by Alpha Graphics | Aug 27, 2015 | Blog Thoughts, by Amy Owen
There are many ways to get involved in your local community—sometimes it just takes knowing the right people. Or, the local coalitions, networks and initiatives! Our local community has a number of meeting systems and groups that welcome visitors, volunteers, and offer a wonderful ways to build connections and learn more about what’s what here at home. Interested in volunteering? How about learning more about local charities dedicated to health and human service? Want to find local workshops and training on fundraising or nonprofit administration? Here’s a list we’d like to offer up that might help guide your local thinking—and action! As put so beautifully, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” Mahatma Gandhi...
by Alpha Graphics | Jul 22, 2015 | Students
Gavin Rupp “I Promise 15” Scholarship Fund has awarded two scholarships in its debut year. Created in memorial to Gavin Rupp who died of cancer, July 30, 2013, at age 13, Gavin attended Eagle Ridge Middle School and loved the game of baseball. His jersey was #15. The scholarship fund makes awards to students in the medical profession pursuing training and degrees with a particular emphasis in oncology. “Our entire family is so grateful for the wonderful medical team members that supported Gavin throughout his 30-month battle with cancer. We hope that by providing a scholarship to students who will one day work with other pediatric cancer patients, the scholarship recipients can “Pay it Forward” to many others for years to come,” said Gavin’s parents, Chris and Sandy Rupp. Together with Gavin’s brother Ian and sister Abby, the Rupp’s intend to award at least one scholarship annually. Two students were selected to benefit in 2015: Caroline Nicotra (left), a Tuscarora High School graduate, will attend Virginia Tech with aspirations to study biological sciences on a pre-med track in oncology. Nicotra says she loves science, but was inspired by a friend in 4th grade who died of cancer. A second award was made to Brianna Jennings (right), a graduate of Loudoun County High. She will attend Michigan State University on a pre-med track after personal health issues sensitized her to the need for physicians with empathy and care. The Scholarship Fund also has a new benefactor from sales of a newly published children’s book, Overwhelming Underdogs, written by Jeanne Layman, sold online through Lulu.Com. A coming-of-age story about baseball, proceeds from the book will...
by Alpha Graphics | Jun 30, 2015 | Philanthropy Rocks
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia and the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties have partnered to support needs in Loudoun County. This year, the Loudoun Impact Fund, a giving circle dedicated to supporting organizations in Loudoun County, will be managed jointly by both organizations. An estimated $65,000 of pooled contributions to the Fund will be available to support its 2015-2016 grant cycle. Members of the giving circle have elected to support programs that positively impact youth and elderly welfare in Loudoun County. Applications submitted from nonprofits, schools and faith-based organizations are now being accepted through a September 1, 2015 deadline. Grants are expected to range from $5,000 to $20,000 per agency. In this year’s program, applications will be accepted for initiatives that improve the quality of life, health and mental wellness and/or provide services to disadvantaged children up to 18 and elders 65 or over to include populations with special needs, or are dependent, neglected, low-income or at-risk. To learn more about this opportunity, visit www.communityfoundationlf.org/grant-seekers. The Loudoun Impact Fund was launched in 2012 by the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia and has granted $100,000. The new partnership with the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties broadens the reach of the giving circle membership. Its purpose is to invest strategically in Loudoun County, Virginia, to promote education, the arts and the environment, and to support the needs of Loudoun families, children and youth. Each year, giving circle members work together to identify specific criteria for the annual grant cycle and, as the grant cycle progresses, serve as a grants review team for all proposals collected. “It’s a wonderful way to learn more about the...
![The Shout Out that Makes You Smile]()
by Alpha Graphics | Jun 19, 2015 | by Amy Owen, GiveChoose
Even though the Community Foundation’s 24-hour crowdfunding event, GiveChoose, was over a month ago (raising double over last year for some 48 local charities, I must add!!!), checks just went in the mail. We took some time to reconcile all those transactions, process several refund requests (there is nothing as alarming as meaning to make a $25 gift, but pushing the “0” to the point of making a $2,500 gift. . . gulp . . . ), and get to get the checks cut. Ironically, last Tuesday as we stuffed them all in the mail, Jennifer Montgomery of Loudoun Interfaith Relief stopped by with this nifty, fantastic, and joyful video. It sure made me smile, big time. I thought I’d share it with you. And, for the charities who took the crazy time out of their day to make it happen (and for all those who couldn’t, or didn’t), thanks to you each and all for making this work so meaningful. I think YOU’RE the...
by Alpha Graphics | May 2, 2015 | Blog Thoughts, by Amy Owen, Philanthropy Rocks
May 1st was a golfing event for the Community Foundation. Local folks from Loudoun and Fauquier Counties generously donated to our grant making, leadership, and partnership building work and, in exchange, spent a half-day with two PROs. I mean, real golf PROs. So good, they tutor the guys who make the cut. E.J. Pfister and Chris Tidland flew in at the behest of our event coordinator, John Mascatello’s Wasserman Media Group. Folks were learning some really good stuff. During lunch, we got an insiders’ behind-the-scenes view into the game of golf, its players, its politics, led by Mascatello and Len Shapiro of the Middleburg Life (and Washington Post). E.J. and Chris talked about their work, and how they do it, and the people they work with. You could tell. Pfister and Tidland love the game, and they love teaching it. I realized that, if I had a family member who had talent, and was on the way up into the realm of professional golf, these were the teachers I’d want for my kid or spouse or cousin. They had this powerful combination of challenge and reinforcement, knowledge with fantastic examples, that a good teacher possesses. Good people, good at their jobs. Thanks, guys! And, thanks to everyone from our community who joined in. I hope you’re out putting and chipping on this lovely day with that extra bit of skill. I know Elaine Burden, Tom Northrup, Jon Moynihan, and Bob Wipfler must be! They won the day’s skills challenge. Our program was generously sponsored by Langhorne Custom Homes, RevSite.com, and AHT Insurance....
by Alpha Graphics | Apr 29, 2015 | Blog Thoughs, by Amy Owen, GiveChoose
I just spent 20 minutes on the Community Foundation’s Twitter and Facebook pages re-posting all recent social media posts from our GiveChoose charities. Is it good use of my time? Heck. Its not just time. The Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties has invested a fair $ amount in GiveChoose, set for this next Tuesday. Its a 24-hour charitable crowdfunding event for almost 50 local charities that starts at 12:01 AM on Tuesday May 5th. Check out the giving portal at GiveChoose.org. One more fad, you say? The best thing since sliced bread, maybe? Really, its somewhere in between. But, here are some of the meaningful details. Online fundraising is the fastest growing form of new income for charities. They need to be proficient at it. (We launched the program earlier this year with a half-day training program for all charities.) Its fantastically cost effective–no paper or postage, and design is typically an in-house creative moment. In our first year of GiveChoose (last year), 44% of all donors were First Time Donors to the charity they gave to. That’s awesome stuff. And, finally, it builds community — a connection between businesses (Toth Financial, Alpha Graphics, Backflow Technology, Middleburg Bank, and Alpha Graphics, a private foundation, and others), that, together, created a Prize Pool of gifts to incentivize giving during the 24 hours. There’s nothing quite like winning a prize. Charities get too few of them. It builds community among charities, as they row together to inspire giving here at home. And, it builds community as our local households see that remarkable array of local charities, doing remarkable things, helping...
by Alpha Graphics | Apr 26, 2015 | by Amy Owen
The Community Foundation was part of three very different evening meetings this past week. Each gathering depended on strong partnerships from our community. Tuesday was a convening among dozens of charities willing to suss out ideas to help local citizens move from Food Insecurity to Food Security. One can expect our food pantry and backpack program leaders to show up for that topic, right? The invitation was also answered by groups who work with the same patrons: Loudoun Abused Women Shelter , Loudoun Literacy, Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers, Crossroads Jobs, and Loudoun Cares, to name a few. I applaud the breadth and scope of these caring groups willing to come together, to think, and share, and work toward community improvement. On Wednesday, I joined the annual announcement of grantees from the 100 WomenStrong giving circle. This distinguished group of local philanthropists made grants totaling $113,000 this year, to ten charities carefully selected for their work in hunger, education, shelter, and health. It was an evening of joy. Thursday night? A sparkling new partnership with a sister community foundation, Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. Together, the Loudoun Impact Fund and its donors (each who tithe in $1,000 per person, or $5,000 per business) will build a local grant making pool to help youth and elderly. This pool of funds, expected to approach $50,000, will offer substantive and meaningful impact to grantee charities. Boom! As Helen Keller said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so...
by Alpha Graphics | Apr 6, 2015 | GiveChoose
GiveChoose Prize Schedule 2015 For our charities: these timeframes may be very helpful in energizing your donors. Donors: making a gift during these peak periods will help your favorite charities win bonus prizes during GiveChoose. Thanks, too, to our latest Prize Pool Sponsor Toth Financial...
by Alpha Graphics | Mar 31, 2015 | Uncategorized
Give Choose Press Release Special thanks to our Lead sponsors Middleburg Bank, Backflow Technology, Toth Financial, Hillsdale Fund, and Alpha...
![Hone Your Golf Skills with E.J. Pfizer and Chris Tidland]()
by Alpha Graphics | Mar 13, 2015 | by Amy Owen
JOIN One of the World’s finest Teaching Pros E.J. Pfister and Tour Pro Chris Tidland, plus John Mascatello and Len Shapiro for a Short Game Clinic and Skills Challenge while benefiting your local Community Foundation. Two Short Game Clinics will be offered. Both groups will convene for lunch and a presentation with guest speaker Len Shapiro. 9:00 am: Breakfast and Registration for the Morning Clinic 10:00 am – Noon: Morning Clinic (this Clinic gives participants the opportunity to reserve a full round of golf after lunch at a generously reduced guest rate) Noon – 1:30 pm: Luncheon and Presentation for participants of both Clinics 1:30 – 3:30 pm: Afternoon Clinic *Please Note: Both Short Game Clinics will conclude with a competitive Skills Challenge Short Game Clinic and Skills Challenge: $500 per session ($300 tax deductible) includes a tee gift, lunch and all day use of the practice facilities. Short Game Clinic and Skills Challenge with Golf Included, greens fee and cart fee for 18 holes: $675 ($300 tax deductible) Visit our Smore Page to Register! We can’t wait to see you swing! ...
