“I learned of the Shenandoah Community Foundation after asking a relative to find how I may donate toward a scholarship for a graduate of Central High School.
Earlier I was of the opinion that anything having to do with a Foundation or Endowment was for only the wealthy, but since learning more, I find I was wrong. Being blessed yet of modest means, the Foundation will help fulfill my wishes and goals long after I cease to exist.
Instead of obstacles and complications, Mrs. Cottrell and the staff present opportunities through simplicity and kindness.”
Most sincerely,
Donald M. Pence
“Four years ago, the S.C. F. awarded me a $1,000 scholarship to attend the College of William & Mary. In May I graduated with degrees in Biology and Environmental Science. I am now a graduate student at WVU researching rare plant ecology and conservation. Thank you all very much for the scholarship that helped get the education ball rolling for me.”
Zach Bradford, CHS ’04
“Thank you for your generous gift of $500. Your commitment to helping alleviate hunger in our network is sincerely appreciated.”
Martin White,
Chief Executive Officer, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network
“[We] are deeply appreciative of your generous gift to help us replace our aging transport van. We use the van daily to transport our clients to and from work at ShenPaco as well as on recreational outings, church, and all other types of group activity.”
C. Sidney Price,
Board Chairperson, SEARCH
“Thank you for your very generous grant to be used for our “Empowerment Fund.” Opening your letter was one of the most gratifying moments of my life.”
Susan Lane,
President, Response
“It was a very nice surprise to learn that your organization recognizes the long term value of investing in new parents and their children.”
Yvonne Frazier,
Program Manager, Healthy Families Shenandoah County
“The support of the Foundation has provided TAGG the opportunity to act upon one of our stated missions: bringing art to the public.”
Tina Roberts,
President, The Art Group Gallery
“We are so grateful for the funds we received from you. Thanks to our volunteers and donors like you, we can provide about $8 in care for every dollar we spend. So your donation goes a long way in helping our neighbors in need.”
Pam Murphy,
Executive Director, Shenandoah County Free Clinic
“Your contribution will be used to help continue the future growth and development of the exciting life of Theater Shenandoah.”
Mary Danley Catlett,
Theater Shenandoah
“Thank you very much for your donation to our food pantry. We depend greatly on organizations such as yours. At the present time we give out food to an average of 35 families.”
Loy Gochenour,
Manager, Columbia Furnace Love Center Food Pantry
I wanted to tell you how much the support of the Foundation has meant to The Art Group. We had tried for some time to offer art outreach, but our “financial shoestring” was so limiting that we never seemed to be able to do much that mattered. The initial grant from SCF (in 2008) of $1000 was such a surprise that it galvanized us. We immediately used it for supplies for art outreach. It allowed us to work with Response and with Northwestern Community Services (NWCS) as well as offer “art time” to some of the adult clients of SEARCH.
BUT!!!!!!! What it REALLY did was show us that the arts were needed and appreciated and that we COULD make a difference. So, we decided to commit to renting additional space specifically for art outreach. As you know, we requested monies from SCF for that and were gratified beyond measure when we received this year’s grant! As you know, we signed a lease for one year on our art education “hall” and brought the clients from NWCS (who were left without art therapy when NWCS discontinued the Shenandoah County program) into that space. It has been amazing to see the kids. Even more amazing, however, is the effect that the SCF grant has had on potential Art Group supporters. It’s as if the Foundation was a magnet. We have now had a benefactor who had undertaken to provide a heater for the art education hall. Once he did that, he contacted another benefactor who is in the heating business and got support from him in installing the heater! This is amazing!
We cannot begin to tell you how exciting this all is and we owe it to SCF. It proves that good deeds attract more good deeds. “People who care and causes that matter”…..What a great way to live.
Thanks again for EVERYTHING the Foundation does for our community.
Kay Ely-Pierce,
The Art Group Gallery.