Uncategorized
Tomlinson Named Donor Services Manager
Foundation Facilitates Community Collaboration

The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region (CFDRR) held its annual Donor Appreciation Luncheon Thursday, November 14 at The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. During the event, donors learned about some of the highlights from the last fiscal year and were recognized for their contributions to The Foundation. Donors are the backbone of The Foundation and because of their generosity The Foundation is making positive impacts in our community.
As part of the event, Traci Petty, Grant and Scholarship Manager, led a round table discussion with Kenny Lewis, with the Danville Church & Community Tutorial Program and Russell Carter with the Ruby B. Archie Public Library. The trio discussed a recent collaboration between the two organizations that has brought the library into neighborhoods across the city, giving children access to books.
“As The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region we are often granting money to nonprofit organizations to help them achieve a goal or plan an event, said Executive Director Dan Hayes. “This time, we were able to put two local organizations together and they came up with a plan that positively impacts some of our smallest citizens, our children.”
This literacy initiative was identified by donors during a previous luncheon where they were asked to name priority issues in our community. The number one concern was education. Stemming from donors input, The Foundation convened a conversation between the library and the tutorial program.
It was during one of Carter and Lewis’ initial meetings that the idea for these libraries came about. Carter provided the funding for the shelving units for the tutoring locations while Lewis made the decision about where it was best to set the initial libraries up. Additional library sites will be added at a later date. Thanks to this collaboration, children in low-income neighborhoods are able to sign up for a library card and check out books when they are attending the tutoring program.
“We believe that giving children access to books at an early age will help increase the literacy rate in the community as they grow up,” said Petty. “We’re excited about this partnership between a city department and a local nonprofit and we can’t wait to see the positive impact this has on our community.”
A few highlights of The Community Foundation’s impact this during the 2023-24 fiscal year include:
- $1.4 million awarded in grants to enhance the great work of local nonprofits;
- scholarships totaling $377,608 awarded to students in our service areas;
- $1,656,505 received in donations from 450 donors; and
- 10 new endowed funds created.
Four New Board Members Announced
The Board of Directors of The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region is pleased to welcome four new members. The members are Becky Yeatts, Helm Dobbins, Elizabeth Hurt, and Jerry Williams, Jr. Steve Bass, who has served on the board for the past five years, will serve as president. “In the past 28 years of serving the Dan River Region the Community Foundation has helped connect generosity with community needs. The grants created and supported by these donors most certainly change lives. The Foundation has grown significantly in the last 5 years, and I am honored to be able to work with our experienced and dedicated board of directors during the next year.”
The Foundation recently recognized the service of three outgoing board members: Lee Farmer, Ginny Foster, and Teresa Petty. “On behalf of the community, I wish to thank these board members for their commitment and devotion to The Foundation. We welcome the enthusiasm, talent, and expertise of our new members for the continued development of our mission, vision, and values,” said Dan Hayes, Executive Director.
The 2024 – 2025 board members are Steve Bass, president; Vince Kania Jr., vice president; Scott Barnes, past president; Richard Dixon, secretary; Sheila Williamson-Branch, treasurer; Kerri Burchett, at large; Angeles Atkinson, Daniel Angell, Helm Dobbins, Howard Graves, Tiffany Hairston, Jennifer Hiltwine, Elizabeth Hurt, Lisa Johnson-Knight, Danielle Montague, Kunal Patel, Cathy Pulliam, Bill Riddle, Sandy Saunders, Nina Beth Thornton, Felicia Veal-Edmunds, Jerry Williams, Jr., and Becky Yeatts.