The Community Foundation of the New River Valley Annual Report 2024-2025

PEER’S FUND INSPIRES DONORS & SPONSORS The Peer Segelke Memorial Fund awarded its first $1,000 grant during this year’s 2025 Giving Day. Nine organizations that work in the areas of the environment and natural resources competed for the grant. The organization that had the most unduplicated donors by the end of the event won the grant. This year, New River Conservancy won the addtional $1,000 with their 112 donors. In total, there were 403 donors to organizations in this category. Additionally, the format of this grant inspired the team at the Cranwell Family Foundation (CFF). A generous new sponsor this year, the CFF created two grants for the Giving Day using the same model as Peer’s fund. One grant went to an organization focused on education while the second went to an arts and culture-focused organization.

Family motorcycle trip in Taiwan.

Finding Home in Blacksburg

After the birth of their first daughter, Abi, the commute from Roanoke to Blacksburg where Peer worked was taking a toll on the family. In 2007, they moved to Blacksburg to be closer to Peer’s workplace. They quickly realized what a special place they had found in the town. “I’ve never been in a place that’s so welcoming and giving,” said Jen. Later, daughters Ana and Bella joined their growing family. Peer was deeply passionate about nature and community. He was always out gardening, hiking, and foraging with his family. On every walk they took, he would encourage the girls to collect litter and they would get ice cream at the end of the outing. A corporate attorney, he set up the Blacksburg Farmer’s Market’s nonprofit status through pro bono work. He worked with his client and close friend, Chuck Hoover, and the New River Land Trust to donate land to create Hoover Mountain Bike Park in the New River Valley State Park. Honoring Peer Through Giving His personal interests and career inspired his family’s idea for an endowment. When Jen connected with the CFNRV, she asked our team for ideas on how to leverage the fund to generate more donations from the community. We suggested making the grant part of our annual GiveLocalNRV Giving Day, which fit her family’s vision. Jen is thrilled about getting more exposure to the fund through the Giving Day and seeing Peer’s name out there. “So many people participate in the Giving Day and they’ll see Peer’s name,” Jen said. “I want my girls to know that their dad’s legacy continues in the world and that we’ll always have a connection to the NRV.”

Peer in Arches National Park in Utah.

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Photos courtesy of Jennifer Jen.