The Community Foundation Shares Stories of Impact at Appreciation Luncheon

November 13, 2014 – DANVILLE, VA — The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region featured stories of impact by donors and grant recipients at its Appreciation Luncheon held Thursday, November 13, 2014 at the Danville Golf Club.

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Nearly 200 supporters heard from speakers representing three areas of The Community Foundation’s work – Give, Receive and Impact. Dillon Barnett shared how he and classmates formed the GW Class of ’57 Scholarship Fund. Kimberly Baldridge described the many ways the Danville Cancer Association and area cancer patients benefit from Community Foundation funding. Peter Howard, Community Foundation Board Chair, explained the recently-announced RiverBank Fund initiative.

Debra Dodson, Executive Director, stated, “This is such a great opportunity for us to thank our many supporters. We thank them for proving that together we can truly make a difference. Through their support, this past year we have helped to save lives, given hope to college students, filled our community with music, and relieved much suffering.”

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Some highlights of The Community Foundation’s impact this past year include: –

a) Receiving gifts of $836,787 from hundreds of donors.

b) Awarding 69 student scholarships of more than $145,000.

c) Awarding grants of $1,350,254 to 125 organizations.

d) Starting the RiverBank Fund initiative.

e) Continuing to build the Fund for Halifax County.

f) Convening a quarterly Funders Forum of area foundations.

g) Serving as the fiscal agent for National Fund for Workforce Solutions-Dan River Region Collaborative.

h) Selling our 6,200th engraved brick for the local Veterans Memorial.

Donors established 11 new funds under the Foundation’s umbrella, giving the Foundation total assets of $27,847,915 as of June 30, 2014. The Community Foundation has returned more than $17 million in grants and scholarships to the region since 1996.

New endowment funds began since July 1, 2013 include:

• Collins ‘Great Outdoors” Fund
• Steven Bruce Daniels, Jr. Scholarship
• Danville Symphony Orchestra Endowment Fund
• First Responder-Hero Education Scholarship
• Wayles Harrison Memorial Fund
• Douglas Sager Hayes and Mildred “Mickey” Hayes Scholarship
• Hokie Bird Scholarship
• Mary Neil Literacy Fund
• B.C. and Annie Lee Owen Fund
• Span The Dan Fund
• Woodlawn Academy Scholarship

The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve and enrich the lives of people in our community by encouraging the generosity of donors. Donors may establish their own endowment fund to support particular areas of interest or may make unrestricted gifts to any existing fund.