The Community Foundation of the NRV 25-26 Annual Report

SUPPORTING NRV PUBLIC SCHOOLS The Education Grant Program at the CFNRV

$94K

$44.6K

$106.5K

$17.5K $22.8K

Education grantees from Shawsville Middle School with CFNRV board members. Photo by Wilsie Photography. O ur region has strong public-school systems with educators, counselors, and coaches who are recognized for their impact in and beyond “By ensuring students have clean, comfortable, and seasonally appropriate clothing, we help build their self-esteem and confidence,” said Meagan Pratt, a member of the school counseling office at PCHS. Equitable Access to Education

the classroom. The CFNRV manages several endowed funds that support public schools, which led us to launch the Education Grant Program in 2024. This program runs concurrently with the Responsive Grant Program, which provides operating support to nonprofits. The program supports projects from teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, support personnel, students, and parent/teacher groups from public schools in the counties of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Wythe, and the city of Radford. Applicants may request funds up to $1,500 for basic student needs (such as clothing, food, or school supplies), for projects that enhance the classroom experience, or for those that benefit after school programs and extracurricular activities. It Schools across the NRV have pantries that help to ensure all students have the clothing, school supplies, and nutrition they need to stay focused during the day. These programs are often managed by school counselors with donations from individuals and civic organizations, but additional funds from the CFNRV allow them to purchase the items in greatest demand such as personal hygiene products or winter coats. For example, the clothing closet at Pulaski County High School (PCHS) uses grant funds to supplement community donations, guaranteeing that students have easy and discreet access to whatever they need. awards about $25,000 in grants annually. Providing for a Student’s Basic Needs

In addition to meeting basic needs, grantees use funds to purchase classroom furniture or equipment that supports learners of all kinds. Students in Radford High School’s (RHS) special education classroom, for example, have a wide range of physical, emotional, and sensory needs. Traditional classroom furniture can fail to accommodate these needs, leading to discomfort, limited focus, increased anxiety, and decreased engagement. RHS received a grant in 2025 to purchase furnishings to better accommodate students and to make the most of their time with teachers, paraprofessionals, and therapists. Learning Beyond the Classroom Finally, this program supports hands-on learning experiences. The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter at Shawsville Middle School (SMS) has received grants to help students create and sell products at public events and to participate in regional, state, and national FBLA competitions. FBLA members also run the school’s Mustang Market, which allows students to spend Mustang Money earned through positive behaviors on items in the store. Linna Martz, a business education teacher at SMS, shared that “students in FBLA and entrepreneurship classes gain leadership, customer service, and business management experience by operating the store. This real-world application of classroom learning has helped students develop confidence and pride in their work.”

7