Nonprofit grant recipients report 2024 community impact

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Grants to 14 area organizations in 2024-5 from The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham supported work in the areas of mental health, food pantries, animal care, and arts and culture. Approximately $159,500 was awarded from seven endowed funds managed by TCFHR.

Grant applications for the 2025 cycle are in the review process, with awardees to be announced in November.

Expanding Access for Mental Health Care

The following organizations were supported by the Alvin V. Baird Jr. Endowed Fund, benefiting nonprofit healthcare organizations that address unmet healthcare needs in the Harrisonburg/Rockingham County community:

A $5,000 grant to Adagio House’s Compassion Fund contributed approximately 50 of 162 free and reduced fee psychotherapy sessions to those in need. The organization helps to address the critical need for support services for individuals with disabilities and their families. Some of the people served by this grant are single mothers parenting autistic children, young adults trying to navigate the world with co-occurring diagnoses, and young women who are newly diagnosed autistic, according to founder and executive director April Hepler. “This support has made a tangible difference in the lives of those impacted, lowering their report of symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression, and helping to prevent their need for higher level (and more costly) services,” she shared.

Family Life Resource Center used their $2,935 grant to provide sliding-scale scholarships for 21 clients to access mental health sessions. Those clients included children, couples, those awaiting Medicaid/Medicare, and families, all of whom had lost a loved one to suicide.

Musicians perform at the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival in summer 2025.

A $25,000 grant supported the work of The Foundation for Rehabilitation & Endowment, known as FREE of Harrisonburg. This organization focuses on helping low-income residents with mobility needs by employing a national medical reuse model program that utilizes collaborations and local partnerships to generate community-sourced donations.

Healthy Community Health Centers purchased infant bilirubin monitoring equipment and reusable blankets with a $16,100 grant. Monitoring can now be done without taking a blood sample. Blankets are available to loan to patients in need of jaundice treatment.

Supporting the Arts

The following organizations were supported by the Earlynn J Miller Fund for the Arts, to encourage arts nonprofit organizations to dream about the possibilities to significantly grow the arts:

The Arts Council of the Valley hosts the year-long Arts for All program, including exhibitions, concerts, a chalk art festival, international mural collaboration, and the Super Gr8 Film Festival. More than $45,000 from the Earlynn J Miller Fund for the Arts supported the 2025 programs, most of which were free to attend.

Grant funding helped OASIS Fine Art & Craft promote the arts through scholarships. Here a student shows off his 3D printed nameplate with JuiceWorks 3D Executive Director Andrei Dacko (left). 

Harrisonburg Dance Cooperative utilized grant funding to purchase sound panels and offset costs of performances in their downtown studio. The organization offered a pay-what-you-can show and tiered ticket prices, making performances more accessible to community members. Additionally, the support helped to maintain our current studio rental prices, with resulting increased use and increased collaboration with community groups.

OASIS Fine Art & Craft used Miller funding to provide scholarships for students to attend classes at Friendly City Clay & Art Center and Juice Works 3D. Classes for children at the Second Home shelter were also offered.

The Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival’s 2025 season was funded in part by a Miller grant, which helped the organization provide programming and transition with fiscal health.  In the last year, due to the diligence and leadership of the board, the organization successfully navigated independence from its previous host, Eastern Mennonite University, and now has separate 501(c)3 status. said Les Helmuth, interim executive director.

Support for Food Pantries

The following organization was supported by a grant from the Harrisonburg- Rockingham Food Pantry Endowment:

The Corner Cupboard Food Pantry at Emmanuel Episcopal Church expanded their offerings, in response to client requests, to include feminine hygiene items, adult diapers, and culturally appropriate food. The program was supported by a grant from the pantry endowment, a fund set up by TCFHR’s board to address area hunger needs. The pantry has seen a 20 percent increase in clients served this year. Receiving the grant “also had the effect of setting an example for individual donors to donate,” wrote David Seiter. “The donors saw the grant and knew it was a worthwhile project. We expect, once the final figures are calculated, we will surpass [fundraising] expectations.”

Caring for Animals

The following organizations were supported by the Hildred Neff Memorial Fund benefiting nonprofit organizations that provide for the needs of domestic animals or wildlife.

The Wildlife Center of Virginia – the oldest and largest wildlife veterinary hospital in the Commonwealth –treats more than 4,000 patients each year, with about 13 percent of those coming

Nosey the cat, a feral resident of the area, benefited from funding to the HRSPCA’s Community Cat Program.

from Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.   The grant supported treatment for 479 local sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals, with an average cost of $195 (this cost includes specialized food, medications, medical and laboratory supplies, equipment, and salaries and benefits for the wildlife veterinary and rehabilitation care team).

Rockingham Harrisonburg SPCA’s Community Cat Program received $11,685 to provide spays and neuters, microchips, and vaccines for outdoor cats in Rockingham County. In collaboration with Anicira Veterinary Center, the SPCA offers guidance on trapping and voucher access, with the goals of reducing shelter intake and focusing resources on animals already in their care.

Growing the Arts for All

The following organizations were supported by the Valley Arts and Culture Fund, benefiting small and medium sized arts organizations, and the Mary Spitzer Etter Endowed Fund, promoting arts in the area.

More than 1,500 area second-graders in the city and county attended Barefoot Puppet Theater’s performance of “New Squid on the Block” over four-day span in October 2024.  This was one of several learning opportunities hosted by Any Given Child Shenandoah Valley.

Another grant paid for stipends for professional actors appearing in two musicals at Bridgewater-based Silk Moth Stage. The professional theater has been able to increased their ticket sales and expanded educational offerings in schools and libraries.

Expanding Youth Mentorship Opportunities

Children from city and county elementary schools enter Court Square Theater to enjoy a puppetry performance. A grant awarded to Any Given Child Shenandoah Valley enabled every second-grader to enjoy a live arts experience.

Funding in support of mentor recruitment has helped Big Brothers Big Sisters of HR expand and strengthen their volunteer program. The $13,220 grant from the Janet Sohn Endowed Fund provided staff time to recruit more mentors, created a designated fund to cover the cost of background checks, and sponsored regular match events. The positive results have encouraged the organization to seek more funding, in hopes of speeding matches, increasing compatible matches, and helping relationships between matches grow.

“We are thrilled to share that we met the goals associated with the grant request and continue to see increased volunteer interest and engagement,” said Director of Development Lindsey Douglas. “Youth need mentors and our work continues to provide mentors to every local youth who needs and wants one. Thank you for your partnership that helped match and support 109 youth so far in 2025, with nearly 25 more volunteer mentors started in the process of being matched.”

Providing Play Therapy

The Sean Warner Memorial Fund helped the Family Life Resource Center purchase play therapy tools and resources. Purchases included sensory toys, role-play sets, and other therapeutic tools requested by counselors. Approximately 73 children ages 15 and younger have been served by the program this year.

 

Kelsey Gerber among chamber’s 2025-26 Leadership Harrisonburg-Rockingham class

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Kelsey Gerber, program manager at The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham, was selected among 23 area professionals for the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce’s annual leadership program.

As a member of the 2025-26 Leadership Harrisonburg-Rockingham cohort, Gerber will participate in monthly sessions to build awareness of and engagement with the local community, enhance team leadership skills, create networks, and work on a service project.

“Though I’m a county native, there’s always more to learn about this community as it grows and changes,” Gerber said. “I love meeting new people and hearing their perspectives, so I am excited to grow as a professional within this cohort. I’m also looking forward deepening my knowledge of the needs of this community and gaining useful problem-solving skills relevant to my work.”

Revlan Hill, the foundation’s executive director, recommended Gerber for the program. She noted that the foundation’s staff work diligently to steward more than $88 million dollars on behalf of donors for the philanthropic benefit of the community and that each team member plays an important role in this work.

Gerber’s first position with the foundation was in donor services and social media. She was recently promoted to program manager.

“Kelsey’s new role will require a nuanced understanding of city and county government, area demographics and needs, nonprofit organizations, and overall deficits and challenges,” Hill said. “I’m certain that her participation in the Leadership Harrisonburg-Rockingham program will grow her knowledge and capabilities in ways that will serve our work and the larger community. We’re thankful for this program and the way it brings together professionals to benefit the larger region.”

Gerber joins individuals representing a range of area businesses, including Interchange Group, Inc., LD&B Insurance and Financial Services, Rockingham Cooperative, Dupont Community Credit Union, and Massanutten Resort.

The day-long sessions explore topics such as agriculture and sustainability, nonprofits, local government and public safety, economic development, education, arts and entertainment, and professional development.

Since 1979, more than 1,000 individuals have graduated from the program. A steering committee of program alumni representing prominent area businesses and educational institutions develop the curricula.

Gerber earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology at University of Lynchburg, where she was a Westover Honors Fellow, a four-year participant in the Bonner Leaders program, and the 2023-24 Richard Clarke Sommerville Scholar, the university’s highest academic honor.

A similar program at Lynchburg made a discernable impact on the community, Gerber said. “It was encouraging to see a group of professionals who were not only eager to learn more about their city, but who wanted to put their learnings into action by meeting a need in their community. I look forward to seeing what my team and others contribute when we conclude our time together.”

Two board members end six-year terms

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Attorney Matthew Sunderlin and retired bank professional Charles Martorana have ended their service on the board of The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham. The board consists of 16 community representatives bringing experience and expertise in many different areas. They guide the foundation’s work and hold an important role as fiduciaries for the organization’s operations and financial health.

“Working alongside Matt Sunderlin and Charlie Martorana has been my distinct privilege for the past six years,” said Executive Director Revlan Hill.

Sunderlin brought instrumental expertise in work with clients and nonprofits and even while running a law practice, was generous with his attention when called upon, she said. “There was never a time that Matt wasn’t eager to answer a question, help in a situation or educate me on a particular item.”

Hill praised Martorana’s calm demeanor and open mind in all situations, even challenging ones.

“The work of our foundation can be complex and having talented board members like Matt and Charlie who care deeply about our community is key to our success,” she said.

Matt Sunderlin: ‘We need more people willing to invest time…’

A member of TCF’s board since 2019, Sunderlin is an attorney with Clark & Bradshaw in Harrisonburg. In 2021, he was appointed the assistant commissioner of accounts with the Circuit Court of Rockingham County.  He holds certifications as an elder law attorney and a certified guardian at litem for incapacitated adults.

“Service on the board has been pure joy,” Sunderlin said. “The mission of the foundation is extremely important in today’s world. We need more people who are willing to invest their time and treasure to improve the lives of others.”

Sunderlin praised the ease and simplicity of using the foundation to accomplish charitable goals.

A member of the community engagement committee, he has contributed his time and expertise to Truist Financial, the RMH Foundation, the regional chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, Blue Ridge Community College, Rotary Club, The Arc, and The ElderAlliance.

Charlie Martorana: Praise for TCFHR’s reach and wide expertise of fellow board members

Martorana served on the Community Engagement Committee for both terms and the Governance Committee for his second term.

His reflections on his time on the board:

We have the most giving and generous members that have interacted with and set up funds with the foundation for the benefit of the Harrisonburg/Rockingham community that reaches so many facets of the needs of the community. While I knew this from serving on the boards of other non-profit organizations, it was strikingly illuminated for me by serving on our board.

I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of such a terrific board with professional individuals from many ‘walks of life’ and an amazing director and staff that accomplishes so very much to help our community.

As each year passes, more and more people are aware of what the foundation does to enhance our community and I must say that it has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of it!

Martorana noted that since 2019, TCFHR has grown the Great Community Give into the area’s most successful fundraiser for nonprofits. He’s enjoyed being a part of the addition of the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program, and taking a key role in helping to start the Little Free Library featuring children’s books that stands outside the South Main Street office. The scholarship program has also grown in size and impact, he added.

Martorana is the retired Valley Region Market President of Blue Ridge Bank, a role he held from 2018 to August 2021. From 1997 to 2018, he served as Senior Vice President, Harrisonburg Market Executive, with Union Bank & Trust and its predecessors from 1987-97. Previously he was Vice President, Valley Area Commercial Loans, at NationsBank from 1987-97.

He is a former member of the Executive Advisory Council for the College of Visual and Performing Arts and current member on the board of the Center for Global and Community Justice (formerly the Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence) at James Madison University. He also serves on the advisory board for Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance.

Since 1997, he has been a vice chair or consultant on the fundraising committee for the National MS Society and Dinner of Champions in Harrisonburg as a vice chair or consultant. For these contributions and his work on the board of the Virginia/West Virginia chapter and his professional, civic, and community leadership, he was the featured honoree at the 2022 Virginia/West Virginia chapter’s Dinner of Champions.

Past board service includes a range of organizations: Shenandoah Valley Economic Education, Citizens for Downtown Arts Council of the Valley, Harrisonburg Rotary Club, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, and Mercy House Homeless Shelter. He is also a former finance chair for Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and has served on the finance committee of JMU’s Catholic Campus Ministry. He is also a former member of the JMU Parents Council and an appointee to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Services Board.

More than $390,000 launches TCFHR scholarship winners into fall studies

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Forty-five students were awarded scholarships this year from The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham. Awards total $393,000, with thousands more dollars going out to more than 30 recipients of renewable scholarships based on academic performance.

Seventeen Valley high schools were represented among the recipients. Turner Ashby was well-represented, with seven recent graduates earning top awards and an additional four juniors being named to the Brighter Futures mentoring program.

TCFHR offered 28 scholarships this year, with nine of those scholarships offering awards to multiple students. The awards range from tuition for one class at Massanutten Technical Center to $10,000 a year for four years to a student pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

Learn more about TCFHR scholarships.

Recipients are selected by committee members comprised of 100 Valley community members. Students from 22 Valley high schools can apply. A few scholarships are open to local students attending area community colleges and universities.

Below are the 2025 recipients:

Arthur John Leavenworth – Eureka Lodge #195 Scholarship ($500)

  • Clay Shantz, Turner Ashby
  • Kaylee Dolan, Fort Defiance

Brighter Future Mentoring Award ($750)

  • Abigail Floyd, Broadway
  • Kayla Mata, Turner Ashby
  • Natasha Nikitchuk, Turner Ashby
  • Daniela Santos Lopez, Turner Ashby
  • Leylani Espinoza, Turner Ashby

Claude and Frances Warren Scholarship ($5,000)

  • Mason Smith, Harrisonburg
Community College Transfer Scholarship ($8,000 for 2 years/$16,000 total)
  • Love Joshi

Debi Emrich Memorial Scholarship ($1,000)

  • Claire Mathias, Broadway

Dennis R. and Patricia R. Early Scholarship ($4,000/4 years/$16,000 total)

  • Benjamin Tomei, Spotswood

Early Ace Scholarship ($7,000/4 years/$28,000)

  • Evan Day, Waynesboro
  • Jackson Amaya, Harrisonburg
  • Ashley Chavez Gomez, Harrisonburg
  • Kevin Ruiz, Rocktown

Emory & Henry College Scholarship ($2,000/4 years/$8,000 total)

  • Beau Baylor, Turner Ashby

Fund for Education Scholarship ($5,000)

  • Jade McCarley, Madison County
  • Abigail Brown, Eastern View

Harold & Faye Teer Scholarship

  • Monica Espinoza-Martine, Rocktown ($10,000/4 years/$40,000 total)
  • Bryan Sagastume, Harrisonburg ($6,000/4 years/$24,000)

Laymon H. and Ruth S. Lantz Scholarship ($1,000)

  • Grace Tuttle, EMU MA in Counseling program

Leo Slusher Award ($2,500)

  • James Vincell, Pendleton

Mark & Kimberly Vocational Scholarship ($1,200)

  • Getsemany Pineda, Turner Ashby
  • Cai Johnstone-Yellin, Turner Ashby

Luis A. Mendez, Jr. Scholarship ($2,000)

  • Brett Eye, Turner Ashby

Marion James & Anna Ressler Hess Memorial Scholarship (for Oxford, PA students)

  • Rebecca Powell ($2,000)
  • Riley Fitzgerald ($1,000)

Andy King Memorial Scholarship ($2,000)

  • Brieanna Moreland, James Wood

HEF – Gregory S. Kuykendall Memorial Scholarship ($1,000/4 years/$4,000)

  • Andrew Lankford, Turner Ashby

Just One Scholarship ($1,000)

  • Legacy Wright

Bev Good Memorial Scholarship ($1,000)

  • David Gipson, Spotswood

Randy Michie Memorial Scholarship ($3,000)

  • Ryleigh Fix, William Monroe

Matthew Mahnesmith Memorial Scholarship ($4,000)

  • Matthew Bailey, Waynesboro

Ronnie Brunk Memorial Scholarship ($640)

  • Taha Abdulrahman, MTC

Samuel R. Bowman II Endowed Scholarship for BRCC ($2,ooo/2 years/$4,000 total)

  • Anahi Reyes Hernandez, Turner Asbhy
  • Bryan Sagastume, Harrisonburg
  • Camila Suarez Nunez, East Rockingham

Samuel R. Bowman II Endowed Scholarship for JMU

  • Fernando Sagastume, BRCC and Harrisonburg ($4,000/2 years/$8,000)
  • Brisel Valdez, Turner Ashby ($3,700/4 years/$14,800)

Society of Seniors Foundation Scholarship ($2,500/4 years/$10,000 total)

  • Thomas Kittler, Broughton HS

Steve May Runner of the Year Award ($1,000)

  • Kaedon Howley, Harrisonburg

W.P. & T.M. Phillips Memorial Scholarship ($5,000/4 years/$20,000 total)

  • Ayla Janney, Broadway
  • Clay Shantz, Turner Ashby
  • Taylor Leland, Central
  • Sarah Craun, Turner Ashby

TCFHR streamlines process for ‘Giving Back Guide’ publicity, restricted grants

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The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham announces the opening of its annual grant cycle. The process for nonprofits to share funding needs with grantors has been significantly simplified. TCFHR now uses one process to manage opportunities for nonprofits to share funding needs with grantors.

Organizations with 501(c)(3) status located in and serving Harrisonburg and Rockingham County are invited to participate in this process. Schools and churches are not eligible to apply.

The application window is open July 1 – September 1.

This year, funding requests may be for

  • a particular project
  • programming,
  • capital expenditure, or
  • a request for unrestricted funding (General Operating Budget).

Completion qualifies the organization for inclusion in the Giving Back Guide and if certain criteria are met, for relevant restricted grants. To qualify for a restricted grant, organizations must have as their primary mission focus the following areas: the arts, food pantries, health care, mental health care, or animals.

It’s helpful for nonprofit participants to understand terminology in this process, according to Senior Director of Grants and Scholarships Ann Siciliano.

Restricted grants are set up by TCFHR fundholders to help organizations working in specific areas or fields of interest. Committees review the applications for these grants and make the award based upon which need is greatest. The process is competitive among all the applying organizations.

Siciliano notes that there are many 501(C)(3) organizations in the Valley who don’t qualify for the restricted grants.

“We care about all the nonprofits working here, and so do our donors. That’s where the Giving Back Guide comes in. This is a way for any nonprofit to share their funding needs with our fundholders and prospective donors out there in the community who want to help,” Siciliano said.

The Giving Back Guide is an annual print and digital resource is promoted and circulated to the public and area media, in print and digital form, in mid-November.

TCFHR utilizes the guide as a tool in donor conversations throughout the year. Many donor-advised grants as well as gifts from community members are made to local organizations as a result of this resource.

For more information, visit tcfhr.org and look for nonprofit funding opportunities.

Read about the 2024 Harrisonburg-Rockingham awardees announced 11/20/24.

Father’s tribute leads to commemorative scholarship for son and daughter

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Kim Price Lapsley and Mark Price are honored with a new scholarship for Turner Ashby High School students. Both graduated from TA.

Two Turner Ashby High School students were the recipients of new scholarships offered this year in memory of a brother and sister who graduated from the Dayton school.

Local resident Joseph Price set up the awards to honor his son Mark Hamilton Price and daughter Kimberly Jo Price Lapsley. Mark graduated in 1982 and Kimberly in 1991.

“As we worked with Mr. Price, he shared memories of his children’s success at TA,” said Revlan Hill, executive director. “Mark was manager of TA’s ‘Dirty Dozen’ football team and enjoyed his classes in art. Kimberly participated on the VACE academic bowl team, fielding questions about literature and language. Turner Ashby was obviously a big influence on their lives, and it made the most sense for Mr. Price to set up a scholarship to benefit current students at the high school that had supported his children’s interests and helped them grow as students and people.”

Awardees Getsemany Pineda and Cai Johnstone-Yellin both plan to attend Massanutten Technical Center.

Donate to the Mark & Kimberly Vocational Scholarship.

Pineda, a midfielder for three years on the Knights soccer team, is heading into the electrical field, with the goal of owning a business in the future. He is planning a full schedule of courses to expedite his learning before apprenticeship, so the funding will help defray some of those costs, he said.

Asked to name someone who has inspired him through high school, Pineda named his father. “He works hard for our family and you will never see him with a sad face. He is always joyful and makes his family happy as well.”

Pineda says he is honored to be a recipient: “I really appreciate the help and will be putting it in good use for my future as an electrician. It means a lot winning this award!”

Johnstone-Yellin comes from a family of tradesmen. He plans to pursue welding. He’s taken several courses at MTC already, where a simulated workplace environment is used to prepare students for the workforce. As project manager, Johnstone-Yellin led a crew of peer “subcontractors” through several projects, earning praise from instructors.

For Joseph Price, the scholarship offers a way to remember his children while giving hope and support to a younger generation of TA graduates. He continues to miss both of his children — Mark died in 2024 and Kimberly in 2014.

Though neither his son nor daughter worked in the trades or attended vocational school, Price decided after reviewing other local scholarship offerings that creating an award for vocational education met his goals. One vocational education course has the potential to change the trajectory of a life – and offer immediate skills to apply in the labor force.

Mark, a Dayton resident, was the byproducts coordinator at Lakeside Books in Harrisonburg. He loved the outdoors, hunting, riding horses and motorcycles, as well as cooking for friends and family. His homemade barbecue sauce is still remembered and his pitchfork turkey in peanut oil was always a Thanksgiving treat. Mark was a drummer and enjoyed making and listening to music. His last dog, Zeba, was a constant companion.

Kimberly was also a musician, performing with her husband and the 100 Proof bluegrass band. She was a great gourmet chef. She loved spending time on St. John’s in the U.S. Virgin Islands with friends she’d made there over many trips. She graduated with honors and a degree in English literature from Mary Baldwin University, studied at Oxford University (U.K.), and was a member of Sigma Tau Delta, the national English majors honor society. As did her brother, she loved her dogs and was a member of the “Save A Lab” program.

In future years, the Mark and Kimberly Vocational Scholarships are to be awarded to one graduating male student and one graduating female student at Turner Ashby High School.

Outgoing board chair Kevin Flint has guided TCFHR through a decade of growth

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Photo: Kevin Flint, board chair, speaks during the 25th anniversary celebration for The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham in 2023.

Most people don’t know that community foundations are required to have a board of directors comprised of local residents. These representatives direct the foundation’s work, investing themselves and their expertise through the philanthropic initiatives that support and benefit the community.

The relationship between the community foundation’s board members, staff, donors and the residents they represent is a “win-win for everyone,” says Revlan Hill, executive director of The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham.

Board chair Kevin Flint with staff at a 2023 event.

That dynamic initially attracted professional advisor Kevin Flint, and it kept him learning, growing and giving back as he contributed to the governance and investment committees, and held vice chair and chair roles. Now, after 10 years on the board, the outgoing board chair ends his tenure with the foundation June 30.

“This place we call home has nurtured and supported me, so I feel compelled to reciprocate by working to enrich our community,” Flint said. “My involvement with TCFHR has helped me understand the real and growing needs across our region, and supporting the foundation means helping to meet those needs in lasting, strategic ways. That’s been a joy to be a part of.”

In addition to a background in commercial banking, community engagement, and portfolio management, Flint has brought to his foundation work extensive experience in advisory roles with the local government. He currently serves on the county’s Economic Development Authority and Planning Commission and spent more than seven years on the Social Services advisory board. He is also an adjunct faculty member with James Madison University’s College of Business.

“All of our board members bring an expertise and a connection to the work of the community foundation, but Kevin really applied himself to learning more,” Hill said. “He has a genuine love for TCFHR, and that has made a real difference in how we’ve progressed and grown over the past ten years. Kevin has been an exceptional chair during a time of growth and challenge.”

A measure of the organization’s growth can be seen in one statistic: In 2016, outgoing grants and scholarships totaled $2.7 million. In 2024, that number exceeded $6.8 million. Behind that number is a major growth in assets — from $31.9 million to $87.9 million — and a variety of challenges that accompany such growth.

“I have also appreciated Kevin’s positive and generous spirit and his wise counsel on so many matters over these years,” said Hill. “He brings a tremendous amount of wisdom and clarity, no matter the circumstances, and he’s always shown a great deal of care and support to me and to the work of the foundation in the most difficult of situations.”

Kevin Flint, board chair, steps down June 30 after 10 years of service to The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham.

She remembers that Flint’s acumen and approach were instrumental in bringing on a large agency fund and in handling several unusual matters that required additional legal and financial expertise.

Among Flint’s highlights are the foundation’s crucial management of relief funds through the COVID-19 pandemic, the expansion of its asset portfolio and correlated grants capacity, and the addition of two initiatives. The Great Community Give has grown into the region’s major giving day; just a few months ago, the event raised a record high $2.2 million for nearly 150 area nonprofits. TCFHR also hosts the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program, enrolling 40% of the area’s children.

“I’ve also enjoyed seeing firsthand how the foundation’s partnerships with local professionals have helped donors align their giving with their values in thoughtful, tax-strategic ways,” he said.

Flint says he will always value the relationships he’s built over the years with fellow board members, Hill and the foundation staff.

Looking ahead, Flint hopes to see more visibility and an increased understanding of how much the community foundation offers to the community. “Beyond the initiatives, the foundation offers so much more through endowments, scholarships, and donor-advised funds. TCF is a trusted partner for anyone looking to make a lasting charitable impact, and I want more people to know that.”

Vice chair Cynthia Prieto’s two-year term as board chair begins July 1.

 

 

It’s an Emory & Henry alumni reunion every time this scholarship committee meets

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PHOTO: Members of the Emory & Henry University Scholarship committee at their April meeting, the 10th anniversary of the scholarship. All are alumni and current residents of the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County area. Standing, from left: Jay Webb, Sid Smith, scholarship founder David Driver, Olivia Haimani, Karen Ford. Seated, from left: Kate Nardi, Amanda Nott.

Every year, committee members meet to interview candidates for the Emory & Henry University Scholarship and every year, that meeting is something of a reunion.

Members of the selection committee — all E & H graduates and current city or county residents — are scholarship founder David W. Driver, Karen Ford, Olivia Haimani, Kate Nardi, Amanda Nott, Sid Smith, and Jay Webb.

Driver, a 1970 alumnus, started the scholarship 10 years ago with the goal of “providing local students the opportunity to explore the benefits of a smaller university community.”

The scholarship has provided 24 grants for a total of $33,500.

The 2025 scholarship was awarded to Beau Baylor, a senior from Turner Ashby High School, Dayton, Va.
Candidates for the annual award/s must be from any high school in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, or Augusta County and meet the following further criteria: a 2.5 minimum GPA, community involvement, and demonstration of good character, determination, and leadership qualities.
Contributions to this permanent endowment will benefit Valley students in perpetuity. Click here to donate.

Bowman Scholar earns honors at Blue Ridge, will study business at JMU

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Fernando Sagastume, a 2023 Harrisonburg High alum, was the student speaker during the May 10 Blue Ridge Community College Commencement ceremony. (Courtesy of Gitchells Photography)

Photo caption: Bowman Scholar Fernando Sagastume holds his diploma from Blue Ridge Community College after the May 10 Commencement, with (from left) brother Bryan, parents Sandra and Carlos, and sister Hailey. (Courtesy photo)

Fernando Sagastume’s message to his fellow graduates of Blue Ridge Community College was about something he’s practiced since childhood: Asking for help.

“Asking for help doesn’t make you less smart,” he said, summarizing his May 10 Commencement address. “It makes you more knowledgeable. None of us start off knowing everything, but the challenges we face lead to both personal and professional growth.”

This simple but humble action of asking for help has empowered Fernando’s success, from learning two languages as a child, joining the college preparatory Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program at Harrisonburg High School, applying for and winning college scholarships, and helping his family’s business grow.

“Fernando is currently one of our most impressive students,” said BRCC’s president, Dr. John Downey. “I’m impressed not only by his maturity and academic success at Blue Ridge, but also by his leadership as a young person in the Harrisonburg community, serving on boards and volunteering his time, all while helping to run his family’s roofing business.”

Fernando serves on the board of directors of On the Road Collaborative and on the recruitment and retention subcommittee of the HHS AVID program. At BRCC, he was a member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, and was recognized on the All-Virginia Academic Team.

The 20-year-old serves as the chief administrative officer at Highest Roofing and Exteriors, where he has played a key role in legal matters, insurance, marketing and sales since 2019.

Add another distinction to that long list.

“Fernando is the fifth Samuel R. Bowman II Scholar to transfer to James Madison University, and based on his pattern of top academic performance, he’ll be the third Bowman Scholar to graduate from JMU,” said Ann Siciliano, senior director of scholarships and grants at The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham.

The Bowman Scholarship was started by Samuel Bowman, a local farmer who was touched and inspired by the work ethic, generosity, and relationships of his many employees and wanted to help their children access higher education. The scholarship is for local students, usually first-generation, attending either Blue Ridge or James Madison University. It’s renewable, which means if recipients meet the criteria each year, they will receive additional funding.

While balancing work and studies, Fernando says he has been inspired by his family, particularly his parents Carlos and Sandra Sagastume, who have “always emphasized the importance of education and hard work.” Cousins Maria Alonso and Heiber Monroy have also “shown me what’s possible through sacrifice, persistence, and giving back to the community,” he said. In all that he does, he hopes to be a role model for his younger siblings, Bryan and Hailey.

Though he’s been awarded several scholarships as a result of his hard work, Fernando says the Bowman award is different. While one-time scholarships reward potential, earning a renewable scholarship symbolizes that and more.

The financial support as he’s transitioned through more and more academic challenge is a powerful message of “investment in my potential,” a unique award that shows “deep belief,” he says.

“I am beyond grateful to have received this opportunity, and it’s one I will take advantage of,” he said. “That faith and ongoing support is something I value in my education and will value forever.”

Editor’s note: We’re pleased to report that Bowman Scholar Lindsey Ruvalcaba also graduated from BRCC last weekend with academic honors. Both she and fellow Harrisonburg High grad Fernando Sagastume were featured in local media coverage of Commencement. After a gap year, she plans to attend JMU to study biotechnology.

Seven data points from Great Community Give 2025 and why they create hope for the future

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The following was published in the Monday, May 12 Daily News-Record. 

On April 16, during the Great Community Give, Harrisonburg and Rockingham County beat the odds.

What do we hear about charitable giving in 2025? Overall donations are down, fewer individuals and businesses are giving, fewer citizens are involved in service or faith organizations, and the younger generation is trending away from charitable endeavors like donating and volunteering.

View the GCG photo album.

Here’s what the 2025 Great Community Give teaches us:

Our residents are incredibly generous. For the second consecutive year, donors to the Great Community Give contributed more than $2 million. You helped raise our highest-ever one-day total: an astonishing $2, 212, 649, an increase of $96,609 over 2024.

We have a thriving nonprofit sector in the Shenandoah Valley. Some of the 147 organizations participating in the Great Community Give are independent nonprofits, but many are linked to community service or faith-based organizations. That’s a lot of local citizens working to solve local problems

Our business community cares deeply about and is financially invested in what happens here. Forty-two businesses contributed to a $76,000 prize pool and 100 percent of that went to 38 nonprofits that won hourly contests. Between Harrisonburg Media Group, iHeart Radio, WHSV-3 and the Daily News-Record, nonprofits received countless hours of interviews and public service messaging.

We can glean more positives from this year’s data, too:

  • More donors self-reported giving for the first time to an organization.
  • More individuals registered to fundraise for a specific organization and more of these peer-to-peer fundraisers (or P2P for short) followed through on their fundraising promise.
  • P2P fundraisers made a huge difference during GCG 2025. They helped their organizations raise an average of $29,900— more than double what those without fundraisers raised. These folks were also responsible for raising $71,210 more than last year (for a total of $155,895).
  • And one more important detail: Donors using digital wallet options increased, which suggests a rise in donors ages 15-58 — the demographic that most prefers this option.

Everyone who participated in Great Community Give, including our sponsors, nonprofit partners, and the team at The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham, can look at these conclusions with immense gratitude. Thank you for joining in a day where we envision positive change, a transformed world, and belief in each other.

And yes, let’s keep the spirit of the Great Community Give going throughout the year!

Revlan Hill

Executive Director