Stories of Impact
In celebration of our 25th anniversary in 2021, The Community Foundation posted 25 stories of impact with images and quotes from 2020 grant recipients every Thursday on our website and social media. The series is now complete, with each story listed in order below.
25 Stories of Impact: Story #1
Caswell County Parish, 2020 Community Foundation of the Dan River Region Competitive Grant Recipient
“Families faced with termination of utility service or who have empty tanks and no funds with which to buy LP gas or oil or kerosene are in crisis, especially in cold weather when it comes down to the possibility of having to leave the home to stay warm and preserve food. The stress level of those coming in for assistance is extremely high and the relief they exhibit when a plan is finally devised and assistance is provided is immense. There are tears and many expressions of gratitude. These are not people who casually check to see what is available. Their backs are against the wall. They are not between a rock and a hard place. They are ON the rock with nowhere else to turn. We are their last resort.”
25 Stories of Impact: Story #2
Danville Life Saving and First Aid Crew, Inc., 2020 Community Foundation of the Dan River Region Competitive Grant Recipient
For many years, The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region has worked with Tommy Pruett, Executive Director of the Danville Life Saving Crew. The Foundation extends our condolences to Tommy’s family, friends, and colleagues at the Danville Life Saving Crew.
“For over 30 years, the Danville Life Saving Crew has provided an Emergency Medivac Heliport for the specific purpose of extending to our local hospital the ability to send patients to an acute care facility that can better serve the patient health care needs in emergent situations. The helipad was deteriorating and had reached the point of being obsolete. The concrete pad had severe cracks and its lighting was now outdated. When the project was completed, operation of our Heliport resumed. We hardly “missed a beat” in providing for air transports. Signage has recently been installed in public view that gives credit to The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region and to SOVAH-Health Danville for making this improvement possible.”
25 Stories of Impact: Story #3
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Danville Area, 2020 Community Foundation of the Dan River Region Competitive Grant Recipient
“Boys & Girls Clubs of the Danville Area (BGCDA) would not have been able to purchase [the computers] without the reallocation. This reallocation has provided BGCDA to work with students from 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., currently running virtual school support for members in Danville and Pittsylvania County. Members always have a backup Chromebook or one to use to research. It has also allowed staff to work with members during the “afterschool” programming hours from 2:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on key BGCDA programming areas.”
25 Stories of Impact: Story #4
Northern Pittsylvania County Food Center, 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to NPCFC: The monies received from CFDRR have helped us provide food to those in need in the northern portion of Pittsylvania County. We know that these food items have gone a long way in adding nutrition for individuals and families in need. We are fortunate to be able to help in this way. It would be nice to say that we could eliminate the need to provide food to our area families, but we know that the need will continue to be with us – now more than ever. Even though we can’t eliminate this need, we help to bring hope to those who need it most.
25 Stories of Impact: Story #5
Caswell Cancer Resource Fund – Caswell Family Medical Center, 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to CFMC: The funds received from CFDRR have been imperative in providing cancer patients with assistance they otherwise would not have received. Examples of assistance provided to patients include gas cards to help with transportation to appointments, cards to purchase food because their stay for treatment is more than a day, or co-pays so patients can attend their actual appointment.
25 Stories of Impact: Story #6
SPCA of Pittsylvania County, 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to SPCA: With grant funds we received from CFDRR, we were able to spay 20 dogs for citizens whose dogs had given birth to unwanted litters of puppies, and we were able to provide TNR (trap-neuter-release) services for 100 feral cats living in feral communities cared for by county residents. It is very gratifying to know that we are giving a better quality of life not only to animals, but also to their caregivers and community as a whole.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 7
HAVEN of the Dan River Region, Inc., 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to HAVEN: With funds from the CFDRR grant, our agency was able to receive an up-to-date website that is user-friendly and informative. HAVEN had an outdated website for a long period of time, and it has been beneficial to receive funds to have a site that is professionally created. The outcome of this project allowed us to present more information about our services, gather donations to help maintain continued services to victims, and to provide awareness information about the dynamics of intimate partner violence.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 8
Danville-Pittsylvania County Habitat for Humanity, 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to Danville-Pittsylvania County Habitat for Humanity: Crystal was looking for a better quality of life for herself and her three children. Their housing conditions were, and remain to be unfitting, with concern about living in an unsafe neighborhood. Her children are afraid to go outside. Every time they hear a loud noise, they are scared it is gunshots, which happen frequently in their neighborhood. Their Habitat for Humanity home will provide them with a large front and side yard for the kids to play outside and feel safe. This four-bedroom home will also allow each member of the family to have their own space and not be in a crowded apartment.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 9
NC MedAssist, 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to NCMA: The purpose of this funding was to provide free prescription medication for low-income, uninsured residents in Caswell County. Funding from CFDRR allowed us to serve 21 patients and dispense 324 prescriptions with a value of $126,436.48. This funding came at a crucial time, as many of our patients are in the high-risk category for contracting COVID-19. Thanks to this funding opportunity, our patients were able to receive their medication, mailed directly to their homes, decreasing their likelihood of exposure to the virus. NC MedAssist is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have partnered with CFDRR this past year, as we are seeing more people in need of our services than ever before. Without this funding, we do not believe we could have been as successful in our outcomes as we were.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 10
Danville Science Center, Inc., 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
Danville Science Center gives special thanks to The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region for enabling them to bring an excellent exhibit to the region during 2020. In January, the Danville Science Center hosted a traveling exhibit titled “Sportsology.” This exhibit was a hit with families and children from across our area.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 11
Friends of the Danville Public Library, 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to Friends of the Danville Public Library, they were able to start the Second Chance Book Club, bringing a book club into the Women’s Jail Annex. Seventy-one women, most of whom are self-described non-readers with an average third-grade reading level, have read 25 novels. The children of the women in the club have even downloaded the books they are reading so they can talk about them during visits.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 12
Southern Area Agency on Aging, 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to SAAA: Seventy individuals, 60 and older, with income at or near the poverty level, received direct assistance with critical needs. Thirty-one individuals received assistance with payment of utilities, home heating fuel was purchased for two clients, twenty-three clients received assistance with housing-related expenses (rent or mortgage), nine clients received help with vital home repairs, four older citizens received help with the purchase of medications, and one older adult received help with payment of utilities and housing.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 13
Pittsylvania County Public Library, 2020 CFDRR Summer Reading Program Grant Recipient
According to PCPL: To promote summer reading, Pittsylvania County Public Library worked with the Pittsylvania County Public Schools to provide summer reading information packets with the weekly food distribution efforts. During the 2020 Summer Reading Program, 165 adults and 182 children participated. This is lower than a typical year, but still an achievement during the early stages of a pandemic. Although many children were disappointed by a lack of in-person summer reading programs, they enjoyed getting personal attention from library staff while they were selecting their books to read at home. One young girl proudly offered her library card at the checkout desk and grandly offered to pay for her whole family’s books with her library “credit card.”
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 14
Pelham Volunteer Fire Department, 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to PVFD: We at the Pelham Volunteer Fire Department are very appreciative of the grant we received for this grant cycle. With this grant, we were able to purchase eight new sets of gear to replace aging or worn out gear. The gear we purchased is lighter weight and has barriers to defend against carcinogens produced in the effects of modern construction after fire.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 15
House of Hope, Inc., 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to HOH: We are a faith-based, temporary homeless shelter serving Danville, Virginia and Pittsylvania County. For the past 10 years, the House of Hope has provided a safe refuge for those who don’t have a place to stay and who are in need of transitional assistance. The costly roof repair, supported by the grant, allowed us to provide a safe and secure environment for our guests. The grant allowed the shelter to focus its operational budget on helping those in need.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 16
Halifax County – South Boston Public Library, 2020 CFDRR Summer Reading Program Grant Recipient
According to HCSBPL: Without the funds from this grant, the library would not have been able to acquire the number of new books for children and teens that were purchased. We would not have been able to buy the craft kits and craft supplies that the children enjoyed. This grant enabled our 2020 Summer Reading Program to withstand the pandemic.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 17
City of Danville – Department of Social Services, 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to DSS: This year has been extremely difficult for many families due to job loss and/or reduced hours resulting from the effects of COVID-19. The funds provided by CFDRR made it possible to assist seventy-five adults and fifty-four children to avoid homelessness by providing them with adequate housing.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 18
Community Improvement Council – Head Start, 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to CIC: Even though we are uncertain of the degree to which COVID has placed stress on our children and families, we are certain it had an impact on social and emotional development. Teaching staff completed five weeks of the Conscious Discipline course, funded by CFDRR, giving real life examples on how to be proactive and not reactive to behavior problems. The teaching staff now have additional resources to support students experiencing the effects of traumatic events. We believe this training and curriculum was implemented in our program at the perfect time.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 19
Virginia Dental Association Foundation, 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to VDAF: The overall goal of the Donated Dental Services (DDS) program, supported by a CFDRR grant, is to restore eligible seniors and adults with disabilities to good oral health. DDS matches them with volunteer dentists, specialists, and dental laboratories that provide comprehensive treatment free of charge in their private offices and clinics. Mr. WS is a 64-year-old male who suffers from Type II Diabetes, hypertension, and Stage 4 kidney disease. He is also the primary caregiver for his wife, who recently had brain surgery and requires full-time care. Life is quite challenging for Mr. WS, and caring for his dental needs through the DDS program has been a great relief to him.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 20
Danville Church-Based Tutorial Program, Inc., 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to DCBTP: To combat the missed time in school due to COVID-19 and help students who need the most assistance, we provided a Summer Enrichment Program for Math and Reading, funded by CFDRR. This program, IXL Math & Reading, is all online. The math and reading component of this program is used to remediate and enrich students’ skills. Our consultants monitor student progress online. Students are rewarded for mastering eight objectives every two weeks.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 21
Westside Cardinals Youth Football League, 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to WCYFL: The CFDRR grant has had a tremendous impact on our organization. Several of the organization’s needs have been met including modern safety equipment, uniforms, and an AED machine. The football program provides meaning in some of these young men’s lives who would not otherwise have hope. This grant helped relieve the monetary burden and, in return, allowed us to focus more on other areas, helping us grow as an organization.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 22
Casville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to CVFD: The funds provided by CFDRR were used to purchase eight complete self-contained breathing apparatuses (air pack, bottle, and mask) for our department. This equipment will greatly increase our ability to help protect our rescue personnel and the citizens in our community. Without the tremendous generosity of CFDRR, we would be unable to purchase much of our needed equipment. On behalf of our community and our firemen, we sincerely thank you for the tremendously generous donation you have given us.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 23
Danville-Pittsylvania Cancer Association, 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to DPC: The CFDRR grant helped provide 1,128 prescriptions to assist approximately 320 cancer patients in our community needing prescription assistance. The cost of cancer-related prescriptions creates financial concerns for our clients, which can inhibit their cancer treatment. Our assistance allowed clients to have access to medications prescribed to improve their level of pain, nausea, and other discomforts, as well as provide some with a chemotherapy pill. Additionally, it helped to relieve much of the stress and worry about financial concerns regarding the high cost of their medicines, and ultimately improved their quality of life.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 24
Just Kids Child Development Center, 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to JKCDC: The grant award from CFDRR provided developmentally appropriate toys, games, and other items, with an emphasis on increasing the level of diversity we can offer. With the additions, we are better able to foment the social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and language skills children develop daily through play. In addition, we were able to purchase many items that helped our virtual learners and students in our academy.
25 Stories of Impact: Story # 25
Southside Soccer Club, 2020 CFDRR Competitive Grant Recipient
According to SSC: Under Phase III COVID-19 restrictions, Southside Soccer Club began fall play in early September 2020. The main field, now without a crippling drainage problem thanks to CFDRR funding, hosted expanded play for U15 and U19 teams. The new drainage system allowed faster overall field drying and turned week-long delays into a day or two following a heavy rain event. In its first season, the field was heavily used by four U15 teams and five U19 teams. Additionally, other teams found space for additional practices. This was a huge boon to over 350 children, their siblings, and families that safely participated in fall games. COVID-19 made the project critical to successful fall play by allowing more space for social distancing during practice and play.
