January 21st, 2025
At CFNSV, we believe in the transformative power of community collaboration, where each partnership nurtures the seeds of hope and opportunity, fostering a brighter future for all. Our mission extends beyond mere financial support; we are committed to cultivating connections between visionary donors and passionate nonprofits that serve as lifelines for our neighbors in need.
Thanks Dr. McNichols’ incredible support, the Water Babies program and other swim lesson programs at the Wellness Center will continue to thrive. This donation will help them provide accessible and high-quality aquatic and recreational programs for all ages, ensuring that our community stays healthy, active, and connected!
By empowering organizations to deliver vital services, like the Water Babies program, we ensure that every child has access to life-saving skills and lifelong memories in the water. Join us in this meaningful journey of giving, where your contributions not only support worthy causes but also weave the fabric of a stronger, healthier, and more united Northern Shenandoah Valley. Together, we can make waves of positive change that ripple through our community for generations to come.
October 17th, 2024
CFNSV is proud to have an article in the Winchester Star about our 2024 Community Philantropy Day event!
At CFNSV, we understand that the strength of a community lies in its connections and shared aspirations, which is why we are dedicated to fostering a spirit of collaboration that elevates the efforts of local nonprofits. Through our grants and initiatives, we not only provide essential funding but also create pathways for innovation and engagement, encouraging our partners to address the diverse needs of our region. As we celebrate the impact of our Community Philanthropy Day, we invite everyone to join us in this journey of compassionate giving, where your involvement can help cultivate new opportunities, inspire change, and ultimately enrich the lives of our neighbors. Together, let’s weave a tapestry of support that reflects our collective commitment to a brighter, more inclusive future for the Northern Shenandoah Valley.
CFNSV's 2024 Community Philanthropy Day Luncheon
The Community Foundation of the Northern Shenandoah Valley was able to give out a total of $57,000.00 in grants to twenty-eight nonprofit organizations at their annual Community Philanthropy Day and Grant Awards ceremony luncheon. To read more from the Winchester Star, visit: Foundation celebrates donors and the nonprofits they help | Winchester Star | winchesterstar.com
Bill Huehn & Kathy Kanter
Kathy Napier Grant Presentation
Kathy Napier Check Presentation
‘Chain of Checks’ Awards $25,000 In Grants; Surpasses $2 Million Mark Since 1986
The Chain of Checks charitable fund sponsored by the Community Foundation of the Northern Shenandoah Valley is proud to announce that $25,000 in grants have been awarded to six local non-profits. With the theme of the campaign being ‘shelter’, grants were awarded to:
• WATTS (Winchester Area Temporary Transitional Shelter) will use their $5,000 gift to help with the expenses of maintaining and operating their bus which transports their 35 guests each night to the host church for a meal and a warm, safe place to sleep.
• Winchester Rescue Mission will apply their $5,000 grant toward the purchase of 25 heavy duty, easy-to- clean beds and mattresses for the soon-to-open renovated emergency shelter on Valley Avenue.
• Blue Ridge Habitat for Humanity plans to use their $5,000 grant to improve the marketing and outreach of their ReStore home improvement outlet on Millwood Avenue, thus raising more dollars to build and rehabilitate houses.
• The Laurel Center has earmarked their $5,000 award to support their outreach programs so that victims of domestic violence and sexual assault know about the Center’s emergency shelter and services.
• Blue Ridge Legal Services, Inc. which provides free legal assistance to low-income residents of the Northern Shenandoah Valley (including housing issues) will receive $2,000.
• Wesley Housing-Senseny Place provides affordable housing and supportive services for low-income older adults and will receive $3,000.
Applications for the grants were submitted online through the Community Foundation NSV and then reviewed by the Foundation’s community-conscious selection committee. The $25,000 campaign dollars were accumulated from a variety of sources:
• Chain of Checks corporate sponsors, Bill and Lois Reynolds, and White House Foods (the Gum family)
• Half the proceeds from opening night of Frederick County Parks and Rec’s ‘Winter Wonderland’
• Christmas movie fundraisers hosted by Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and Nerangis Management Corp.
• Canisters (change boxes to change lives) at various businesses including 16 Handy Mart/Dunkin’ Donuts locations and Solenberger’s Hardware
• Clarke County Community Band’s Berryville Christmas concert
• Beautiful on-line and mailed-in donations from individuals and businesses.
Barry Lee, founder of the Chain of Checks said: “Due to the community’s outpouring of support, the campaign was able to expand the number of grants, and since 1986, has now surpassed $2 million in community grants! To date the total is $2,009,703.”
Applications for the 2025 Chain of Checks campaign will open through the Community Foundation of Northern Shenandoah Valley website in late spring at www.cfnsv.org
For more information contact Rebekah DesMarais, Executive Director of the Community Foundation (email: director@CFNSV.org) and the Chain of Checks website, www.chainofchecks.com
January 31st, 2025, Chain of Checks Article
On January 31st, the Winchester Star published an article about the recent grant awards from the Chain of Checks Campaign. To read the article, follow the link HERE.
2024 Spring Grant Thank You Letters
CCAP Thank you Letter
Timber Ridge School Thank You letter
Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum Thank You Letter
enCircle Thank You Letter
Special Love Thank You Letter
St. Luke Community Clinic Thank You Letter
Virginia Youth Ballet TY Letter
Samuals Public Library Thank You Letter
The Winchester Star Celebrates With CFNSV January 16th, 2024
A PDF copy of the article can be found here: 1.31.24 Newspaper Article – Marlows
CFNSV is proud to have an article published by the Winchester Star, celebrating John and Joyce Marlow as our esteemed Community Stars honorees. With their exemplary leadership, tireless philanthropic efforts, and genuine compassion, the Marlow duo has played an instrumental role in shaping the Northern Shenandoah Valley into a vibrant and thriving community. Their dedication to various causes, ranging from education and healthcare to arts, culture, and social services, reflects their unwavering commitment to improving the lives of those in need. Through their generosity, countless individuals and organizations have been empowered, leaving an indelible mark on our community.
Employees
We are thrilled to welcome Daniel Byers as our new Administrative Support Specialist at CFNSV! Daniel has a degree from Shenandoah University and a certificate from Laurel Ridge Community College. He has experience in retail at Follett Higher Education Group and an internship at the City of Winchester. He also has a history of volunteer work for the Circle K club and was a member of the Political Science Society Club at Shenandoah. Daniel will be responsible for the daily operations of CFNSV and enhancing our communications with our clients and donors.
Nancy Baker
The Community Foundation of the Northern Shenandoah Valley (CFNSV) is proud to announce the appointment of Nancy Croft Baker as its new Executive Director. Baker brings to this role a distinguished record of leadership and innovation that spans the nonprofit, business and media sectors.
Prior to joining CFNSV, Baker served as the Development Director of AIDS Response Effort, Inc., where her strategic vision and fundraising efforts played a key role in helping the organization raise awareness and expand its impact. Before that, she was Communications Director for an international humanitarian NGO based in Sterling, VA, where she spearheaded global marketing and communication strategies and strengthened community engagement in five countries. Earlier in her career, Baker honed her skills in publishing, serving as a managing editor and senior writer for leading industry magazines—experiences that have given her a keen insight into storytelling, media relations and the power of well-crafted messaging.