The Community Foundation of the New River Valley (CFNRV) is pleased to announce $32,000 in its third round of grants to NRV nonprofits affected by COVID-19.
The CFNRV announced its COVID-19 Response Grant Program in late March and has received over 110 applications, showing the overwhelming need in the NRV. The program has awarded grants of up to $2,000 to NRV charitable organizations to help them navigate the pandemic. Applications were received from many different organizations including hunger relief agencies, and those in diverse areas of the arts, education, health care and more. Since April, the CFNRV has awarded $76,250 to 39 organizations through this program.
Many organizations are seeing an increased demand for services or having to make changes to how they deliver services or cover operational expenses. In response, the Foundation’s leaders elected to direct a significant portion of grant funding available from its endowed funds in 2020 to COVID-19 Response Grants through a flexible system that allows organizations to use the grant money where it is needed most. The CFNRV was able to award additional grants this month with support from individual donors and a $10,000 grant from the Micron Opportunity Fund at the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia.
The response from recipient organizations has been overwhelming. Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society (SVLAS) was awarded a May COVID-19 Response grant,”Thank you so very much! Please know how much we appreciate this support as we all seek to better serve those in need in NRV”.
Jessica Wirgau, Executive Director of the Foundation said “As our localities begin to reopen, we know that the COVID-19 remains a reality and the impact to our community and charitable organizations will be long-lasting. We are incredibly grateful to our endowed fund holders and to the individuals and organizations that contributed to this grant program. This is one among so many examples of NRV residents coming together to support one another in a challenging time.”
In addition to the COVID-19 Response Grant Program, the CFNRV is hosting monthly Nonprofit Listening Sessions to understand community needs and is encouraging nonprofits to utilize the GiveLocalNRV platform to share their needs and raise much-needed funds. GiveLocalNRV is an online platform that allows donors to give easily and securely to dozens of local charities. The 7th Annual Online Giving Day is coming up on June 24th, but donors can go online now to learn about and support their favorite organizations at givelocalnrv.org.
The COVID-19 Response Grant Program was intended to provide support from April to June as organizations navigated the immediate effects of the pandemic. While this grant program is no longer taking applications, the CFNRV will open its 2020 Responsive Grant Program application on Monday, June 15th with modifications from previous years to streamline the process, offer operating support to organizations, and engage the broader community in the grant process. More details will be available at cfnrv.org/grants beginning June 15th.
A complete list of the COVID-19 Response Grant winners for June is below:
Beans & Rice: $2,000 from the General Endowment to support operating expenses associated with weekly food distribution and children’s weekend meal pickups.
Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry: $2,000 from the Jane Brugh Layman Charitable Fund, the Talbot Family Fund and the General Endowment to purchase food and supplies for clients.
Blue Mountain School: $2,000 from the General Endowment to support operating expenses and offset lost tuition and summer program revenues.
Brain Injury Services of Southwest Virginia: $2,000 from the Highlands Fund, the Homer T. & Beverly A. Hurst Family Fund and the General Endowment to support operating expenses and provide for clients’ basic needs including food, medical equipment, prescriptions, and housing.
Christiansburg Institute: $2,000 from the 4-17 Fund, the Community Service Fund and the General Endowment to support basic operations and continue the historic school’s renovations.
Eagles Nest Regeneration: $2,000 from the General Endowment to purchase cleaning supplies and personal hygiene products for clients in the residential substance abuse treatment facility.
Floyd Center for the Arts: $2,000 from the JJ Fund and the General Endowment to support staff and basic operations while the center is closed.
Giles County Christian Service Mission: $2,000 from the General Endowment to supply food to clients and for general operating expenses.
Giles Health and Family Center: $2,000 from the General Endowment to provide virtual learning opportunities and food for families who cannot attend the childcare center at this time.
June Bug Center: $2,000 from the General Endowment to support virtual instruction and purchase supplies to bag meals for the daily drive-thru program.
Literacy Volunteers of the NRV: $2,000 from the Shuler Family Reading Fund and the General Endowment to make up for lost revenues from in-person fundraisers and allow LVNRV to retain staff who are currently providing tutoring remotely.
Mountain View Humane: $2,000 from the Paws & Claws Fund and the General Endowment to support basic monthly expenses and prepare for increased demand as clients require subsidy to access spay/neuter services.
New River Valley Senior Services: $2,000 from the Worthington-Dolloff Canter Treatment Fund to support essential transportation to medical appointments, specifically rides for dialysis and cancer treatments for needy individuals.
SustainFloyd: $2,000 from the General Endowment to offset lost revenue while the Floyd Farmers Market has been closed and allow the market to expand an online ordering system.
T.G. Howard Community Center: $2,000 from the Silver Care Fund, Ann & HW Huff Jr. Fund and the General Endowment to provide food and personal protective gear to elderly clients and to support frontline workers.
Wonder Universe: $2,000 from the Homer T. and Beverly A. Hurst Family Fund to offset lost revenue while the museum has been closed and to support staff as they provide virtual learning and at-home projects for families.
Total Awarded $32,000.00