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

FUND SPOTLIGHT The Stewards of Nature Fund Created in late 2024 by an anonymous donor, the Stewards of Nature Fund is already making an impact. The fund supports the conservation of natural resources and wildlife, environmental health and stewardship, and conservation education. This addition to the CFNRV portfolio will greatly increase our grantmaking to environmental causes both in the New River Valley and outside our region. Already the Stewards of Nature Fund has provided support to the New River Land Trust for new trail construction and trail maintenance in Brush Mountain Park.

Passion to Progress: The Drenan Dudley Endowed Fund (Jack, Larkin, & Drenan Dudley) Builds the capacity of qualified charitable organizations in the New River Valley, their employees, and volunteers to transform a cause or an idea into demonstrable outcomes benefiting the community. Paws & Claws Endowment Fund (Lynda Chamowitz & Joan Gotthardt) Supports animal welfare in Montgomery County. Peer Segelke Memorial Fund (The family and friends of Peer Segelke) Supports organizations focused on environmental sustainability and natural resource conservation who are participating in the GiveLocalNRV Giving Day or can otherwise demonstrate broad financial and/or in-kind support from community members. RBN Inc. Educational Opportunity Fund Supports qualified educational or charitable organizations providing educational instruction and tutoring, with strong preference for programs providing instruction in basic literacy and English as a Second Language (ESL) to immigrants, their children, and grandchildren; and for general charitable purposes. Preference shall be given to organizations from the following counties and cities in the following order of priority: Grayson County, City of Galax, Floyd County, Craig County, Patrick County, Montgomery County (Auburn and Eastern Montgomery strands only), Carroll County, and the City of Radford. Sarah Lee Alderson Memorial Fund Supports general charitable purposes with an emphasis on addressing community needs and priorities as determined by the Foundation. Supports the programs, activities or student/s individual need as determined by guidance counselors working with students in New River Valley public school systems. Silver Care Endowment Fund (Lynda Chamowitz & Joan Gotthardt) Supports the needs of senior citizens in the New River Valley. Virgil Speaks Fund (Suzi Gablik) Supports charitable organizations such as “What’s on Stage”, a program at Harding Avenue Elementary School; The Lyric Theatre; the Community Foundation of the New River Valley; and Beans and Rice. Shirley Van Dresser Guidance Fund (The Daughters of Shirley Van Dresser)

The fund has also made grants to organizations focused on environmental education and stewardship nationwide.

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