Community Foundation Welcomes Ashley Ege as new Director of Communications and Outreach
The Community Foundation of the New River Valley (CFNRV) welcomed Ashley Ege to its staff as the Director of Communications and Outreach. In this new position, Ege will spearhead marketing and communications with the CFNRV’s stakeholders, oversee the Annual GiveLocalNRV Online Giving Day, and coordinate outreach and leadership training programs for nonprofit organizations, such as the popular Third Thursday Society.
Ege grew up in Montgomery County and attended Radford University where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on marketing. She went on to earn an M.B.A. from Liberty University. Before joining the CFNRV, Ege worked as the Senior Director for Development at the American Heart Association (AHA) where she led teams in Central and Southwest Virginia to raise $750,000 for AHA programs and research. Jessica Wirgau, the CFNRV’s executive director, shared the board and staff’s excitement in welcoming Ege, “Ashley brings a wealth of experience and expertise not just in marketing generally, but in the kind of unique storytelling that is so critical to communicating with donors and with nonprofit leaders. She has a deep knowledge of and love for this region, and she inspires the same in others. We are so lucky to have her join our team.”
For Ege, her new position presents a chance to give back to her community and to work with the very same organization that helped her with a scholarship years ago. “I am honored to be working for the Community Foundation of the New River Valley as the Director of Communications and Outreach. I’m from the New River Valley, got my bachelor’s degree from Radford University, and currently reside here with my family. I heard Dr. Wirgau speak a few years back at a Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center dinner about what is now GiveLocalNRV, and was completely blown away and impressed with the work of the Foundation. I received scholarships from the Ray and Mary Epperly Family Fund through the CFNRV 15 years ago, and feel like my work here is bringing things full circle. I’m excited about the work that we will get to do in the community and so appreciative of the opportunity!”