Community Foundation of the Virginias 2023 Annual Report

In Memory of Three Long Time Board Members This year has been a year of sorrow, as three long-time devoted friends of the Foundation passed away. Their contributions to the Foundation are immeasurable, and they will be missed. Richard F. Ammar – Richard was a founding member of the predecessor of the

Community Foundation, the Bluefield Area Foundation, in 1993. He served as its president for seven years, and from then until his death he was active in the operation of the Foundation, serving on the Finance and Investment Committee and other committees for many

years. He was involved in starting two endowed funds with the Foundation, “The Ammar Family Memorial Fund” supporting beautification projects in Bluefield, and “The BHS Class of ‘56 Fund” that provided funding for the needs of Bluefield High School. He was also an annual contributor to the Foundation. Richard was 85 years old. Nick Ameli, Jr. – Nick formally joined the Bluefield Area Foundation, in 1997, which was the predecessor of the Community Foundation. He served on its Board of Directors until 2003, and also served as the Foundation president from 2001 to 2003. He began serving on the Finance and Investment Committee in 2002, and served on it until last year. Nick also served on other committees through the years. He was well known as the emcee at the Foundation’s Annual Dinner, a job he was kind enough to perform for many years. He was also a devoted contributor to the Foundation. Nick passed away in May at age 84. Betty Gardner Bailey – Betty was one of those people involved in the Community Foundation’s predecessor, the Bluefield Area Foundation, when she brought expertise from previous positions she had held to the new organization. Her knowledge was an important contribution in those early years. She began serving on the Board of Directors in 1993, the year the Foundation was formed. She held the position of corporate secretary from 1995 until 2022. Betty also chaired the Grants Committee for several years. She also formed one of the first funds within the Foundation, focused on supporting the arts and humanities in the area. She passed away in January at the age of 100.