Area donors have generously established four new endowed scholarships recently with The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region.

The Diane Marie Gross Scholarship was opened by Inara Aster Dodson in memory of her daughter Diane Marie Gross, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident at the young age of 16. The scholarships will be given to deserving Danville area students attending Washington & Lee University or the College of William and Mary.

The William E. Barr Scholarship was started by Lamar Barr, in memory of her son, William E. Barr, who graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 1987. The scholarships will be given to Danville-Pittsylvania graduates attending Hampden-Sydney College.

The Rotary Club of Yanceyville Scholarship Fund has been created upon the dissolution of the Rotary Club of Yanceyville. The Club was pleased to find a way to continue their legacy of providing scholarships to Bartlett Yancey High School graduates.

The Hokie Bird Scholarship was established by Pat and Cathy Daly to benefit Danville-Pittsylvania County High School graduates attending Virginia Tech.

Other people who wish to support a new or existing Community Foundation scholarship can make donations to The Community Foundation, with the specific scholarship designated, 541 Loyal Street, Danville, VA  24541. Scholarship applications will be available by February 1, 2014 at the high schools and the foundation’s web site www.cfdrr.org.

The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region is an independent, public charity established in September 1996 by a steering committee of local civic leaders to gather permanent funds to support our area. The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region is a public charity with total assets exceeding $25 million.

While the Foundation works with donors to establish funds to benefit any geographic area, our primary service area is Danville/Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. Donations are also being sought to build up resources for South Boston/Halifax County, with consideration being given to other neighboring counties.

Community foundations are established to manage a collection of separate funds created by individuals and corporations – a community of donors – to enhance the quality of life in a local area. These funds are pooled and invested under the direction of a board of directors comprised of community leaders. Income from the funds is distributed in the form of grants and scholarships. The first community foundation was created in 1914 in Cleveland, Ohio. There are now more than 700 community foundations nationwide, controlling aggregate assets in excess of $25 billion.

The Community Foundation is fully tax-exempt as an organization described in Sections 501(c)(3) and 170(b)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code.

For more information on the new scholarships or The Community Foundation, contact the Foundation office at 434-793-0884 or visit its web site www.cfdrr.org