Grant Testimonials

Boys and Girls Clubs
The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Danville Area received $45,000 from multiple funds at The Community Foundation in January of 2010 to purchase a 29-passenger activity bus. The funds represented in making this grant were the P. Niles Daly, Jr. Fund, Pat and Cathy Daly Family Fund, Philip and Frances Daly Fund and the Danville Regional Foundation Fund. The bus provides the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Danville Area a vehicle for after-school transportation for Club members from ten schools and three housing development units, as well as field trips. This allows the club to make fewer trips and lower both fuel and driver costs.

City of Danville, Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
City of Danville, Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism received $13,700 in January of 2011 from the James Russell and Zora Carter Anderson Fund at The Community Foundation. This unrestricted fund at The Community Foundation is providing funds for Danville’s aging residents for help in maintaining their independence by providing transportation services. As of May 2011, 228 seniors have been transported in 2,677 one-way trips for socialization/recreational purposes, medical appointments, grocery shopping, and bank visits. This grant is providing the gift of mobility to seniors in our area.

Pittsylvania Caswell Youth Livestock Association
In January of 2010, the Pittsylvania Caswell Youth Livestock Association (PCYLA) was awarded $4,000 from the Clarence L. Giles Fund at The Community Foundation. This grant allowed PCYLA to expand its Junior Livestock Show and Sale to accommodate more participants by providing funds to build more animal pens and to rent a large tent to house goat exhibitions.

This association was formed in the late 1990’s as a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to plan, prepare and host the Pittsylvania Caswell Junior Livestock Show and Sale each year. Their mission is to educate young people about raising, caring for and marketing their livestock. These young exhibitors learn leadership, responsibility, teamwork, record-keeping and financial management. Past exhibitors have gone on to become successful lawyers, doctors, teachers, nurses and various other occupations. This show and sale has grown from a handful of participants to more than 100 youth exhibitors showing more than 130 animals. This event is not only beneficial to youth but also to the public, as it facilitates agricultural awareness within the community.

Danville Cancer Association
The Community Foundation awarded $25,000 to the Danville Cancer Association from the John C. Swanson, Jr. Fund and the Danville Regional Foundation Fund in January of 2011. These funds provided access to cancer-related prescriptions for their clients, helping to alleviate the symptoms of their condition and relieving them and their families of some of the financial stress and burden of the high costs of prescriptions. This grant provided 304 individuals with 854 prescriptions. This assistance allowed these clients relief from pain, nausea and other discomforts. Danville Cancer Association is certain their work is improving the quality of life for cancer patients in our area.

Caswell County Cooperative Extension Service
In January of 2011, the Community Foundation awarded $3,600 to the Caswell County Cooperative Extension Service (Caswell County 4-H YES Programs) from the Claudia Vernon Smith Fund and the John C. Swanson, Jr. Fund. This grant allowed ten young people to attend the NC Teen Court Summit, a statewide competition, and provided training opportunities for Juvenile Justice and Prevention Coordinators. Juveniles referred to the local program are first-time offenders who have admitted to their guilt. The court is made up of young people between the ages of 12 and 18 who serve as defense and prosecuting attorneys, clerks of court, bailiffs and the jury. This year’s summit was a success—several awards were brought back to Caswell County including Best Court Room Reporter, Best Defense Attorney and Best Clerk of Court. We have had team members go on to Wake Forest School of Law, Florida A&M and Winston Salem State. This program has given these young people a second chance to turn their lives around.

Pelham Volunteer Fire Department
In January of 2010, the Pelham Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $8,600 to purchase a thermal imaging camera to enhance their rescue program. The James Russell and Zora Carter Anderson Fund and the Gamewood Technology Fund at The Community Foundation financed this grant. The camera is used to locate hidden fires without having to remove walls unnecessarily. It also has the capacity to locate a missing person by detecting body heat.

The Pelham Volunteer Fire Department receives limited funding annually from a Caswell County Fire Tax, which covers almost 30 percent of its operating funds. Other funds are raised through grants, donations and fundraisers. The Community Foundation supports many volunteer fire departments in our area by purchasing equipment needed to help them better assist our citizens.