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(RICHMOND, VA) – The Community Foundation and the R.E.B. Foundation are pleased to recognize 25 outstanding public-school teachers selected as finalists for the 2022 R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence. Considered among the best in their field, these instructors demonstrate a sincere passion for teaching while also serving as mentors, coaches and champions for their students. Selected from 75 nominees submitted by students, parents and colleagues, 16 winners and 9 finalists will receive cash grants totaling $206,000.
The R.E.B. Awards provide opportunities for area public school teachers to continue their own love of learning as they pursue adventures of a lifetime.
Connected by a desire to make their lessons relevant, all 2022 awardees will have the chance to collect real-life experiences, stories and artifacts to renew their passion for teaching and enhance their ability to bring subject matter to life for their students.
LIST OF 2022 WINNERS
Kara Barton - Old Hundred Elementary School (CH) - $14,500 To cultivate wonder, support student inquiry, and provide multiple means of expression while developing early literacy skills by visiting Reggio inspired classrooms in the United States and abroad.
Jamar Billups - Armstrong High School (RI) - $12,500 To explore the universal humanity at the core of creating and revering symbols by drawing connections in how those in London and Jerusalem hold reverence for their respective symbols to those who live and die in the gang-infested projects of Richmond.
Kimberly Bliley - Lloyd C. Bird High School (CH) - $14,000
To understand how students with intellectual disabilities are supported by New Zealand’s Disability Strategy by learning its application in education and employment and participate in an inclusive and non-disabling society.
Jennifer Deckert - Chesterfield Virtual School (CH) - $12,500 To explore building community, kindness, and compassion in the classrooms of Denmark which established mandatory empathy classes for all students and is known as the second happiest country in the world.
Jacqueline Dondero - Deep Run High School (HE) - $8,500 To retrace their family’s escape from Nazi Germany by traveling to historical locations in Europe in order to explore the place of historical storytelling in the classroom.
Madison Horne - Rural Point Elementary School (HA) - $7,500 To become immersed in the early childhood literature that has gripped the imaginations of children and inspired generations of readers and writers.
Erik Leise - Atlee High School (HA) - $13,500 To research the evolution of written language from hieroglyphics to Helvetica by traveling to Egypt, Lebanon, Greece, Italy, and Switzerland.
Samuel Leone - Cosby High School (CH) - $15,000 To travel North America and Europe exploring diverse engineering applications including architecture, rollercoasters, sporting equipment, motorsports, and fine woodworking to enhance knowledge of engineering and manufacturing processes.
Stephanie Loker - O.B. Gates Elementary School (CH) - $11,000 To implement play-based learning into the kindergarten classroom by exploring classrooms in London and Oxford, England, and by attending a play-based early education conference in Miami.
John Ryan Nunez - Franklin Military Academy (RI) - $13,500
To delve into the relationship between Hawaii's people and its natural environment in order to explore the influence of tropical ecosystems on his Pacific Islander heritage and the impact of Hawaiian civilization on the natural flora and fauna.
Victoria Parent - Monacan High School (CH) - $15,000 To study indigenous and colonial history of the Philippines, deepen understanding of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) identity, explore generational immigrant experiences, and increase AAPI voices in English curriculum.
Kathryn Pike - Douglas S. Freeman High School (HE) - $14,000 To hike, cycle, and photograph portions of the network of trig pillars in varying terrains of Britain with a goal of recreating the mathematical surveying process used to conduct the retriangulation of Great Britain.
Ashleigh Russell - Albert Hill Middle School (RI) - $13,000 To travel the United States and Mexico to make real-world cultural connections that will heighten student engagement in mathematical understanding by providing a culturally responsive learning environment.
Nicole Stonestreet - Manchester High School (CH) - $15,000 To study the development and evolution of Democracy as it followed various trade routes through Greece, Italy, and Croatia around the Adriatic Sea.
Monica Thomas-Moore - Barack Obama Elementary School (RI) - $7,500 To travel to Paris to learn new cooking styles in order to enhance skills and share with students how math and science play a large role in our daily lives.
Julia West - Providence Middle School (CH) - $10,000 To collaborate with English as a Second Language teachers across the country; participate in a Spanish immersion program in Costa Rica; and attend a TESOL Conference.
>> Learn more about the R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence and how you can nominate a local teacher in 2023.
NOVEMBER 6, 2020 — The Community Foundation and the R.E.B. Foundation are pleased to recognize 31 outstanding public-school teachers selected as finalists for the 2020 R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence. Considered among the best in their field, these instructors demonstrate a sincere passion for teaching while also serving as mentors, coaches and champions for their students. Selected from 109 nominees submitted by students, parents and colleagues, 18 winners and 13 finalists will receive cash grants totaling $198,450.
The R.E.B. Awards provide opportunities for area public school teachers to continue their own love of learning as they pursue adventures of a lifetime. Connected by a desire to make their lessons relevant, all 2020 awardees will have the chance to collect real-life experiences, stories and artifacts to renew their passion for teaching and enhance their ability to bring subject matter to life for their students.
LIST OF 2020 WINNERS
Gilbert Carter, Jr. Franklin Military Academy (RI) $7,800
To explore the cultural and mathematical foundations of domestic and international botanical gardens.
Ridgely Carter-Minter Woodville Elementary School (RI) $7,400
To explore the origins of figurative expressions in Casablanca and Granada and incorporate those learnings in a self-published children's book.
Brett Chonko Clover Hill High School (CH) $12,000
To improve knowledge and proficiency of the Spanish language by visiting regions of Argentina and Caribbean that feature difficult, distinct Spanish dialects.
Lisa Cocke Liberty Middle School (HA) $9,400
To visit a community in Ireland that has successfully designed programs that help transition individuals with Autism to post-secondary employment opportunities through immersion and integration.
Erin Daniel Quioccasin Middle School (HE) $11,000
To visit some of the healthiest places on earth - Spain and Costa Rica - to bring back new habits and ideas that promote health and wellness.
Keenan Entsminger James River High School (CH) $12,000
To trace the footsteps of the 246th Coastal Artillery Unit from the mountains of Virginia to the Islands of the Pacific.
Michael Fetsko Mills E. Godwin High School (HE) $8,300
To travel to the national parks of Alaska to observe the impact of climate change on the environment and topography.
Alexander Godschalk Old Hundred Elementary School (CH) $11,300
To explore early forms of theatre by studying Commedia dell’arte and mask-making in Florence, Italy and by engaging in Shakespearean theatre in England and Virginia.
Matthew Gray Atlee High School (HA) $11,100
To study strength and conditioning concepts and philosophies of the United States Air Force Academy, the U.S. Olympic organization, and the All Blacks Rugby Team by traveling to Colorado and New Zealand.
Mariah Jezek Cool Spring Elementary School (HA) $11,300
To observe Autism therapy practices in North America, Australia, and Europe.
Meredith Jordan Manchester Middle School (CH) $12,000
To engage in diverse school community populations in Central and South America to help develop multicultural perspectives in the classroom.
Donna Kouri Greenwood Elementary (HE) $11,900
To learn, connect and apply independent sustainable living skills through the combination of basic hands-on skills and modern technology by participating in Folk Schools and visiting National Parks.
Jonathan Metcalf Franklin Military Academy (RI) $7,900
To immerse in the culture and the extraordinary history of the Basque Country by biking the region in a 3-week trip.
Roy Mitchell, Jr. Yvonne B. Miller High School (DJJ) $11,800
To learn more about Kente Clothe and the similarities in culture between African American and Hispanic students through travel to Ghana.
Nathan Morrison Atlee High School (HA) $12,000
To study the ways European economics, religion, and politics influenced independence movements in the Americas by traveling to Spain, Britain and Chile.
Sarah Peña Greenwood Elementary School (HE) $11,700
To foster global citizenship through experiences with art by exploring museums, model schools and multicultural traditions in Dubai, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City.
Pamela Plahs Swift Creek Middle School (CH) $8,300
To gain a deeper understanding of the Holocaust and to explore the courageous decisions the "Righteous Among the Nations" made to help rescue Jews by traveling to historic sites in Europe.
Arianna Trickey Swansboro Elementary School (RI) $11,500
To explore and understand how endangered ecosystems across North America, and their inhabitants, adapt to environmental changes.
All finalists not chosen for a professional development grant will receive a $750 unrestricted cash grant in recognition of their achievements in the classroom.
About the R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence
The awards program, which is a partnership between the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond and the R.E.B. Foundation, recognizes excellence in public education by awarding cash grants to outstanding public school teachers from the City of Richmond, the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico, and Hanover, and the Department of Correctional Education. Since its inception in 1988, the program has awarded approximately $4.2 million to over 950 public school instructors as recognition for their outstanding classroom performance.
NOVEMBER 8, 2021 — The Community Foundation and the R.E.B. Foundation are pleased to recognize 35 outstanding public-school teachers selected as finalists for the 2021 R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence. Considered among the best in their field, these instructors demonstrate a sincere passion for teaching while also serving as mentors, coaches and champions for their students. Selected from 91 nominees submitted by students, parents and colleagues, 17 winners and 18 finalists will receive cash grants totaling $249,300.
Connected by a desire to make their lessons relevant, all 2021 awardees will have the chance to collect real-life experiences, stories and artifacts to renew their passion for teaching and enhance their ability to bring subject matter to life for their students.
Amanda Berneche Clover Hill High School (CH) $13,200 To study photography in remote locations while chasing the Northern lights in Iceland.
Megan Bouton Echo Lake Elementary School (HE) $11,400 To study the early childhood experience in Finland and visit kindergartens and forest schools in Denmark, Sweden, and the Pacific Northwest.
Christal Corey Franklin Military Academy (RI) $13,700 To immerse in the rich culture and history of the African Diaspora to help further develop cultural competence and cultural sharing in the classroom.
Lucretia Davis Oak Knoll Middle School (HA) $12,900 To explore the cultural influence of classical music by visiting iconic cities in Northern Italy, Austria, and Germany.
Jonathan Frame Atlee High School (HA) $14,200 To travel the United States and Europe to create an immersive podcast experience.
Brianna Gatch Clover Hill High School (CH) $13,900 To study Japanese pedagogical techniques and observe their influences on concert bands in Hawaii.
Helene Grossman O.B. Gates Elementary School (CH) $14,800 To study how Scotland educates their Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.
Stuart Harnsberger Thomas Jefferson High School (RI) $14,800 To participate in an artist residency in the Cycladic Islands of Greece.
Paul Lathrop Chesterfield Technical Center at Hull (CH) $13,800 To explore the history and current marvels of engineering and manufacturing across the United States.
Amanda Lemco Maggie L. Walker Governor's School (RI) $15,000 To pursue an endorsement in teaching Italian through immersive experiences in Italy.
Kristina Mitchell Binford Middle School (RI) $11,600 To explore history and current social issues in Colombia, Bolivia, and Argentina through the arts.
Robert Peck Douglas S. Freeman High School (HE) $15,000 To explore concepts of citizenship, constitutionalism, and American identity through travel to the Caribbean, Micronesia, and Native American tribal lands.
Derek Podolny Douglas S. Freeman High School (HE) $14,300 To explore the mathematical and historical foundations of various navigational techniques and apply them in real world settings.
Helmut Thielsch Jr. Lloyd C. Bird High School (CH) $15,000 To explore the design and construction of significant transportation canals and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and economic impact of these engineering accomplishments.
Dorrie Turner James River High School (CH) $14,200 To visit Greece and Italy to research Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus,” discovering how it came to represent a complex moment of change between old and new worlds.
John Wilkes Maggie L. Walker Governor's School (RI) $11,300 To travel the length of the nation's central thread--the Mississippi River.
Nicole Yeaney Atlee High School (HA) $12,200 To travel to Taiwan, Brazil, and Colombia to study the culture and deepen empathy for the culture shock that multilingual learners face.
The awards program, which is a partnership between the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond and the R.E.B. Foundation, recognizes excellence in public education by awarding cash grants to outstanding public school teachers from the City of Richmond, the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico, and Hanover, and the Department of Correctional Education. Since its inception in 1988, the program has awarded approximately $4.4 million to over 985 public school instructors as recognition for their outstanding classroom performance.
The Community Foundation and the R.E.B. Foundation are pleased to recognize 34 outstanding public school teachers selected as finalists for the 2018 R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence. Considered among the best in their field, these instructors demonstrate a sincere passion for teaching while also serving as mentors, coaches and champions for their students. Selected from 136 nominations submitted by students, parents and colleagues, 16 winners and 18 finalists will receive cash grants totaling $189,900.
The R.E.B. Awards provide opportunities for area public school teachers to continue their own love of learning as they pursue adventures of a lifetime. Matt Wester, a science teacher at Franklin Military Academy in Richmond Public Schools, believes that the more you know the world, the greater your capacity to love it. With an R.E.B. award of $8,700, Matt will travel to the American West and immerse himself in the wilderness of six national parks to deepen his own spirit of wonder and discovery, as well as that of his students.
Meghan Hamm, a teacher at Yvonne B. Miller High School, shows students who believe they can’t that they can and uses creative approaches to help them express their individuality. Art has been a successful tool in preparing her students to share feelings that have not been expressed before, and to face challenges that may have led them to the Department of Juvenile Justice. With her award of $9,500, Meghan will visit Italy to learn ancient papermaking techniques that she will bring back to her classroom.
Connected by a desire to make their lessons relevant, all of the 2018 awardees will have a chance to collect real-life experiences, stories and artifacts to renew their passion for teaching and enhance their ability to bring subject matter to life for their students.
Crystal Barker, L. C. Bird High School (CH) — $11,000
To expand knowledge and experiences in outdoor adventure education – including biking, underwater exploration, fishing and modifications for people with disabilities – through local training and travel to Alaska and Florida.
Dickson Benesh, Maggie Walker Governor's School (RI) — $10,900
To participate in a cycling adventure tour in Iceland, primarily to investigate the effects of climate change and to collect real-world data for analysis in the classroom.
Caroline Canning, Henrico High School (HE) — $11,500
To learn about the effects of Apartheid, Nelson Mandela, and social justice in South Africa; and to make connections to literature through experiencing the culture and beauty of Zambia.
Shannon Castelo, James River High School (CH) — $8,700
To discover the geography and cultural landscapes of two world cities, New York City and Jerusalem, that have shaped the past and continue to shape modern, global decision-making.
Nichole Gross, Fairfield Middle School (HE) — $12,000
To explore the vast cultures, landscapes, languages, and arts that influence world literature and American culture through travel to England, France, Italy, Spain, Ghana and Morocco.
Gina Hackett, L. C. Bird High School (CH) — $11,800
To explore the ancient culture and landscape of Athens and Santorini, Greece with a focus on bringing the strong sense of community and hospitality back to the classroom.
Meghan Hamm, Yvonne B. Miller High School (DJJ) — $11,300
To learn papermaking, watermarking and bookmaking in Fabriano, Italy and 13th century paper mill techniques in Amalfi, Italy.
Christine Henry, Marguerite Christian Elementary School (CH) — $11,800
To encourage the next generation of thinkers and risk takers by retracing the footsteps of her grandmother – a former refugee, immigrant, and US citizen – through travel to Canada and Europe.
Melinda Johnson, Washington Henry Elementary School (HA) — $11,000
To attend the National Kindergarten Conference in Las Vegas and then explore innovative play-based education practices with travel to Colorado, Paradise Island, Ireland, and Scotland.
Kieasha King, Woodville Elementary School (RI) — $12,000
To obtain a Social Emotion Learning (SEL) certification at UCLA, gain anti-stress techniques in the Dominican Republic and mindfulness skills in Hawaii.
Tamara Letter, Mechanicsville Elementary School (HA) — $11,200
To connect with educators and organizations across the United States and Canada in an effort to cultivate kindness for global impact and to inspire others through digital sketchnoting and storytelling.
Robert Meister, Glen Allen High School (HE) — $10,000
To study improvisational handpan music and technique with international musicians from France, Portugal, and the U.S. to further enhance lessons in literature and writing.
Robin Milwit, Greenwood Elementary School (HE) — $11,500
To study emerging technologies that help develop students’ social and emotional skills by visiting schools and ed-tech companies in Finland and attending national technology conferences in Florida, California and the Fred Rogers Center in Pennsylvania.
Kathy Paschall, Franklin Military Academy (RI) — $11,500
To find adventure in the natural wonders of Iceland and Patagonia by becoming immersed in their extraordinary earth science features.
Lauren Serpa, Spring Run Elementary School (CH) — $11,500
To enhance student collaboration and creativity by studying comedy improv in Chicago and exploring the music, dances, instruments, and art from Ireland and The Netherlands.
Matt Wester, Franklin Military Academy (RI) — $8,700
To travel through the wilderness of the American West and experience the spirit of wonder and discovery that has inspired famous scientists over time.
The awards program, which is a partnership between the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond and the R.E.B. Foundation, recognizes excellence in public education by awarding cash grants to outstanding public school teachers from the City of Richmond, the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico, and Hanover, and the Department of Correctional Education. Since its inception in 1988, the program has awarded $3.5 million to over 800 public school instructors as recognition for their outstanding classroom performance.
JULY 9, 2019 — Made possible by donor established funds, the Community Foundation announces its 2019 Community Impact grant awards, totaling over $3 million to 83 organizations across the region. Community Impact grants are awarded through a competitive process and support local nonprofits whose strategies and outcomes align with the Foundation’s four focus areas: community vibrancy, economic prosperity, educational success, and health and wellness. Within these areas, the Community Foundation has adopted funding priorities in education, housing, and workforce development initiatives that will increase access and opportunity for low-income residents in Richmond.
Here are a few notable highlights from this years’ selection of grants:
“While we will always support program delivery,” Scott Blackwell, Chief Community Engagement Officer for the Community Foundation said, “we are growing our support for systems level and policy work. We need all three strategies to make lasting change for our community.”
Grants awarded in this category aim to ensure that community members enjoy good quality of life, with access to and an appreciation for the arts, cultural opportunities, and natural assets.
Art 180 - $35,000 To create and deliver innovative arts-based programs to youth in challenging circumstances.
CultureWorks - $60,000 To support CultureWorks service and leadership for the Richmond and Tri-Cities region. (third year of a three-year grant)
Richmond Ballet - $20,000 To support afterschool dance programs for students in Greater Richmond.
Richmond Symphony - $20,000 To fund the Big Tent Festival and ongoing music education programs.
SPARC - $30,000 To support out-of-school time arts programs that address the needs of low-wealth youth in Greater Richmond.
Science Museum of Virginia Foundation - $20,000 To support a year-round "applied STEM learning" pipeline for Richmond students in grades 5-8.
Virginia Museum of History and Culture - $40,000 To support the exhibition, "Determined: The 400-Year Struggle for Black Equality."
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Foundation - $20,000 To support the exhibition, "Working Together: Louis Draper and the Kamoinge Workshop."
Virginia Repertory Theatre - $25,000 To support live theater productions communicating to Greater Richmond youth about human trafficking.
Virginia Voice - $15,000 To support equitable access to information, culture and community for individuals with disabilities through technology and the human voice.
Visual Arts Center of Richmond - $20,000 To continue the growth of art education and youth mentoring programs.
Leadership Metro Richmond - $10,000 To support two Leadership Quest scholarships for community leaders in low-wealth communities.
Re-Establish Richmond - $10,000 To support programs that empower refugees and immigrants in Richmond to rebuild their networks and become self-sufficient.
Sports Backers - $50,000 To advocate for equity-based transportation infrastructure through the development of safe and accessible places for people to bike and walk in greater Richmond.
Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities - $30,000 To fund inclusion and equity workshops, retreats, and assemblies for students, educators, business leaders, law enforcement, elected officials, and citizens.
Blue Sky Fund - $20,000 To provide educator support and hands-on outdoor learning opportunities for elementary school students facing disadvantages.
Capital Trees - $15,000 To complete the Low Line and restore 2.5 historic acres of land between the 17th Street flood wall and Great Shiplock Park.
Enrichmond Foundation - $28,000 To provide landscaping- and horticulture-based job skills training for Richmond residents working to reclaim Evergreen, East End, and Paupers Cemeteries.
James River Association - $15,000 To protect the James River, improve water quality and connect people to the river for enhanced community vibrancy and individual health.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden - $30,000 To support a corps of community volunteers trained to lead urban greening initiatives in their own neighborhoods.
Maymont Foundation - $20,000 To implement the Maymont Explorers Program for Richmond youth.
Grants awarded in this category aim to ensure that the region’s resources are sustainable, and its residents are economically stable and secure.
Better Housing Coalition - $60,000 To support operations and fund consulting work to develop a business plan for resident services.
Habitat for Humanity Powhatan - $15,000 To support general operating costs and enable hiring of additional Habitat Store staff.
Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia - $75,000 To support work with housing choice voucher clients to help them find affordable housing in high opportunity neighborhoods.
Partnership for Housing Affordability - $25,000 To support collaborative work among community members, nonprofit leaders and local government representatives to create the Regional Housing Framework.
project:HOMES - $50,000 To support the Immediate Response Fund that quickly addresses hazardous living conditions of low-income families.
Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity - $50,000 To revitalize homes in the Maymont and Randolph neighborhoods.
CARITAS - $35,000 To support case management and shelter staff in the CARITAS shelter.
HomeAgain - $20,000 To support general operations of emergency shelters and community housing programs.
Homeward - $50,000 To support Homeward’s collaborative work with over 30 public and nonprofit homeless service providers of the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (third year of a three-year grant).
Housing Families First - $35,000 To support general operations, expand housing program capacity, and prepare for future rapid re-housing program expansions.
St. Joseph’s Villa - $40,000 To support families and individuals in Greater Richmond who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Virginia Supportive Housing - $35,000 To help our community end homelessness by providing permanent supportive housing services to ensure formerly homeless individuals remain stably housed.
Side by Side - $15,000 To support programs for LGBTQ+ youth ages 18-25 who are experiencing housing instability in the Richmond region.
HumanKind - $30,000 To support individuals as they build their financial well-being through employment, financial and benefits coaching or through facilitation of a fair-interest vehicle loan.
Neighborhood Resource Center - $30,000 To support NRC Works, Out-of-School-Time and Food Programs.
Richmond Opportunities, Inc. - $150,000 To support the Executive Director's salary, technology and data, and strategic communications.
Sacred Heart Center - $30,000 To support the general operating costs of the Sacred Heart Center, in providing educational and human service programs to adults, children, youth, and families.
Thriving Cities Group - $30,000 To support RVA Thrives' efforts to increase neighborhood leadership in the Jefferson Davis Corridor and disseminate the Community Voice Blueprint to improve how local organizations engage historically marginalized communities.
Virginia Local Initiatives Support Corporation - $20,000 To support continued work convening residents and partners to develop plans and actions that uplift the Northside neighborhood.
Center for Nonprofit Excellence - $15,000 To provide salary support for the consultant coordinating the Workforce Development Coalition.
Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia - $50,000 To support co-locating skill-building training, career advising, digital literacy and job placement and retention services at two pilot sites in coordination with the Work Access Collaborative.
IT4Causes - $20,000 To support programs that help low- to moderate-income technology students build on-the-job experience, soft skills and professional networks.
Reynolds Community College - $50,000 To support the new Kitchens at Reynolds facility located in the East End.
Grants awarded in this category aim to ensure that young people achieve in school, engage in their community and are prepared for the workforce.
FutureRVA - $50,000 To support FutureRVA’s three-year talent development and school-to-job strategies in high schools (third year of a three-year grant).
Partnership for the Future - $35,000 To support programming for low-income, college-bound students.
Boys & Girls Club of Metro Richmond - $50,000 To support high-quality staffing, learning programs and mentorship programs in Richmond and Petersburg.
Chesterfield Education Foundation - $25,000 To grow the operating capacity to support a growing school division.
Communities In Schools of Chesterfield - $25,000 To support expansion of programming to L.C. Bird High School.
Communities In Schools of Petersburg - $25,000 To support Integrated Student Support services in all Petersburg City Public Schools.
Communities In Schools of Richmond - $100,000 To deliver the Integrated Student Support model across 32 high-poverty Richmond Public School sites.
Henrico Education Foundation - $25,000 To support a Trauma-Informed Education Coordinator position at Glen Lea Elementary School.
Higher Achievement - $50,000 To support Summer and Afterschool Academies for underserved middle school students.
Junior Achievement of Central Virginia - $20,000 To provide financial literacy, workforce readiness, career discovery and entrepreneurship education for middle and high school students.
The Literacy Lab - $35,000 To support rigorously-trained, full-time tutors in high-need K-3 classrooms.
NextUp RVA - $200,000 To coordinate and deliver high-quality afterschool programs in four Richmond middle schools and expand services into Albert Hill Middle School.
Peter Paul Development Center - $50,000 To support afterschool and summer educational programs that help strengthen the academic performance of students in grades 2-12 in Richmond's East End.
The Podium Foundation - $15,000 To continue youth writing programs in Richmond, expand into Henrico County, and implement a trauma-informed care approach.
Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation - $25,000 To support general operations as the Foundation transitions its focus to fundraising in support of RPS' strategic goals.
Virginia Commonwealth University Foundation - $75,000 To continue the Richmond Teacher Residency - Petersburg program, creating a sustainable pipeline of highly effective teachers committed to the students of Petersburg City Public Schools for the long term.
Virginia Mentoring Partnership - $20,000 To support training, technical assistance, quality assurance and evaluation services for youth mentoring programs.
YMCA of Greater Richmond - $50,000 To support out-of-school time programs for low-wealth students in Richmond and Petersburg,
Family Lifeline - $25,000 To sustain the Early Childhood Home Visiting initiative serving vulnerable families in Richmond.
FRIENDS Association for Children - $25,000 To provide high-quality early childhood, preschool and school-age development programs.
Partnership for Families - $35,000 To implement programs that ensure Northside youth have the literacy skills necessary for kindergarten.
Smart Beginnings Greater Richmond - $100,000 To provide capacity building support (third year of a three-year grant).
Smart Beginnings Southeast - $25,000 To support quality and access to the early childhood system in Petersburg through Westview Early Learning Center.
SOAR365 - $25,000 To support services for children with disabilities by supporting therapists' travel to the child's natural environment and translation costs for non-English speaking families.
Virginia Early Childhood Foundation - $20,000 To support a Community Liaison position to work with families and service providers in the East End.
Virginia Literacy Foundation - $25,000 To support a project that helps achieve equity in kindergarten readiness and family literacy among children and families in Petersburg and Richmond's Southside.
YWCA of Richmond - $40,000 To provide operating support to create access to opportunities, strengthen resilience, and advance equitable systems for lifelong success.
Grants awarded in this category aim to ensure that community members are healthy and safe.
Central Virginia Health Services - $50,000 To establish a school-based health center at Petersburg High School.
Conexus - $25,000 To support mobile vision clinic services in Chesterfield, Petersburg, Henrico and Richmond schools.
Free Clinic of Powhatan - $15,000 To support operating expenses vital to patient care, including salary support, prescriptions, dental services, medical and office supplies and marketing resources.
Richmond City Health District - $75,000 To support the Community Health Worker program.
Feed More - $50,000 To deliver healthy meals to food-insecure and homebound seniors and disabled adults in Central Virginia.
Greater Richmond Fit4Kids - $15,000 To equip parents and amplify their voices to lead policy and systems change efforts to improve their children's health and wellness.
Shalom Farms - $25,000 To improve the health and increase self-sufficiency of low-income communities with limited access to healthy food, resources, and supports to improve health.
Tricycle Urban Ag - $20,000 To increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in Richmond and Henrico.
ChildSavers - $50,000 To support quality early care and mental health care to help children overcome trauma through resilience.
Greater Richmond SCAN - $25,000 To reduce the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), build community resilience, and reduce the prevalence of ACEs in the region.
The James House Intervention/Prevention Services - $25,000 To provide trauma informed care, safe shelter, and advocacy for children and adults in the Tri-Cities affected by sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking, and child abuse and neglect.
Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging - $25,000 To support education and advocacy programs that increase equitable access to services, address the changing needs of our community, and enable more people to remain in their homes and communities.