2024 CFNRV AR_FINAL_FB

FUND SPOTLIGHT The Shirley Van Dresser Guidance Fund

Passion to Progress: The Drenan Dudley Endowed Fund (Jack, Larkin, & Drenan Dudley) Builds the capacity of qualified charitable organizations in the New River Valley, their employees, and volunteers to transform a cause or an idea into demonstrable outcomes benefitting the community. Paws & Claws Endowment Fund (Lynda Chamowitz & Joan Gotthardt) Supports animal welfare in Montgomery County. Peer Segelke Memorial Fund * (The family and friends of Peer Segelke) Supports organizations focused on environmental sustainability and natural resource conservation who are participating in the GiveLocalNRV Giving Day or can otherwise demonstrate broad financial and/or in-kind support from community members. RBN Inc. Educational Opportunity Fund Supports qualified educational or charitable organizations providing educational instruction and tutoring, with strong preference for programs providing instruction in basic literacy and English as a Second Language (ESL) to immigrants, their children, and grandchildren; and for general charitable purposes. Preference shall be given to organizations from the following counties and cities in the following order of priority: Grayson County, City of Galax, Floyd County, Craig County, Patrick County, Montgomery County (Auburn and Eastern Montgomery strands only), Carroll County, and the City of Radford. Sarah Lee Alderson Memorial Fund Supports general charitable purposes with an emphasis on addressing community needs and priorities as determined by the Foundation. Supports the programs, activities or student/s individual need as determined by guidance counselors working with students in New River Valley public school systems. Silver Care Endowment Fund (Lynda Chamowitz & Joan Gotthardt) Supports the needs of senior citizens in the New River Valley. Virgil Speaks Fund (Suzi Gablik) Supports charitable organizations such as “What’s on Stage”, a program at Harding Avenue Elementary School; The Lyric Theatre; the Community Foundation of the New River Valley; and Beans and Rice. * Fund established in 2024 Shirley Van Dresser Guidance Fund (The Daughters of Shirley Van Dresser)

Shirley Van Dresser had a profound impact on the students she supported throughout her career as a teacher and guidance counselor in the New River Valley. Beyond helping students apply to college or access scholarships, Mrs. Van Dresser dedicated her years as a counselor to being a listening ear, helping to meet a student’s basic needs, and building each student’s self-confidence. After her death in February 2021, her six daughters received scores of letters sharing her impact on students, and they sought to continue that legacy with an endowed fund. Today, the Shirley Van Dresser Guidance Fund supports guidance departments in public schools throughout the New River Valley, providing food, school supplies, and clothing to meet basic needs and ensuring that each child has the support they need to thrive in school and beyond.

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CELEBRATING 30 YEARS