CFV Annual Report 2021

Foundation History

T

he Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. was formed by a merger of the Bluefield Area Foundation and the Greater Mercer County Charitable Foundation in June 2002. This joining together of talent, ideas, energy, and resources allowed the Foundation to better and more fully serve the residents of Mercer County, WV and Tazewell County, VA. Each of the organizations had a strong and established history of serving the charitable needs of the community. The Bluefield Area Foundation was established in 1993 and had experienced sustained growth due to the dedication and leadership of Foundation volunteer directors. A wide variety of non-profit organizations, providing health, human services, educational, and cultural programs, have directly benefited from grants awarded from the Foundation. The Greater Mercer County Charitable Foundation was founded in 1998. It was established to address the changing and varied needs of the community, and to provide assistance in the areas of education, the arts, health services, human services, and recreation, and to provide a number of college scholarships to area students. The efforts of the GMCCF have enhanced and improved the Greater Mercer County area. In March 2003, the Community Foundation of the Virginias announced the first grant recipients of the newly formed organization. The awards were made utilizing a competitive grants program and were administered by the Grants Committee. This committee was comprised of Foundation Directors and community members. Through the last complete Grants Cycle in 2021 more than $3,400,000 had been awarded to the community through grants and scholarships. These awards have benefited a wide variety of programs, individuals, organizations, schools, and service groups. The flexibility of the Community Foundation ensures that the best programs and organizations continue to receive funding, while allowing for support of new programs and ideas as the community evolves. Philanthropic efforts are available to all through the Community Foundation of the Virginias. By pooling assets, supporters of all financial levels can join in support of their community. The Foundation provides an array of giving opportunities: memorial gifts, honorary donations, the establishment of new funds for named individuals or causes, legacy gifts through donations from estate planning, as well as monetary gifts of all sizes. The Community Foundation of the Virginias is just one example of the communities in Mercer and Tazewell counties joining together with the common goal of community improvement for all. Through the combined efforts of all area citizens, the community continues to grow and improve for today and the generations of tomorrow.