2019 Loudoun Impact Fund Grantees
Local donors and nonprofit leaders gathered this week at Integrus Holdings as the Loudoun Impact Fund awarded $102,000 in grants to 15 nonprofit organizations serving Loudoun County. The awards were made possible through the generosity of approximately 50 individuals and businesses that pooled charitable gifts.
The Loudoun Impact Fund brings together individuals and businesses interested in grantmaking administered through a joint effort of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia and the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties.
Participants make a gift of $1,000 per individual or $5,000 per business to join the giving circle. Members review proposals submitted from local nonprofits and decide together which charities to grant. More than $457,000 in grant requests were received, almost double in requests than received last year.
“We once again were overwhelmed by the quality of the grant requests and the level of need in our community,” said Robert Fiolek, donor and co-leader of the Loudoun Impact Fund. “I fully recommend participation in some form of community giving. Sure, it may be easier to just write a check. But if you are investing your time in learning the true needs of your neighbors and standing shoulder to shoulder with others in helping others, I promise you, you will want to do more.”
Amy Owen, President and CEO of the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, noted the long-term impact of the giving circle’s grantmaking. “Since 2014, the Loudoun Impact Fund has contributed almost $600,000 in grants,” she said. “This is a high impact contribution in our community, especially when you recognize the lackluster household giving in Loudoun County. The members of the giving circle understand that these large grants seed programs, advance existing initiatives, and do good here at home.”
AHT’s annual charity golf tournament dedicated the entirety of its proceeds to the Loudoun Impact Fund adding $25,000 to the fund. Additional corporate donors included Integrus Holdings, parent company of Sterling Restaurant Supply and Fortessa, Backflow Technology, Madison Wealth Management, and Tony Nerantzis and Associates.
This year, participants voted to fund initiatives serving at-risk children, older adults, and people with disabilities. The 2019 grants include:
• A Farm Less Ordinary will receive an $8,000 grant to support the purchase of equipment for a new farm location in Leesburg that will employ people with disabilities.
• A Place To Be will receive a $5,000 grant to support the expansion of new services in eastern Loudoun County, with the purchase of music equipment for music therapists serving youth and young adults with disabilities.
• Arc of Loudoun will receive a $5,000 grant to support renovations to expand Early Intervention Services offered through Aurora Behavior Clinic, Aurora School, and Open Door Learning Center to children with disabilities.
• BRAWS will receive a $3,000 grant to provide undergarments and menstrual products to girls in Loudoun County, with the goal of reducing school absences.
• Crossroads Jobs will receive a $5,000 grant to support job placement and post placement services for disabled adults, and to launch a Mentoring Program in support of newly-hired clients who have disabilities and their employers, to improve job retention.
• Fenwick Foundation will receive a $6,000 grant to provide dental care and treatment to low-income, older adults.
• HealthWorks for Northern Virginia will receive a $7,500 grant to support a satellite food pantry program, in partnership with Loudoun Hunger Relief, providing HealthWorks patients with healthy food and nutrition education.
• Hopecam, Inc., will receive a $2,500 grant to support children undergoing cancer treatment, connecting them to their schools and support systems using webcams and internet technology.
• INMED Partnerships for Children will receive a $5,000 grant to support academically-focused after-school program and STEAM summer day camp for disadvantaged children.
• Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter will receive a $10,000 grant to providing counseling and support group services to child victims of domestic and sexual violence, as well as activities provided to children residing in the LAWS Emergency Shelter.
• Loudoun Hunger Relief will receive a $10,000 grant to support the Senior Adult Food Security Program, providing food to at-risk older adults, in partnership with HealthWorks for Northern Virginia, Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers, Madison House Apartments, and the William Watters House.
• Loudoun Literacy Council will receive a $7,500 grant to support the Family Literacy STEP Project, providing literacy enrichment to at-risk preschool children and their families in 10 classrooms across Loudoun County.
• Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers will receive a $10,000 grant to support services for disabled and older adults through assisted transportation, money management services, shopping assistance, visiting, home repairs, and quality-of-life programs.
• Mobile Hope will receive a $7,500 grant to support the Crisis Care program serving homeless young adults, ages 18-24, including shelter and intensive case management services.
• Ryan Bartel Foundation will receive a $10,00 grant support the continuation of the Sources of Strength program, provided in partnership with LCPS, including a program expansion to additional schools.
Media Coverage:
Donors Make $102K Impact for Loudoun Charities – Loudoun Now
Loudoun Impact Fund awards more than $100K in grants to local nonprofits – Loudoun Times-Mirror
