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November 2015
How Your Community Investment Changes Lives
Did you know that e ven within a well-educated area like Northern Virginia, literacy is a problem for some of our youngest neighbors? In Arlington, for example, 80% of the children residing in AHC, Inc.'s affordable housing  communities speak a language other than English at home. These children often struggle with speaking, reading, and writing in English. This literacy gap  frequently manifests in low grades, poor study skills, lowered self-esteem and limited expectations about their future.

A Community Investment Grant of $10,000 from the Community Foundation helped AHC hire trained reading specialists, who worked  after school with more than 100 students. The young residents got individualized tutoring, homework help, and plenty of encouragement. 
 
By the end of the school year, over 95% of the students were reading at grade level or had improved one full grade level, and 85% said the program helped them feel good about themselves -- a bit of hope for the future.
 
A contribution to the Community Investment Fund makes programs like this and many others possible.  As 2015 comes to a close, the Community Foundation reminds you to support quality programs by making a donation to the Community Investment Fund. Your donation can help the Community Foundation make good regional programs stronger. Read about this year's grants and make a donation today to help neighbors in need.    
GrantnewsGRANTS
Loudoun Impact Fund Awards $65,000 in Grants
From left: Amy Owen, executive director, Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties; Barbara Mendoza, Backpack Coalition coordinator with Loudoun Education Foundation; Eileen Ellsworth, president, Community Foundation for Northern Virginia; and Sue Ortmann, Rust Sanctuary program coordinator with Audubon Naturalist Society.
Eleven charities dedicated to programs benefiting youth and elderly received 2015 Loudoun Impact Fund grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. Winners were announced on October 28, at a reception hosted by Shoes Cup and Cork and attended by charity representatives and donors.

By pooling contribution gifts, the Loudoun Impact Fund generated almost $65,000 to support local need. Loudoun Impact Fund donors review all submitted applications, and together, come to consensus on finalists for grants. This year, almost 40 charities applied for the grants.

Dancing is a Ball for Healthy Kids Grant Students 
What do ballroom dancing, cooking clubs and circus arts have in common?  All are innovative approaches to promoting health implemented by Northern Virginia region schools to get kids moving and active in their own health.
 
Each year, Community Foundation Healthy Kids Grants  help schools develop programs that increase physical activity and improve nutriti on among students.  This year, 14 schools in the region won grants of up to $2,000 to implement programs that combat the causes of childhood obesity.  One of these programs is introducing 1,000 students at Parkside Middle School to the joys of ballroom dancing.
The 7th graders will receive dance instruction, learning the steps and moving to the rhythms of the waltz, swing, merengue and salsa. At the end of the program, students plan and hold a Ball, complete with healthy snacks, to show their families what they've learned.  The students build skills and an appreciation for dance as a lifetime physical activity. 
 
Healthy Kids Grants are made possible through the support of the Chin Family Fund, a donor advised fund of the Community Foundation.

BoardnewsBOARD NEWS
David Young Wins "Outstanding Philanthropist" Award
David Young, current Director and past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, has won the 2015 "Outstanding Philanthropist" award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Dave and his wife Carol have a long standing interest in philanthropy and in furthering the education of young people. Through the Community Foundation, they fund full college scholarships at two small high schools in Indiana, and provide tuition for many more deserving students in the Metro DC area.

Dave also recently completed his term on the Board of Trustees for Highland School in Warrenton, Virginia where he served as its Treasurer and Chairman of the Finance Committee.

Dave served in the U.S. Coast Guard and has enjoyed a tremendous career in defense engineering services, commercial real estate development, and autocycle (reverse-trike motorcycle) manufacturing industries. As the current co-owner and CFO of Tanom Motors, Dave has developed and shepherded through federal testing the Invader autocycle, a high-performance vehicle that is a hybrid between an automobile and motorcycle.

Dave will be honored on November 17, National Capital Philanthropy Day.
Community Foundation's 2015 Sweet Home Virginia Gala Sets Fundraising Record
The 2015 Sweet Home Virginia Gala has set an all time fundraising record
f or the Community Foundation! Thanks to all of our Gala sponsors, supporters, and friends who gathered with us to celebrate the impact of the Community Foundation in our region, the event raised $488,753 that will support the Community  Foundation's work, impact, grant making, leadership activities, and capacity to grow philanthropy to meet the most critical needs of our community. 
 
A very special thank-you goes to our 2015 Community Leadership Award Honoree, Jim Wordsworth of J.R. Stockyards, Inc., who so richly deserves the honor and who helped move heaven and earth to make the event a spectacular success.  Thanks also goes out to our two Gala co-chairs, Dawn Carter, the President and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy, and Barry Biggar, the President and CEO of Visit Fairfax, who led a large gala committee that set a standard of excellence and commitment beyond everyone's expectations! 

staffCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION STAFF
Meet Kelly Blanks, VP, Donor Relations
Kelly Blanks joined the The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia this September as Vice President of Donor Relations. In this role she works with donors and their families to achieve their philanthropic goals through funds established at The Community Foundation. She is also the lead staff point of contact for two of the Foundation's giving circles: The Future Fund and The Loudoun Impact Fund.

Prior to joining The Community Foundation, Kelly was the Regional Donor Relations Manager at Inova Health Foundation. Kelly received her Bachelors of Science degree from Lynchburg College. As a community volunteer, Kelly has served the Junior League of Northern Virginia as the Annual Funds Director and Donor Relations Chair Elect, the Junior Woman's Club of Loudoun on their Public Relations Committee, and Conquer Chiari as an Event Director.

Kelly is thrilled to serve the community in this new role and would love to learn more about your involvement and ideas. Contact her at kelly.blanks@cfnova.org or (703) 879-7636.
Community Foundation President Receives Nonprofit Leadership Award
Eileen Ellsworth, the President of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, has just been named the winner of Leadership Fairfax's Nonprofit Leadership Award for 2015. She and other community leaders who are making a difference will be recognized at a luncheon event on Thursday, December 3, from 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at the Waterford in Fair Oaks. 

Information on sponsorship opportunities and tickets for the event can be found here
EventsEVENTS
Stay connected through the following events in the community:
 
Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce
November 19, 2015

Reston Chamber of Commerce
November 24, 2015

Community Foundation for Northern Virginia
December 1, 2015

Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce
December 2, 2015
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia's mission is to grow philanthropy to help meet the most critical needs of the community.
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia
2940 Hunter Mill Road, Suite 201, Oakton, VA 22124

Web: cfnova.org | Tel: 703.879.7640 | Fax: 703.879.7644