NCCF Awards New Grants to 10 Local Nonprofits

by Jim | Sep 6, 2022 | News/Events

Nelson County Community Fund, Inc. (NCCF) awarded $80,500 in grants this fall to 10 nonprofits that support Nelson County residents.

The funds will support 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.

Here are the nonprofits receiving grants:

• Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Inc.
• American Red Cross of Central Virginia
• Sexual Assault Resource Agency (SARA)
• Central Virginia Legal Aid Society
• Blue Ridge Medical Center
• Nelson County Community Development Foundation
• Monticello Area Community Action Agency (MACAA)
• On Our Own Charlottesville VA, Inc.
• Piedmont Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
• The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen

For details on the programs funded through these grants, click on the link above to view recent new releases. For more information on NCCF’s grant program, visit https://nelsonfund.org/apply-for-a-grant/. The next application period deadline is December 31, 2022.

FLAG Shows How Everyone Can ‘Walk Without Fear’

by Jim | Apr 18, 2022 | News/Events

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.

FLAG co-founder and instructor Sally Rose Monnes (C) watches as NCCF board members Sue Klett (L) and Linda Hughes (R) practice a defensive block

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” 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 is putting on two nonviolent self-defense workshops at community centers in Nelson County, on May 14 and 15. The workshops are free and open to the public, but preregistration is required here: fightlikeagrrrl.org/workshops.

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

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. “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 takeaways from the workshop, agreed 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.

Martial artists and FLAG instructors (L-R) Megan Schultz, Josh Copson, Sally Rose Monnes, and Jamie Hale are taking their nonviolent self-defense workshop to two Nelson County community centers in May

Nelson County Farmers and Workers Join Forces to Fight COVID

by Jim | Jan 27, 2022 | News/Events

Pick up a firm, tart apple or a plump, juicy peach at the local farmers market and you might consider the hard work that went into producing that bounty. Over this last year, Nelson County growers and the seasonal farmworkers they depend on worked extra hard to protect the migrant and local communities from contracting COVID-19.

Thanks to a unique collaboration between local growers and a newly created nonprofit advocating for workers’ health and welfare, 97 percent of the seasonal and migrant workforce was vaccinated against COVID-19, avoiding any outbreaks of the virus among workers in 2021.

Click here to read this success story

Attention Grantees: A New Avenue For Funding

by Jim | Sep 27, 2021 | News/Events

Looking for additional sources of funding? NCCF urges grantees to get involved in this new, regional data-sharing network. The Center for Nonprofit Excellence, The United Way, The Equity Center, and Thriving Communities Group have teamed up to create an open-source, online community tool – ReImagineCVA.

What is ReImagineCVA and how does it work?

ReImagineCVA will serve as a comprehensive search-and-discover guide to the active nonprofits and community organizations doing important work in Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, and Orange.

All community organizations, including those fiscally sponsored, can be uploaded to the site to create an individual organizational profile. The profile pulls data from each organization’s website, highlighting the organization’s mission, impact, and giving opportunities as a direct way to connect the community to what organizations need right now – from products and supplies to donations to ways to volunteer through hands-on or skilled volunteering.

NCCF Awards Record Grant Monies to Support Local Nonprofits

by Jim | Sep 13, 2021 | News/Events

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.”

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.

Organizations Funded in the Summer 2021 NCCF Grant Cycle