FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 20, 2021

Contact: Linda Hughes, 434-277-5108, Linda.hughes711@gmail.com

NCCF Awards Record Grant Monies to Support Local Nonprofits

NELSON COUNTY, Va. – This week, the all-volunteer, nonprofit Nelson County Community Fund, Inc. (NCCF) awarded $129,610 to 14 nonprofit organizations that support Nelson County residents. Both the award total and the number of organizations given grants surpassed NCCF’s previous awards.

The funds will help a wide range of organizations, from pediatric dental care, sexual assault survivor outreach initiatives, and nonviolent self-defense to emergency home repairs, and food and nutritional support.

“For 20 years, NCCF has been able to aid Nelson County’s most vulnerable thanks to our generous donors,” said Ken Heise, NCCF president. “By supporting our community nonprofits and initiatives we can help ensure that everyone in our region can thrive.”

(See attached for a full list of Summer 2021 grant recipients.)

NCCF donates money to nonprofits twice a year. In 2021, NCCF has issued $191,110 in grants to 18 community organizations and initiatives. Since its inception in 2000, NCCF has invested in Nelson County by giving $1,860,529 to 67 agencies and programs, such as medical facilities and community centers, food banks, housing assistance groups, and student/teacher educational projects.

For more information on the grant program, click here Nelson County Community Fund grants. The next application period deadline is December 31, 2021 (for a February decision).

Nelson County Community Fund, Inc. is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions to NCCF, Inc. are tax-deductible. Donate here NCCF Give Now

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
September 21, 2021

Contact: Linda Hughes, 434-277-5108, Linda.hughes711@gmail.com

 NCCF Hosts NCCF’s Online Auction Nov. 3 – 12

Make a Bid for a Good Cause

NELSON COUNTY, Va. – The all-volunteer, nonprofit Nelson County Community Fund, Inc. (NCCF) is hosting its first-ever online auction November 3-12. All proceeds will support NCCF’s grant making to local nonprofits serving the most vulnerable Nelson County residents.

“In the spirit of staying healthy, instead of our trademark fall fundraiser — the Opportunity Ball — NCCF is holding our first-ever Online Public Auction,” said Ken Heise, NCCF president. “The timing is perfect to get a start on your holiday shopping and make a bid for a good cause.”

The Nelson County nonprofit is partnering with Enlisted Auctions, the Blue Ridge area’s premier online public auction house. The public may bid on a glider flight over the Blue Ridge Mountains, a 4-day cabin holiday at North Carolina’s Sugar Mountain, a hunting knife handcrafted by Todd Hipps, jewelry, a pair of crystal chandeliers, artwork, custom gift baskets, and more.

Fine spirit collectors may even be tempted to bid on a half pint of Very Old Fitzgerald Original Sour Mash Kentucky Bonded Bourbon barreled in 1950 and bottled in 1958. It was distilled and bottled at the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery while under the management of the renowned Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle. 

Visit https://www.enlistedauctions.com/ to register to bid. View NCCF’s complete online auction catalog starting Nov. 2.

More Auction Items Needed — NCCF is seeking additional auction donations of gently used sports equipment, boats, campers or other vehicles, season tickets for sports or concerts, and fine jewelry. Donations are tax deductible. Email nccfund@gmail.com or call (434) 260-1843 to describe your item and arrange drop off details.

See https://nelsonfund.org/ or @NelsonCountyCommunityFund on Facebook for more auction details.

Auction funds raised will help a wide range of organizations, such as medical facilities and community centers, food banks, housing assistance groups, and student/teacher educational projects. In 2021 alone, NCCF issued $191,110 in grants to 18 community organizations and initiatives. Since its inception in 2000, NCCF has invested in Nelson County by giving $1,860,529 to 67 agencies and programs.

Nelson County Community Fund, Inc. is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions to NCCF, Inc. are tax-deductible. Donate here NCCF Give Now

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2021
Contact: Linda Hughes, 434-277-5108, Linda.hughes711@gmail.com

Nelson County Community Fund Calls for Grant Requests to Support Local Nonprofits

The all-volunteer, non-profit Nelson County Community Fund, Inc. is asking other local non-profit organizations to apply for grants to support their work helping Nelson County residents in need. The deadline for applying for a grant for is December 31, 2021 (for a February 2022 decision).

Each year NCCF makes awards to nonprofits that may assist individuals in a number of ways, such as:
• Accessing health care, dental and vision care, and medicines
• Aiding children who are victims of domestic violence
• Providing partial college scholarships to Nelson High School seniors
• Assisting families with rent and utility payments
• Fostering independence for those with brain injuries
• Repairing homes for the elderly and people with disabilities
• Expanding environmental education and awareness, and more.

Since 2000, NCCF has invested in Nelson County by giving $1,860,529 to 67 local agencies and programs, from medical facilities and community centers, to food banks, housing assistance groups, and student/teacher educational projects.

For information on grant eligibility and to apply for an NCCF grant, visit https://nelsonfund.org/apply-for-a-grant/.

Nelson County Community Fund, Inc. is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions to NCCF, Inc. are tax-deductible. Donate here https://nelsonfund.org/give_now/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 23, 2021
Contact: Linda Hughes, 434-277-5108, Linda.hughes711@gmail.com

Nelson County Community Fund Participates in GivingTuesday November 30

GivingTuesday is the international day of generosity happening on November 30, 2021. Nelson County Community Fund (NCCF) in joining in on the global generosity movement. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: A day that encourages people to do good. This idea has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

Donations to NCCF help Nelson County’s residents in many ways, such as:
• Providing medical care and medicines to residents in need
• Aiding children who are victims of domestic violence
• Providing partial college scholarships to Nelson High School seniors
• Assisting families by paying the propane bill before winter sets in
• Restoring a community facility in an underserved area
• Fostering independence for those with brain injuries

Thanks to its generous supporters, NCCF continues to move forward with its mission to give grants to non-profit organizations meeting the needs of Nelson County’s most vulnerable. “This year, Nelson County Community Fund awarded grants to 17 nonprofits that directly support our residents,” said Ken Heise, NCCF president.

Since 2000, NCCF has invested in Nelson County by giving $1,860,529 to 67 local agencies and programs, from medical facilities and community centers, to food banks, housing assistance groups, and student/teacher educational projects.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us reach even more Nelson County residents.
• Online: https://nelsonfund.org/give_now/
• Write a check payable to NCCF, Inc. and mail it to: Nelson County Community Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 253, Nellysford, VA 22958.

“With your help, we can continue to deliver assistance right here at home, where it matters most,” said Heise.

#givingtuesday #unselfie #giveback

Contributions to NCCF, Inc. are tax-deductible.
Nelson County Community Fund, Inc. is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax-deductible. Your dollars directly support people who need our help. www.nelsonfund.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 15, 2022
Contact: Linda Hughes, 434-277-5108, Linda.hughes711@gmail.com

NCCF Awards Grant Monies Supporting Local Nonprofits

NELSON COUNTY, VA. – This week, the all-volunteer, nonprofit Nelson County Community Fund, Inc. (NCCF) awarded $33,000 to three nonprofit organizations that support Nelson County residents.

The funds will support a wide range of organizations that help provide COVID vaccines and health screening to H-2A Visa farm workers and teach them digital literacy skills, rehabilitate men suffering from alcohol and drug addiction, and provide home-based educational services to pregnant women and mothers with young children.

NCCF raises funds and donates money to nonprofits twice a year. Since its inception in 2000, NCCF has invested in Nelson County by giving $1,900,000 to 70 agencies and programs, such as medical facilities and community centers, food banks, housing assistance groups, and student/teacher educational projects.

“NCCF continues to aid Nelson County’s most vulnerable thanks to our generous donors,” said Ken Heise, NCCF president. “By supporting our community nonprofits and initiatives we can help ensure that everyone in our region can thrive.”

Organizations funded in the Winter 2022 NCCF Grant Cycle

• Central Virginia Farm Workers Initiative (CVFWI) – Supporting ongoing efforts to advocate for better health and digital literacy for migrant farm workers in Nelson County.
• The Bridge Ministry — Providing vocational training, education classes, counseling, and basic needs in a residential program to men who are seeking rehabilitation for alcohol or drug addiction.
• Ready Kids — Delivering home visiting services to pregnant women and mothers with young children preparing mother and child for school by facilitating “shared joy.” This program will service Nelson County for the first time.

For more information on the grant program, click here Nelson County Community Fund grants. The next application period deadline is June 30, 2022 (for an August decision).

Nelson County Community Fund, Inc. is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions to NCCF, Inc. are tax-deductible. Donate here NCCF Give Now

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 15, 2022
Contact: Linda Hughes, 434-277-5108, Linda.hughes711@gmail.com

Fight Like a Grrrl Club Teaches How to ‘Walk Without Fear’
Fierce Warriors — Workshop participants become empowered at Rockfish Valley Community Center.
We’ve all been there. Pulled into an unwanted hug or touched without warning in a crowd. Perhaps even survived an attack, or a dispute that turned physical. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Thanks to a group of committed young martial artists in Nelson County, anyone—regardless of age, gender, or physical ability—can learn how to “walk without fear” by mitigating such situations and reacting swiftly and safely when the need arises.

The nonprofit Fight Like a Grrrl Club (FLAG) was born out of a need to address the growing violence against young women, including the abduction of five young women in 2009-14 from the “U.S. Route 29” corridor through Nelson County and neighboring jurisdictions.

“FLAG’s goal is to make self-defense training accessible to all community members,” said local musician Sally Rose Monnes, who co-founded the nonprofit in 2017 with martial arts instructor Josh Copson. Using a grant from the Nelson County Community Fund, FLAG held two nonviolent self-defense workshops at community centers in Nelson County in May. The workshops were free and open to the public.

FLAG focuses on techniques for de-escalating and avoiding violence, first, then if needed, skills for self-defense and survival. The group has done workshops across Virginia for everyone from the Girl Scouts to roller derby clubs. The workshops are not restricted to girls and women. “Anyone can be a target,” said Monnes. “Regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identification, they deserve to know how to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

What about those who are older? Two members of the NCCF Board of Directors got an exclusive hands-on demonstration of FLAG’s avoidance/self-defense instruction recently at Copson’s martial arts studio, Blue Dragon Dojang, in Lovingston.

“Learning that it’s not impolite to say, even to an acquaintance, that you don’t want to be hugged, or to firmly block an unwanted touch is powerful,” said Sue Klett, a NCCF Board member. “Not to mention that I now know how to roll a 210-pound assailant who’s grabbed me over my back, without hurting myself.”

There were many take-aways from the workshop, agreed former NCCF board member Linda Hughes. For instance, “If you’re being attacked, it’s much better to yell ‘Fire’ or ‘No’ — instead of ‘Help.’ That will attract more attention and quicker action,” said Hughes.

If two 60-somethings can spend a couple of hours learning how to better “walk without fear,” and react quickly and safely when the need arises, anyone can—and should.

Linda Hughes (L) practices a block/hit defense sequence against FLAG instructor Megan Schultz.

To learn more, visit fightlikeagrrrl.org.
Good News
Celebrating Our Community
You’ve Got Mail
In April, Nelson County Community Fund’s all-volunteer, nonprofit mailed out its twice-a-year Appeal Letter highlighting some of the challenges facing many of our neighbors. They range from access to health/dental care and substance abuse treatment; to emergency housing support, and help with home repairs; to school readiness, and supplemental food programs for children.
With your help, NCCF helps fund other local nonprofits providing critical services and support to the most vulnerable of our community residents. Since 2001, NCCF has awarded $1.9 million in grants to 72 local agencies and programs.
If you missed NCCF’s Appeal Letter, it’s not too late to give!

Make your tax-deductible donation quickly and securely online: https://nelsonfund.org/give_now/
Or write a check made payable to NCCF, Inc. and mail it to PO Box 253 ~ Nellysford, VA 22958

If you’ve already contributed, thank you! We appreciate your support and hope you’ll continue donating.
NCCF to Review Grant Requests, Conduct Site Visits
Nelson County Community Fund called on other local nonprofit organizations to apply for grants to support our work helping Nelson County residents in need. The deadline for applying for a grant was June 30 (for an August decision).

This month (July), the NCCF board will review all applications to determine if the grant application meets with NCCF’s mission and organizational objectives, among other requirements. Consideration is given to the potential impact of the project and to particularly imaginative, collaborative, and sustainable approaches to solving community needs. Categories of support include human services, education, environment, health, community needs and development.

After application review, board members will team up to conduct a site visit to look at the prospective grantee organization in its entirety, interview board members or staff, assess their facility, and evaluate its finances.

For information on grant eligibility and to apply for a future NCCF grant, visit https://nelsonfund.org/apply-for-a-grant/. NCCF awards grants twice a year.
Heritage Center Gets Gussied Up
The Nelson Heritage Center in Arrington, one of NCCF’s Summer 2021 grant recipients, has made great progress! With our help, the center has renovated the gymnasium’s floors (see before and after photos below), installed new windows and air conditioning, and renovated the bleachers. A tip o’ the hat to the Millennium Group/Nelson Heritage Center for your persistence.

Goat Snuggle Donation
Caromont Farm, a small, family-owned business in Esmont (on the Nelson County border) is one of NCCF’s special benefactors. Two years ago, they donated one of their popular “Snuggling with Kid Goats” sessions at NCCF’s last Opportunity Ball silent auction. Finally in a calmer COVID time, the winner (NCCF Board Member Sue Klett) got her chance. Besides the cutest goats ever, Caromont Farm sells AMAZING goat cheese at the Nelson Farm Market on Saturdays.

Friends and local businesses large and small have contributed to the NCCF mission over the years! Some of our valued supporters include Bold Rock, Devil’s Backbone, Virginia Distillery, Nelson 151, Pharsalia, Veritas Winery, Blue Mountain Brewery, and Valley Road Winery. We value everyone’s support. But more help is always needed to reach Nelson’s most vulnerable. Contact us at NCCFund@gmail.com. All ideas are welcome!

Sue Klett is all smiles getting her goat cuddles.

NCCF Hits the Airwaves
Have you heard Nelson County Community Fund’s 60 second Public Service Announcement that aired on Charlottesville’s WINA 1070 AM & 98.9 FM? Thank you, Jay James, of WINA and The Bridge Ministry for making it happen!

Click to Zoom in
Board Kudos

Congratulations to NCCF Board Member Kevin Walker, upon his promotion to principal of Nelson County High School! Since 2009, Kevin served the school as teacher, coach, athletic director, and assistant principal. The students, faculty, and staff at NCHS are in great hands. Meet all NCCF’s Board of Directors here →

Principal Walker
Fleetwood Community Center Hosted Trail Ride Fundraiser
In May one of NCCF’s newest grant recipients, the Fleetwood Community Center in Massies Mill, attracted more than 100 riders to its twice annual trail ride. Fleetwood has sponsored this fundraiser for nearly 30 years. Community outreach is important to NCCF so Sue Klett, board member, attended the trail ride and answered questions on our mission.

NCCF grant monies, reaching underserved populations in Nelson County, will go toward a disk golf course (alongside the Tye River) and improved outdoor basketball courts.
Photo by Samantha Martineau
Giving a Reason to Smile
Nelson County Community Fund received this heartwarming letter further proving your donations do make a difference!

“…I am writing this letter in gratitude…to know that you would help me with the dental treatment for my son, since it was very difficult for me to be able to do it because I am a single mother, and it is very difficult for me to be able to afford all the treatment for my son so I feel very happy with this organization. Thanks for everything.” — From a mom of pediatric dental patient at Blue Ridge Dental Center

Nelson County Community Fund, Inc. is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions to NCCF, Inc. are tax-deductible. Donate here NCCF Give Now

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 26, 2022
Contact: Ken Heise, 202-400-0022, nccfund@gmail.com

NCCF Awards New Grants Supporting Local Nonprofits

NELSON COUNTY, VA. – The all-volunteer, nonprofit Nelson County Community Fund, Inc. (NCCF) has just awarded $80,500 to 10 nonprofit organizations that support Nelson County residents.
The funds will support a wide range of organizations that provide help to food- insecure families, victims of sexual assault and substance abuse, low-income persons seeking affordable housing or home repairs, educational opportunities, and legal services, and other causes.

NCCF raises funds and donates money to nonprofits twice a year. Since its inception in 2000, NCCF has invested in Nelson County by giving $1.95 million to 76 agencies and programs.

“NCCF is receiving a growing number of grant requests to aid Nelson County’s most vulnerable residents. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we fill as many of these requests as we can,” said Ken Heise, NCCF president.

Organizations funded in the Summer 2022 NCCF Grant Cycle

• Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Inc.– Supporting mobile food delivery to hard-to-reach communities.
• American Red Cross of Central Virginia — Providing blood drive support in Nelson County, targeted especially to diverse populations.
• Sexual Assault Resource Agency (SARA) — Offering survivor services and continuing outreach efforts.
• Central Virginia Legal Aid Society — Providing a variety of legal services to low-income families as well as victims of domestic and sexual violence. This is a new grantee for NCCF.
• Blue Ridge Medical Center — Receiving two grants: one to support the cost of specialty dental care for low-income patients; the other to outfit a van for non-emergency transportation of rural patients.
• Nelson County Community Development Foundation — Arranging critical home repairs for the elderly and residents with disabilities.
• Monticello Area Community Action Agency (MACAA) — Receiving two grants including a first-time grant to support Head Start early education programs at Nelson County’s two elementary schools. A second grant supports an ongoing emergency assistance program for utilities, rent, and other expenses, as well as financial counseling for low-income recipients.
• On Our Own Charlottesville VA, Inc. — Providing peer advocate support for substance abusers and those struggling with mental health issues. This is another new grantee for NCCF.
• Piedmont Habitat for Humanity, Inc. — Supporting the construction of affordable
  housing for Nelson County families qualifying for its program.
• The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen — Providing for an ongoing, one-week environmentally-oriented summer camp for students in grades 2 to 5.

For more information on the grant program, visit https://nelsonfund.org/apply-for-a-grant/. The next application period deadline is December 31, 2022.

Nelson County Community Fund, Inc. is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions to NCCF, Inc. are tax-deductible.