EO A Year in Review 2024

Education + Economic Opportunity

A Year in Review

In 1963, as the final concrete was poured for I-81 in Abingdon, another foundation was laid: EO, then known as the United Fund of Washington County, was founded. Both represented doors to progress, opening our region to new possibilities. Sixty years later, we took another bold step. In 2024, we restructured into two independent nonprofits - United Way of Southwest Virginia and EO - each positioned to expand its impact as a critical community partner. Because community is at the heart of everything we do, we invited over 200 local voices - parents, partners, and leaders - to help shape our future. Through listening sessions and collaboration, one name emerged: EO. Latin for “GO,” it represents action, momentum, and the spark of change. In 2024, we proudly opened the EO Regional Workforce and Child Development Hub (EO Hub) - a transformational project that reimagined a former Kmart as an 87,000-square-foot center for economic and workforce innovation. Designed to bridge critical gaps in the regional economic ecosystem, the EO Hub has not only become a model for workforce participation and talent development locally but has also gained national attention as an innovative public-private partnership. Communities across the country are looking to EO as a blueprint for preparing emerging talent and strengthening economic opportunity.

Today, EO is more than a name. It is a movement—where tradition and innovation thrive together, and where people and communities flourish.

Through early childhood education, workforce innovation, and thriving communities, we are opening doors so that future generations can meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world and prosper.

With your support, every initiative, every partnership, and every life we touch is another door opened to a brighter tomorrow.

Travis Staton CEO + President, EO

Heather Nicholson Chair of the Board of Directors, EO

Abingdon Office 300 Towne Centre Dr. Suite 20 Abingdon, VA 24210

Radford Office 221 West Main St. Radford, VA 24141

At EO, we research, pilot, and scale big ideas into solutions that increase quality of life. We believe that lasting change happens when people work together—when efforts are coordinated, collaborative, and bold. Our strategy is simple yet powerful: Listen. Research. Build. Measure. With this approach, we are transforming Southwest Virginia and tackling the root causes of our most complex challenges. Because when doors open—to learning, to careers, to well-being—our region prospers. To make this vision a reality, we focus on three critical priorities. Early Childhood Care and Education We support high-quality early learning experiences and a resilient, sustainable childcare system. By age five, 90% of brain development has occurred, and access to reliable childcare and education increases workforce participation rates. Workforce Innovation We help people discover, learn, and do the jobs of tomorrow. By connecting career discovery, skill development, and regional employers, we support a prepared workforce and prosperous economy. Thriving and Engaged Communities We engage our community through collective action. We bring people, organizations, community data, and resources together to solve some of our most complex challenges.

Early Childhood Care + Education

Workforce Innovation

Thriving Communities

87,000

1,000

square feet renovated to serve 30,000 students and provide 300 childcare slots.

observations were conducted to support quality in classrooms.

1,000 developmental screenings completed. More than

2,229 7th graders explored Career Commons with the help of 49 volunteers.

providers enrolled in our Shared Services Alliance which has provided over 200 hours of assistance and support. 54

200 new early childhood educators trained. Nearly

Inspiring Futures

When Kelsea opened Little Eyes Daycare in Wytheville, Virginia, she needed dedicated teachers. Through EO’s Early Childhood Educator Pathway, she connected with a workforce recruiter who introduced her to Emily and Katie. Both started as part-time aides fresh out of high school and are now lead teachers. “I would definitely recommend EO’s workforce recruits because they brought me two of my most trusted employees,” Kelsea said. Emily, who learned about the program at her high school career fair, credits EO for her growth. “They gave me the training to be certified and got me where I am today.” With support from EO, Little Eyes Daycare isn’t just a workplace—it’s a family.

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Helping Provide a Strong Start

Ethan’s family struggled to afford childcare. Through the support of EO’s programs and initiatives, his family secured a high-quality early learning experience at no cost, allowing his parents to work full-time. While in the mixed-delivery program, Ethan thrived— overcoming a speech delay, building confidence, and is now excelling in kindergarten.

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EO helps families like Ethan’s gain access to the foundation for lifelong success.

A Volunteer Career Mentor

Stepping into Career Commons as a volunteer, Lisa, a retired educator who works with both middle and high school students, watched as middle school students explored hands-on activities, discovering career paths they had never considered before. As someone who specializes in student experiences, the volunteer opportunity reinforced a belief long held - career exploration should start as early as possible. “It’s exciting to see students engaging with different career opportunities,” Lisa shared. “The goal is to expose them to what’s out there, helping them think about their strengths and how they might align with a future career. It isn’t just about planning for the future - it’s about inspiring students to see their own potential today.”

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EO Board of Directors

A Vision for the Future At EO, we believe in a future where every community is thriving, and every person is well. A future where children have access to the support and education they need to learn and grow in healthy environments. A future where businesses and employers can operate at their fullest potential because they have a strong, skilled workforce ready to meet the demands of a changing economy. With your support, we are building educational pipelines and career pathways that ensure young families can find good jobs with livable wages - right here at home. We are strengthening our economy so that no one has to choose between opportunity and staying in the community they love. When people can access the resources they need to learn, work, and thrive, the entire region benefits. A stronger workforce, a more competitive economy, and vibrant, healthy communities create a place where families want to stay, businesses want to grow, and children can dream big. Together, we can build a future where Southwest Virginia isn’t just a great place to live—it’s the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

Cameron Bell – Vice Chair Attorney, PennStuart Heather Nicholson – Chair Self-Employed

Dr. Dennis Carter – Secretary Superintendent, Smyth County Schools Alan Jones Jr. – Treasurer Vice President-Technical Accounting, Alpha Metallurgical Resources Anthony Keck – EVP System Innovation + Chief Population Health Officer, Ballad Health Brendan McSheehy – VP of Innovation + Intellectual Property Universal Fiber Systems LLC Catherine Potter Advisor to the President + General Counsel, Roanoke College Michael Quillen Retired, Founder + Former Chairman of Alpha Natural Resources A. J. Robinson Director, Communication + Tourism for Tazewell County Jonathan Sweet County Administrator, Pulaski County Steven Smith President + CEO, KVAT Food Stores, Inc Dr. Kris Westover President, Mountain Empire Community College

Join us in making that future a reality.

Donate, Volunteer, and Stay Connected! EOco.org/OpenDoor

to the generous funders who have made this year’s impact possible.

Funding for EO’s Regional Workforce + Child Development Hub

Virginia Department of Education Virginia Department of Housing +

Marietta McNeill Morgan + Samuel Tate Morgan, Jr. Trust Senator Todd Pillion The Cabell Foundation

Adv anta ge Capital An ne + Gene Worrell Fou n dation Ant h em H ea l thk eepers Plus Appal a chian Highla n ds Communi t y Dental C ent er Appal a chian Power Appal a chian Regional Commission Ball a d H ea l th Be tt y C a rrico Berry Hom e C ente r s Blue Ridge CDJR BurWil Construction C GI Federal Communi t y Sc h ools - Bris t ol VA Public Sc h ools Communi t y Sc h ools - Dic k enson Coun t y Public Sc h ools Communi t y Sc h ools - Nor t on Ci t y Public Sc h ools Communi t y Sc h ools - Washi n g t on Coun t y Public S c h ools 21st Century Communi t y L ea rni n g C ent er - C a rroll Coun t y Public Sc h ools 21st Century Communi t y L ea rni n g C ent er - Virginia Inte rmedia te S c h ool 21st Century Communi t y L ea rni n g C ent er - Virginia Middle S c h ool 21st Century Communi t y L ea rni n g C ent er - Virginia Primary Sc h ool Child D e velopment Resourc es Anne + Gene Worrell Foundation Ballad Health Dudley Ventures Food City Jack + Judy Smith Foundation Jim + Bliss Brown, Paramont Manufacturing LLC

Community Development Virginia Early Childhood Foundation Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia

The Innovate Fund Town of Abingdon

Organizational Support

Food Ci t y Frie n ds of Sout h w est Virginia Frozen + Dairy Food Cou n cil of NC

T h omas + Kyra Bis h op T h ompson Charitable Fou n dation T h ompson + Li tt on Travis + Ryiah Staton Uni t ed Sta t es Dep a r t ment of Labor Uni t ed Sta t es Small Busi ness Administration Uni t ed W a y of Sout h w est Virginia UVA Wise Virginia Army National Guard Virginia Co a lfield Eco n omic Virginia Dep a r t ment of Beh a vioral H ea lth + D e velopmental Servic es Virginia Dep a r t ment of Education Virginia Dep a r t ment of H ea lth - Stat e Office of Rural H ea l th Virginia Dep a r t ment of Social Se rvic es Virginia Dep a r t ment of Transportation Virginia E a rly Child h ood Fou n dation Virginia Fou n dation for H ea l th y Y outh Virginia Highla n ds Communi t y College Virginia Talent Opportuni t y P a r tne rship W-L Construction + P a vi n g, I n c. Wellspri n g Fou n dation of Sout h w est Virginia Wize Solutions Wor k forc e Inn ovation + Opportuni t y Ac t Wy the ville Communi t y College D e velopm ent Aut h ori t y Virginia Commo n we a l th Univ e rsi t y

GO Virginia G rantFlow H eath er Nic h olson Hit a chi E ne rgy In C a r e K12

Jon + Mary An n e Holbrook Keller-F e rguson + Associa tes Kevin + Kristy Worley L akesh or e L ea rni n g L ette rpr ess Communications Mark + Naoma Seamon Mic ha el + Deborah Quillen Moo ne yhan Family Fou n dation Mountain Empir e Communi t y College Needville Support Corporation N e w Peoples Bank N e w River Communi t y College N e w Riv e r/Mount Roger s Wor k forceD e velopment Bo a rd O ne C a re of Sout h w est Virginia P a r a mont Manuf a cturi n g LLC Pulas k i Coun t y , VA Rodney + Janie Fogg Samuel + Joyce Blan k enship S my th Coun t y , Virginia Sout h w est Virginia Allia n c e for Manuf a cturi n g Sout h w est Virginia Communi t y College T he Inn ov ate Fu n d

Delta Dental of Virginia Dustin + Shauna Tilson E a rly Imp a c t Virginia First Bank + Trust

T he L ea der’ s P e rspectiv e T he Rapha Fou n dation