Donor Carolyn White’s gift of hope this holiday season
Friday, January 6th 2012
A holiday gift came just in time for the Community Foundation of the New River Valley (CFNRV).
With the holidays approaching, the CFNRV was working hard to raise funds for its new Community Impact Grant Program, but was coming up shy of its $20,000 goal. The new program awards $10,000 over three years and in-kind services to projects that make a substantial, long term impact on a critical community needs. Many generous donors stepped forward to support the program with contributions to the Andy and Susan Morikawa Capacity Building Fund.
Still, realizing it was short of its goal, the CFNRV Board of Directors this fall considered postponing the launch of the program for another year when 94 year-old Carolyn Pearsall White of Pulaski, stepped in with a $30,000 gift to the CFNRV. In addition to funding the Community Impact Grant Program in 2012, White's gift will support the Smart Beginnings NRV Charitable Fund aimed at preparing young children to start school healthy and ready to learn. She also contributed to the Foundation’s operations.
“These funds truly came at just the right time. Carolyn White exemplifies the impact that one person can have on our community now and for years to come,” says Jessica Wirgau, Executive Director of the Community Foundation.
Carolyn White was born and raised in the New River Valley and worked most of her life as an activist for the “unheard voices” in the world. White says, “I believe in giving a hand up, not a hand out. It’s important to think about how we can make the world a better place for future generations.” She currently resides at Warm Hearth Retirement Home at the Krontje Center in Blacksburg.
The CFNRV has been developing the Community Impact Grant Program for the past three years. Typically, the Foundation awards grants and scholarships to students and non-profits ranging from $500-$2,000 in the spring and fall of each year. This grant would be the largest competitive grant the Foundation has ever awarded. In addition to a $10,000 award, grantees will receive in-kind services in areas of nonprofit management such as leadership development, marketing and more. Further information about the 2012 Carolyn Pearsall White Community Impact Grant Program will be posted online in the coming weeks and the CFNRV will hold several information sessions throughout the NRV in January and February to explain eligibility and the application process. The first grant will be awarded in July of 2012.
For more information about the CFNRV's grant programs, email cfnrv@cfnrv.org or call 540.381.8999. Download a flyer on the Community Impact Grant Program here.
See an interview with Carolyn White and Jessica Wirgau featured on WDBJ7 here.