Congratulations to our 2015-2016 Charity Funding Recipients

Charity Breakfast

 

1) Families of the Wounded Tom Winfree, Paul Galanti, and Tom Gallagher

The mission of Families of the Wounded is to raise funds and make cash grants to the families of combat-wounded service members. They feel they can do no less for those who are sacrificing so much for our great nation.  This financial assistance is generally provided when the patients apply for medical treatment at Hunter Holmes McGuire Virginia Medical Center or Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. They do not have to apply and the only paperwork facing the families is a signed receipt. Since Families of the Wounded began operations, the McGuire Veterans Hospital in Richmond, Virginia has increased its capacity in the Polytrauma Unit from 8 beds to 28 beds and Fort Belvoir has opened new facilities to provide for the treatment of PTSD.

 

2) Camp Alkulana Beth Wright

Camp Alkulana Is a year-round program of the Richmond Baptist Association with a targeted summer program to low-income, at-risk children and youth from the Richmond area. In providing a summer camp experience for children who would not otherwise be able to afford it, their aim is that campers might realize the intrinsic value in themselves and others through character building activities, service to one-another, and outdoor education. It is their tradition that all of this includes an emphasis in Christian faith.  The camp has been in continuous operation since it began in 1915. Camp Alkulana is located in Millboro Springs, Virginia, deep in the Alleghenies. Throughout the year Alkulana offers ongoing supports in Richmond to its campers through large group gatherings, a mentoring program for older campers, and a targeted leadership program for its junior counselors.

Service / Volunteer opportunities:

  • Each year there are 2 major clean-up and repair days (May 21st and June 4th) at the Camp to prepare for the next summer and usually host 50-75 volunteers. Painting, cleaning, yard-work, light construction etc.
  • Camp Alkulana hosts a golf tournament fundraiser each year – this year on Friday, October 7th. Publicity and participation in the event would be helpful
  • Referrals of eligible campers, referrals of civic-minded college-aged persons to serve on staff each summer, and ongoing partnerships/awareness with other like-minded organizations in the community.

 

3) Chesterfield Education Foundation MEGAMentors – Jean Cauble

The Chesterfield Education Foundation’s mission is to achieve and maintain excellence in Chesterfield County Public Schools by providing financial support through community partnerships. Our premier program, MEGAMentors, was started in 2009 to enhance the success of underserved students in Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS) by providing experiences and positive role models to mentor, tutor, teach life skills and build leadership acumen.

MEGAMentors is currently in seven middle and high schools in the county, and hopes to expand with increases in volunteers and financial resources. Special emphasis is placed on schools with higher incidents of free lunch program participants and currently serves over 550 students.

Service / Volunteer opportunities:

  • Mentoring at the middle and high schools twice a month for one hour.
  • MEGAMentors Speakers Bureau provides career oriented speakers once a month at several schools including Falling Creek Middle School.
  • MEGAMentors tutoring program provides weekly math and English tutors at Carver Middle School.
  • CEF’s “STARS” reading program includes building little libraries to be placed in neighborhood locations for students to access summer reading.

 

4) Chesterfield CASA Ruth Anne Cutright:

Every year hundreds of children in the Chesterfield community come to the attention of the juvenile court because they have been abused or neglected by their parents. Often these child victims are lost in a maze of attorneys, social workers, and service providers.  They need someone who can provide a voice for them in court and help them navigate the legal and child welfare systems. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are trained volunteers who provide this voice while also offering information to the Court that ensures abused and neglected children are ultimately placed in safe, permanent, loving homes.  Since 1996, Chesterfield CASA’s overarching goal has been to provide the juvenile court with objective, accurate information about child victims’ circumstances and to monitor the case to ensure children do not “fall through the cracks.”  The hallmark of CASA’s work is the written report submitted to the juvenile court judge that summarizes the most critical findings from the volunteer’s investigation and experiences with the child. The information provided in the report is given careful consideration by the judge before he/she makes decisions which will affect the child’s safety and future development. Once these decisions are made, CASA remains on the case, monitoring the caregivers’ compliance with the Court’s orders.

 Service / Volunteer opportunities:

  • Individuals interested in becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate
  • Just recently had their Annual 5k run in April to raise funds and awareness. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.

 

5) Communities in Schools (CIS) of Chesterfield Jay Swedenborg”

CIS was established in 1993 and their mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in schools and achieve in life. CIS partners/serves at five Chesterfield Public Schools (Bellwood Elementary, Chalkley Elementary, Ettrick Elementary, Salem Church Middle and Chesterfield Community High). CIS builds relationships with students, teachers, families, and multiple community resources, with a singular focus, improving academic achievement of disadvantaged youth. CIS Site Coordinators provide direct service to students and families and they coordinate a variety of educational programs that address both academic and non-academic barriers to success in school.

Service / Volunteer opportunities:

  • Mentoring – Time commitment of 30-60 minutes a week. Mentoring is one of the most impactful opportunities we have to offer students. All CIS Mentoring takes place at school, during school hours under the supervision of the CIS Site Coordinators.
  • Tutoring – Working one-on-one and with small groups. Time commitment is 30-60 minutes a week. Work with individually or small groups of students on academic subjects within the school day as well as after-school.
  • Career Speakers – Workplace Readiness Skills Education. Time commitment – minimal. Come in and talk with students about interviewing skills, problem solving skills, customer service, and dressing for success.

 

6) Midlothian YMCA Michelle Nelson, Brenda McGill, Patricia Green”

Since 1854, the YMCA of Greater Richmond has been serving individuals and families through its mission to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. The Midlothian YMCA was chartered in 1995, and the Y works to strengthen the foundations of our community through programs which promote youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

The Midlothian Family YMCA serves the entire Midlothian community and Bellwood Elementary School which is located on the Jeff Davis Corridor and is the Midlothian Family YMCA’s Outreach Program. Funding will help support the Y Achievers and Bright Beginnings programs.

Service / Volunteer Opportunities:

  • Help with the Bright Beginnings Shopping Program that will be held in August 2016
  • Come and speak to the youth in the Y Achievers Program and would also like the youth to visit their place of business.
  • Help with reading program at Bellwood Elementary School.

 

7) RAMPS Spencer White (student) and Susan Revere”

Ramp Access Made Possible by Students (RAMPS) was started in 2005 by three high school juniors as a school challenge to contribute to their community through charitable projects. Since that date, RAMPS volunteers have built 280 ramps with over 7,500 hours donated by student volunteers. RAMPS aim is provide ramps and ease of access to all the elderly and disabled in the greater Richmond area. Once that is accomplished and maintained, a further goal is to possibly expand the club into other regions of Virginia.

 Service / Volunteer opportunities”

  • Rotarians would be welcome to attend a build day with the Midlothian School Club as our guests, to work alongside our student volunteers. Builds typically take 4-5 hours for two wheelchair ramps. Dates will be decided upon by the students based on their other fundraising efforts and school schedules. We would be able to give approximately 2-3 weeks advance notice of any builds. No special skills are required.

8) Peter Paul Development Center Damon Jiggets”

Founded in 1979, Peter Paul Development Center (PPDC) is the oldest continually-operating community center in Richmond’s East End. PPDC’s mission is to support the residents of the East End and educate its students, equipping them to serve as positive contributors to their family, community, and society. Its purpose is to educate the child, engage the family, and empower the community.

PPDC’s long-term goals are to prepare students for life after high school graduation, and to build students, families, and East End residents for enhanced involvement in their communities. The organization’s vision is to serve as a community change agent through education.

Service / Volunteer opportunities”

  • Rotarians could volunteer in a number of ways – during Summer Promise, volunteers are needed to make a one week commitment to a classroom, a one hour per week commitment to read with a student during the lunch hour, or a group to volunteer to assemble snack bags for the students. None of the volunteer activities require special skills.

 

9) Virginia Mentoring Partnership (VMP) Elizabeth Bass (and Corey Humphrey)

Founded in 1993, VMP is dedicated to increasing the quality and quantity of mentoring relationships for youth in Virginia.  VMP’s vision is that every child who needs a mentor is able to have one. To work towards this goal, VMP multiplies its impact by providing leadership, training and support to thousands of individual volunteer mentors. Also, VMP provides technical assistance, quality assurance and capacity building support to hundreds of mentoring programs around Virginia, with a specific focus in the greater Richmond area. VMP’s work helps individuals and programs position themselves to provide the highest quality mentoring relationship in order to make an impact on the youth they serve.  In 2016, VMP will work towards a goal of training 900 volunteer mentors and program staff in the Richmond region, and 1,200 state-wide.

Service / Volunteer opportunities

  • Significant need for volunteer mentors. There are more than 1,500 children on waiting lists in VMP’s affiliate member programs across the state. VMP provides training to volunteers that are interested and helps them find a good fit with programs near their area of interest. No specific expertise needed – just a clean background check.
  • For those that are passionate for mentoring – always looking for volunteer individuals to serve or be a part of the leadership/board team.