Williamsburg Community Foundation Awards 23 Grants to Nonprofits
March 1, 2022 Williamsburg, Va. – Williamsburg Community Foundation presented grants totaling $88,278 to 23 organizations at its Spring Grant Awards Luncheon this week. Rick and Lara Overy of Compass Wealth Strategies generously sponsored the luncheon, which gathered together 140 community members including both donors and leaders from the nonprofit, business and government sectors.
This was the first grant luncheon held since the pandemic began in early 2020. The event not only celebrated the work done by Williamsburg nonprofits now, but also recognized these groups for the many ways that they have risen to the extraordinary challenges of the past two years.
“In March of 2020, our primary feeling was one of confusion and concern that we wouldn’t be able to handle the stresses placed on our community,” shared foundation President & CEO Nancy Sullivan in her opening remarks. “Those burdens were significant and overwhelming, but one thing that became clear was that the organizations and staff of our local nonprofits found new and innovative ways to conduct their work. While the pandemic is not over, I believe that our nonprofits are stronger because they adapted, they gathered their resources, and they fought back.”
The foundation’s competitive grants are made possible by local donors who over the years have given to the Foundation’s Community Endowment and Field-of-Interest Funds, which have grown over time to provide grants to area nonprofits twice a year. Several grants awarded today were made possible by a special fund created in response to the pandemic. The Community Emergency Response Fund, made possible by hundreds of local donors, allowed the Foundation to provide a record number of grants in 2020 and 2021.
Arts & Culture
Opera in Williamsburg ($4,500) – With Opera Hispanica, presenting a semi-staged version of the well-loved Zarzuela Luisa Fernanda, with world-class singers led by Maestro Jorge Parodi.
Virginia Symphony Orchestra ($5,000) – Williamsburg Partners in Education Program will benefit more than 1,000 Williamsburg students and adults. This program include includes the Young People’s Concert (YPC) program and the School/Orchestra Artistic Residency (SOAR) program.
Williamsburg Youth Orchestra ($3,000) – Summer Chamber Music Camp 2022 which will bring together young musicians for five days of chamber music classes, seminars, and orchestra rehearsals culminating in a free public concert.
William & Mary Global Film Festival ($1,500) — This grant will enable the festival to bring two special guests to present their work, do a Q&A with the audience, and offer a professional workshop that will be free to attend.
Children & Young Adults
Bacon Street Youth & Family Services ($5,000) – For the Bridges Project, a proven successful adventure-based peer-to-peer youth mentoring program currently in two WJCC high schools, The Bridges Project addresses social-emotional and mental health development. This grant will help to expand into a third high school for 2022-2023.
Colonial CASA ($5,000) – Bridges to Success will match trained volunteer mentors with foster and at-risk youth ages 14-18 (or older if youth begin before age 19) to support their transition to adulthood and independent living.
Great Aspirations Scholarship Program, Inc. (GRASP) ($5,000) — GRASP advisors will provide students and their families at Jamestown, Lafayette and Warhill high school with post-secondary financial aid education, assistance, and resources.
Environment & Conservation
Historic Virginia Land Conservancy ($2,500) – To support the Conservancy Awareness Family Bike Ride, to educate the public on the vital benefit of open spaces for their physical, spiritual, and mental health and well-being, while simultaneously being outdoors viewing protected community landmarks such as Mainland Farm.
James River Association ($4,475) –– Lafayette High School students will be immersed in an outdoor hands-on field experience at the Lower James River Center. Approx. 125 students will kayak Powhatan Creek and investigate different human impacts on their watershed.
Virginia Capital Trail Foundation ($5,000) – To support Trail Ambassadors who routinely monitor the Trail, report safety/maintenance issues, interact with trail users, foster goodwill, inspire community engagement, and lead environmental stewardship programs. The grant will also support environmental outreach programs that encourage environmental responsibility, awareness, and activism through hands-on stewardship.
Health & Community Wellness
3e Restoration, Inc. ($4,000) – To support Restoration Place at the Pineapple Inn which is an emergency homeless shelter program providing two well-equipped hotel rooms set up as efficiency apartments, paid and available 24/7, 365 days per year. Funded from the Community Emergency Response Fund.
The Arc of Greater Williamsburg ($5,000) — W4W (Wheels4Work) connects well-qualified adults with disabilities to job openings with community business partners who understand the value of hiring our clientele, treating them with respect and dignity, and providing an inclusive work environment.
FISH, Inc. ($5,000) – To support transition to Second Street. FISH is moving to Second Street to continue its mission to provide food and clothing to those in crisis. The new location offers a platform for expanding FISH’s reach in the community. Funded from the Community Emergency Response Fund.
Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center ($4,998) – For dental equipment. Olde Towne’s Dental Clinic provides cleanings, X-rays, emergency dental needs (abscess, broken tooth, etc.), fillings, extractions, preventative care (fluoride treatments), oral hygiene, and dental education.
Rx Drug Access Partnership ($5,000) – Grant will support the Access to Medication Program which distributes generic medications to Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center (OTMDC) in Williamsburg and twelve other sites. Through this program OTDMC will have access to 54 high demand generics in 101 dosage strengths. Funded from the Community Emergency Response Fund.
Salvation Army of Williamsburg ($5,000) – The Salvation Army provides residents in crisis with support to maintain their current housing and basic needs. Clients in jeopardy of eviction and utility cut-off receive Rental and Utility Assistance based on individual circumstances. Funded from the Community Emergency Response Fund.
United Way of the Virginia Peninsula ($4,710) – Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Care Network is a collaborative effort of public and private organizations, supports a trauma-aware, resilient and compassionate community. This grant will help the network implement trauma-informed care as a standard practice.
Williamsburg House of Mercy ($5,000) – Supporting Bridge to Home Emergency Shelter Program, a year-round program to ensure that homeless individuals and families are immediately safe before they begin to work with case managers to stabilize their housing. Funded from the Community Emergency Response Fund.
Senior Services
Williamsburg Area Faith in Action, Inc. ($5,000) – As many seniors live alone and face challenges as they age in place, in-home support services meet needs including combating social isolation, assisting with household upkeep, and maintaining health through food access. Funded from the Community Emergency Response Fund.
An Occasion for the Arts Fund
J.B. Blayton Elementary, WJCC Public Schools ($640) – This grant will allow the art department to create art learning kits for students to check out from school to bring home.
Stonehouse Elementary School, WJCC Public Schools ($1,279) – Using emerging technologies including an electronic tablet and stylus, K-5 students will be introduced to and become proficient in digital drawing softwares and possess the skills for future drawing, design, engineering and architectural projects.
Genevieve McGiffert Fund for the Musical Performing Arts
Williamsburg Choral Guild ($1,200) – The grant will support their Holiday Concert, full of holiday favorites including selections from Handel’s Messiah. This concert will feature Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, and Tenor soloists as well as harpsichord.
Williamsburg Music Club ($476) – The grant will support the club’s Monthly Musicales including vocal performances such as soprano Margaret Wood, the Williamsburg Women’s Chorus Choraliers and the F. Ludwig Diehn Chorale.
How to Apply for a Grant The Foundation typically awards competitive grants twice a year. The next opportunity to apply for funding is for fall 2022, with a deadline of June 15, 2022. All application materials and guidelines can be found at WilliamsburgCommunityFoundation.org; click “Receive” then “Apply for a Grant.” If the organization has never received a grant from WCF, they should contact the foundation office for guidance before beginning a new application. Contact Nancy Sullivan, Executive Director, at 757-259-1660 or email ncsullivan@williamsburgcommunityfoundation.org.
