The Community Foundation Accepting Grant Proposal

The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region is now accepting proposals for its next round of grant making. This is the twelfth year the Foundation has awarded discretionary community grants, with over $6.6 million having been distributed so far.

Information has already been mailed to over 250 community non-profit organizations in Danville, Pittsylvania County and Caswell County. The Foundation is accepting Preliminary Request applications from 501c3 charitable organizations until July 24, 2008. The Preliminary Request applications should include a brief overview of the proposed project. The Foundation’s Distribution Committee will then select which organizations to ask to submit full grant applications.

With the help of a generous gift of $750,000 from the Danville Regional Foundation, the Community Foundation will have over $1 million available for grants this year. Up to 50% of the Danville Regional Foundation funding will be earmarked for healthcare and human services.

The Community Foundation is a public charity established in September 1996 by a steering committee of civic leaders to meet a variety of social, educational, cultural and other charitable needs in the Danville, Pittsylvania County and Caswell County area, as well as Southern Virginia and Northern North Carolina.

Organizations interested in receiving more information should contact The Community Foundation office at 541 Loyal Street, P.O. Box 1039, Danville, VA 24543, (434) 793-0884 or fax (434) 793-6489 or visit www.cfdrr.org.

The Community Foundation Awards Over $195,000 in Scholarships to 63 Area Students

The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region has awarded over $195,000 in scholarships to 63 area students. Presentations were recently made from 22 different scholarship funds within The Community Foundation.

“We are so excited to help open the doors of the future to so many students,” said Debra L. Dodson, Executive Director for The Community Foundation. “We have awarded over $950,000 in scholarships to almost 320 students since the Foundation was begun in 1996.”

The James W. Bryant and James T. Collie Scholarship was established with The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region in 2005 by a retired school teacher. The scholarship is for Pittsylvania County Public Schools graduates, with a preference for those pursuing education or nursing. Three scholarships of $1,000 each were presented to Gretna High School senior Ceseley Haynes (Virginia Tech), Tunstall High School seniors Jackson Mark Hylton, Jr. (Virginia Tech) and Jennifer Slaughter (University of Virginia). Kerri Brumfield from Tunstall High School received $700 to attend Danville Community College.

The Bernard C. Calvert Scholarship was established in 2004 by the Brosville Council #51 of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. The scholarship is restricted to Tunstall High School graduates, preferably students who attended either Brosville or Stony Mill Schools. Calvert scholarships were awarded to Virginia Erin Gee (University of Virginia) who received $1,150 and Jameson Finney (Rochester Institute of Technology) who received $1,000.

The Danville Academic Boosters Club Scholarship was awarded to the top five scholastic students in Danville Public Schools – Ariel Talts (Galileo), Juliana CanoMejia (Galileo), Ramey Williams (Galileo), DesRaj Clark (GWHS) and Christopher Monioudis (GWHS)

The John Watson Daniel Scholarship was established by the JWD Retirement Club in 1997. One scholarship of $625 was awarded to Brandon Clark to attend Virginia State University.

The Danville Regional Medical Center Auxiliary/Volunteers Scholarship was established in 2008 for Danville Regional Medical Center employees and volunteers and their immediate families, who are studying in a medical field. Six scholarships of $1,660 were awarded to Joshua Beach (Campbell University School of Pharmacy), George Washington High School senior Anne Cox (University of Virginia), Akshitkumar Mistry (Vanderbilt University School of Medicine), Rhonda Morris (DRMC School of Health Professions Nursing Program) and Tunstall High School seniors Sarah Smith (Lynchburg College) and Cara Weatherford (Virginia Tech)

One student received the John R. and Betty B. Eggleston Scholarship, established in memory of Dr. and Mrs. Eggleston in 2002. Natalie Hodges, a Bartlett Yancey High School senior, received $1,025 to attend Piedmont Community College.

The Margaret Spruce Floyd Scholarship was established in memory of Mrs. Floyd and transferred to The Community Foundation in 2004. The scholarship is awarded to female high school students from Pittsylvania County. Two Margaret Spruce Floyd scholarships were awarded this year. Elizabeth Cassada from Chatham High School received $1,000 to attend Samford University and Leah Whitt from Dan River High School received $1,425 to attend Campbell University.

Six Danville area Gignac Scholars will continue their studies at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago with an annual support totaling $126,400. The Gignac Scholars are Patrick Bray, Jennifer Gambrell, Corey Hawker, Sayiddah McCree, Andrew Mey and Andrew Rust

The Ray M. Harris Scholarship was created in memory of Mr. Harris and transferred to The Community Foundation in 2004. The scholarship gives primary consideration to Pittsylvania County high school graduates. A total of five Ray M. Harris scholarships were presented this year. Each student was awarded $2,100 – Tunstall High School senior Kristin Barker (James Madison University), Rachel Brinkley (currently attending University of Virginia), Dan River High School senior Kayla Dalton (Danville Community College), Virginia Shealy (currently attending Averett University) and Galileo Magnet High School senior Ariel Talts (University of Virginia).

The Stuart Harris Drama Scholarship recognizes outstanding drama students in the Danville Public Schools. George Washington High School senior James Meissner received $1,400 to continue his education at the University of Mary Washington.

The John L. Hurt, Jr. Scholarship supports students from Gretna High School, with a preference for students who have attended the John L. Hurt, Jr. Elementary School. Scholarships of $1,200 each were given to Nicholas Hagood and Keystin Patrick to continue their education at Radford University.

Four scholarships totaling $5,500 were awarded from the Onnie H & Bertie W. Milloway Scholarship to assist area students who attend Averett University. Scholarships were presented to current Averett students Benjamin Boatwright, Dustin Echols, Pattie Keatts and Brittany Shepherd-Walker

The Patrick H. Musick Scholarship was established recently for needy, talented students attending Averett University, with a preference shown to students who have a tennis playing background. This year’s scholarship of $625 was awarded to Pattie Keatts.

The Arnold B. Porter & Elizabeth J. Porter Scholarship was established in 2008 for students who are members of Fairview United Methodist Church. A scholarship of $1,200 was awarded to Galileo Magnet High School senior Christopher Andrews to attend Virginia Tech and a scholarship of $1,600 was awarded to George Washington High School senior Kelsey Phillips to attend the University of Virginia

Four area students received scholarships from the Irene L. Pritchett Scholarship, created years ago to benefit area black students. The Pritchett scholarship was transferred to The Community Foundation in 2001. Gretna seniors Evelyn Dearing (George Mason University), Dominique Hubbard (Old Dominion University) and Tunstall senior DeJane’ Carroll (University of Mary Washington) received $1,000 each. George Washington High School senior Jendayi Falero was awarded $1,100, to continue her education at Spelman College.

The Alger Pugh Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of Alger Pugh, GW High School football coach, after his death in 1984. The scholarship was then transferred to The Community Foundation and is given to deserving GW athletes. Two students were awarded $1,150 scholarships – Kirk Chalmers, Jr. to attend Livingstone College and Nikita Logan to attend Old Dominion University, and two students were awarded $1,200 scholarships – Kelli Farthing to attend the University of Virginia and Demarcus Shanklin to attend Hampden-Sydney College.

Three scholarships of $1,050 were given from the Riddle-Francis Scholarship, which was created in 2005 by a retired teacher to benefit Pittsylvania County students, with a preference for Tunstall and Dan River students. Scholarships were awarded to Tunstall seniors Ridge Gibson (Danville Community College) and Kevin Hill (University of Virginia), and to Dan River senior Gwendolyn Turner (Lafayette College).

The Percy and Velna Scearce Scholarship was created in 2001 to benefit area students. Bartlett Yancey High School senior, Michelle Garland received a $1,575 scholarship to continue her studies at the University of North Carolina – Greensboro.

The Spiros Skenderis Memorial Scholarship, which was created by the Danville Bar Association in memory of Judge Spiros Skenderis. Judge Skenderis served as a compassionate judge of the Danville Juvenile and Domestic Relations District for 19 years. Two $750 scholarships were given to Melanie Fowler who is graduating from Galileo Magnet High School and plans to attend Liberty University and Mary Koplen who is a George Washington High School senior and plans to attend the University of Richmond.

The Eileen and Joseph Stendig Scholarship was created in 2005 to benefit area students. George Washington High School senior Veena Aswath (University of Virginia) and Galileo Magnet High School senior Holley Hyler (Old Dominion University) both received $1,375 scholarships.

Two scholarships were awarded from the Louise P. Surles Scholarship. The Surles Scholarship supports area students who attend the University of Virginia. Tunstall High School senior, Kevin Hill, was awarded $1,625 and Gretna High School senior, Raquel Martin, received $1,300.

The Andy Warren Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of GW High School assistant football coach and is given to deserving GW athletes. Two scholarships of $1,000 were awarded to Mary Anderson (Davidson College) and Patrick Shelton (University of Virginia). Zachary Harrelson received $2,000 to continue his education at Hampden-Sydney College.

The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region, formerly known as DPC Community Foundation, is a public charity with total assets of $17 million. The Foundation serves a region from Martinsville-Henry County to South Boston/Halifax County, including the neighboring North Carolina counties.

The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region is a fully tax-exempt organization. Individuals or businesses may establish their own endowment or scholarship fund or may contribute any amount to existing funds. For more information, contact Debra L. Dodson at 541 Loyal Street, P.O. Box 1039, Danville, VA 24543, (434) 793-0884 or visit their web site www.cfdrr.org.