIMON

Our most ambitious financial commitment during the pandemic enabled the United Way and YMCAs to co-develop child care options needed by working families. As pictured here at Wenonah Elementary School, the partnership of the public schools, YMCA, and Wayne Theatre engaged Waynesboro youth in the much-needed 2021 Enrichment Academy.

Caring for our Families

W

hen our schools closed due to the pandemic, and later reopened virtually, our local child care infrastructure broke for nearly everyone. The ramifications cascaded throughout the community. Parents left the workforce, employers scaled back production, and our children struggled to endure a shifting sense of normalcy.

We committed over $300,000 to the creation of new, but temporary, child care options for the children of working parents during the pandemic.

A far greater and long-term investment in child care is needed, which should be one of our community’s top priorities for the foreseeable future.

child care issues are cited by employers as a top challenge to business growth.

over ¹∕

³

of parents miss work each quarter due to child care issues.

Community Foundation Central Blue Ridge Report to the Community Winter/Spring 2022

80% of working parents are forced to take unpaid leave as a result.

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The new Mental Health Task Force, under the direction of Sabrina Buress, Executive Director of ARROW Project (pictured here), brought together professionals from within our community to respond collectively with the aid of our Local Response Fund.

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Annual Financial Reports cfcbr.org/publications

PHOTO BY KATE SIMON

OUR NEW NORMAL

T

he pandemic’s impact on the mental wellbeing of our community was an unanticipated concern that quickly caught our attention.

We immediately sent grants to multiple nonprofit mental health care organizations, supporting their ability to transition to telehealth platforms and expand discounted and free counseling services.

We also brought those organizations together to think through the long-term mental health impacts of the pandemic. From those early conversations emerged a new Mental Health Task Force. Led by ARROW Project, the Task Force has responded to several highlyspecific mental health needs for home care providers, youth, senior citizens, and front-line workers in health services.

We’ve made great strides in normalizing the

conversation around mental wellness. We regard this as an excellent opportunity to invest further in advancing this important work for the good of our community.

Community Foundation Central Blue Ridge Report to the Community Winter/Spring 2022

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LISTENING AND LEARNING

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOY

IFER KEARNEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENN

Our direct conversations with Spanish-speaking members of our community informed the design of vaccination clinics to meet their unique needs.

This experience also led to our investments in new supportive services for this population.

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Annual Financial Reports cfcbr.org/publications

W

hen the long-awaited COVID-19 vaccine became available, our community’s healthcare leaders designed very successful vaccination clinics. However, language and trust barriers created disadvantages for community members who were already struggling to access needed resources.

Together with Augusta Health and other community partners and volunteers, we played a leading role in planning highly-effective vaccination clinics for our Spanish-speaking community.

This effort deepened our commitment to

working with our community partners to remove longstanding barriers to essential services.

Community Foundation Central Blue Ridge Report to the Community Winter/Spring 2022

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Cagnir For Her Coytinum BONNIE KIBLINGER

O

ur ability to respond to community needs during the pandemic received a substantial lift thanks to the thoughtful planning and goodwill of the late Bonnie Kiblinger.

Bonnie never considered herself wealthy, but that didn’t prevent her from being charitable. She collected and recycled aluminum cans for nickels which she donated to her favorite nonprofit organizations.

When Bonnie began making decisions for the future of her farm, she chose to send half of the proceeds of its sale to the Community Foundation. She also knew that local needs change over time.

Therefore, she did not place restrictions on our use of those funds, further demonstrating how deeply she cared for others and how much trust she placed in the Community Foundation.

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Annual Financial Reports cfcbr.org/publications

Join Our Community of Donors Every gift supports our ability to affect real and meaningful change in our community. Whether you support one of our existing funds, make unrestricted contributions, or choose to create a new charitable fund, you are a valued member of our Community Foundation family. Thank you!

CREATE A CHARITABLE FUND

Give it a name The name of your fund can create a legacy, honor a loved one, or reflect your passion.

Give it purpose What matters most to you? We can design a fund that will achieve your goals.

Give it your support Offer your tax-deductible gifts to your fund now or through your estate.

Let’s Talk 540-213-2150 info@cfcbr.org www.cfcbr.org Community Foundation Central Blue Ridge Report to the Community Winter/Spring 2022

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COME RAIN, SHINE, OR PANDEMIC, OUR

Annual Programs Persevered!

Alexandria Lancaster

Megan League

Robert Hildebrand

David Holsinger

Emily Hewitt

Jennifer M. Knoxville

Lee Annette Whitesell

Lisa Cooper

Sarah Stoll

We honored ten inspiring individuals with Dawbarn Education Awards in 2021. Since the beginning of this program in 1992, we have presented 267 Awards totaling $1.9 million. We look forward to bringing the community together as soon as possible to celebrate our recipients.

Mary Ann Plogger

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Annual Financial Reports cfcbr.org/publications

PHOTOS BY KATE SIMON

▲ DAWBARN EDUCATION AWARDS

SCHOLARSHIPS

▲

We planned a series of small, but joyous, surprise parties as we visited many of our scholarship recipients at their schools in the spring of 2021.

We awarded more scholarship dollars in 2021 ($178,000) than in any prior year, which reflects our belief that supporting education is an investment in our community’s future.

COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM

We continued to invite all charitable organizations serving Staunton, Waynesboro, and the counties of Augusta, Highland and Nelson to submit an annual grant application for our consideration. This is our community’s most comprehensive grants program through which we allocate hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.

▲

YOUTH PHILANTHROPY COUNCIL

Community Foundation Central Blue Ridge Report to the Community Winter/Spring 2022

PHOTOS BY KATE SIMON

We have been developing the next generation of community leaders through our YPC for many years. These teens from our public and private high schools bring their thoughtful and enthusiastic natures to the creation of their own grants program to distribute $35,000 in support of local charitable work.

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PHOTO BY DOWNTOWN CREATIVE

Cagnir rof Our Nes robhgi

STAUNTON FLOOD RELIEF FUND

O

n the evening of August 8, 2020, a flash flood caused catastrophic damage to Staunton businesses and homes. The outpouring of community support encouraged us to establish the Staunton Flood Relief Fund, which received donations in excess of $150,000.

Working in close partnership with the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, we distributed 53 relief checks ranging from $500 - $5000 to Staunton homeowners.

The success of our relief efforts during 2020-21 demonstrated how critical it is that we maintain our rapid response capacity indefinitely so that we can act quickly when the next unexpected event threatens the wellbeing of our community members.

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Annual Financial Reports cfcbr.org/publications

PHOTO BY KATE SIMON

A Few Words from our Foundation Family: “As it dawned on all of us

“It has been so

“The Community

“There is no greater

that COVID was going to

comforting during the

Foundation has

feeling than knowing

impact our community

pandemic to be able

treated me and my

you positively

adversely and for an

to donate our funds

efforts to steadily grow

impacted someone

extended period of time,

to the Community

my grandmother’s

else and that is what

one of the first places

Foundation and

scholarship (the Rita

I love about YPC and

that came to mind to offer

understand that those

Wilson Memorial

the Community

help was the Community

funds will then be used

Scholarship) with such

Foundation. It has

Foundation of the Central

in such a thoughtful

great care. When we

made me realize,

Blue Ridge. I knew my

and careful way.”

work together I feel like

especially this year,

the Foundation’s most

that I want to help

important donor.”

others and make the

— Tony Davenport, 2022 CFCBR Board Member

world a better place to

donation would be paired with other donations in an impactful and efficient way to help our

—Laura Jean Brand, Former CFCBR Board Member

community.”

—Debra S. Callison, Foundation Friend

Community Foundation Central Blue Ridge Report to the Community Winter/Spring 2022

call home.”

— Graham Duncan, Youth Philanthropy Council

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Thank you, Lewis Coiner!

We mourned the loss of Lewis Miller Coiner in 2021, but also rejoiced for the remarkable life he lived and his innumerable contributions to the early development and growth of the Community Foundation. Lewis was for many years our Foundation’s volunteer Executive Director, leading the effort to educate the community about what we are here to accomplish. We are forever grateful to Lewis for setting the example for caring and sharing.

If you already support the work of your Community Foundation, Thank You!

Photo taken a few months before his passing on June 25, 2021 at the age of 101.

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Annual Financial Reports cfcbr.org/publications

PHOTO BY KATE SIMON

If we are new to you, let’s talk. We would love to know what matters most to you, and for you to join our family of caring community members.

OUR LEADERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2022 Rick Moyers, Chair Safiya Mahmoodian Jarvis, Vice Chair Sara Berry, Secretary/Treasurer Charles “Mick” Andersen Abby Arey Mark W. Botkin A.P. Boxley, III Tony Davenport Ashlie K. Howell Kelly M. Hyson Elsa N. Kiser Thomas E. Roberts Kim Snyder Angela V. Whitesell Diana Williams

“The power of a community foundation is about ordinary people coming together to do extraordinary things.”

— Rick Moyers, 2022 Board Chair

PAST DIRECTORS A. Tracy Aitcheson*

Perry Fridley

Martin Lightsey

Thomas Reider

Carter Allen* C. Phillip Barger* Bob Berrang* Benham M. Black Richard Bonin*

David T. Gauldin, II Barbara R. Gibb Dinah H. Gottschalk Thomas L. Gorsuch*, Director Emeritus

Carl G. Lind Jan P. Mangun Donald A. Mastrorocco, Jr. Don McClure Randolph W. McGann, Jr.

William Rion Carl A. Rosberg Robert E. Saunders Richard W. Schilling Art Schlappi

Kenneth R. Boward Laura Jean Brand Michael L. Burton Rob W. Cale Timothy Carwile

Chris Graham Richard H. Graham Douglas L. Guynn Lora F. Hamp Larry Harrell

William T. McIntyre Ben Melnyczuk Deborah T. Metz William K. Meyer A. A. Miles

Liz Schreiber Edward A. Scott Norman C. “Butch” Smiley, III Richard W. Smith* John W. Sills

Stephen W. Claffey Kenneth S. Cleveland, III Emily Cochran Lewis M. Coiner*, Director Emeritus Harold C. Cook, Director Emeritus Cary M. Dahl H. D. “Buz” Dawbarn* David E. Deering Ronald W. Denney Lynn M. Diveley Steve Elkins Richard P. Evans Roger W. Farris*

Thomas Harris William P. Heath, Jr. Timothy C. Hess John R. Higgs Andrew Hodson Jan Hoover James T. Huerth Pamela T. Huggins James W. Humphries Diane Johnson Melsee M. Jones James G. Kelley Becky T. Kelly

Stuart Moffett Lisa Moore P. William Moore, Jr. Beverly S. “Cheri” Moran E. Ray Murphy Steven Nichols* Bonnie F. Nielson N. Douglas Noland, Jr. Charles “Chas” R. Pauly, M.D.* Susan M. Pereles Samuel F. Phillips Thomas W. Puckett James S. Quarforth

Ray Stapleton Edward J. Stemmler Stacey D. Strawn Robert A. Sullivan* Travis Tysinger Cynthia Tyson Jennifer H. Vela Wilson F. “Wick” Vellines, Jr. Wesley Wampler G. William Watkins M. Terry Westhafer Marcia B. Winfield Philip R. Winter * DECEASED

MAILING ADDRESS

P.O. Box 815 Staunton, Virginia 24402

YEARS

OUR MISSION To enrich the quality of life by responding to needs and inspiring philanthropy in our community.

STREET ADDRESS

540.213.2150 fax 540.242.3387 info@cfcbr.org www.cfcbr.org

117 South Lewis Street, Suite 120 Staunton, Virginia 24401

With appreciation for their help on this report, we thank: Mid Valley Press and Gretchen Long, Queen City Creative

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NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID STAUNTON, VA PERMIT 80

YEARS

P.O. Box 815 Staunton, Virginia 24402-0815

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For good. For ever.

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