Every year we look forward to our annual Appreciation Luncheon in November. Not only is it a great time to show appreciation to our supporters, it also allows us to share what’s been going on at The Foundation for the past fiscal year.

This year’s event, which was held November 13, featured a panel made up of a current scholarship recipient and two former recipients. The trio – Oscar Kemp, Sara Weller and Dustin Echols (pictured left to right above) discussed how the receipt of scholarships allowed them to pursue a degree in higher education. Oscar and Sara were first generation college students and both of Dustin’s parents worked at the former Dan River Mills before they were laid off when the company shut its doors. For all three individuals, a scholarship from the Community Foundation allowed them the opportunity to pursue a degree in higher education they would not have otherwise had.

Oscar is pursuing graduate studies at the University of Virginia. Sara is now the director of human resources for the city of Danville and Dustin is currently an assistant principal at Tunstall High School.

Also during the program, Vince Kania, Jr., our board president, and Sheila Williamson-Branch, treasurer along with Executive Director Dan Hayes reported on the financial stability of The Foundation.

To date, The Foundation has 75 scholarships available for students in the Dan River Region. These scholarships were created by individuals who wanted to leave a legacy of generosity in our community.