Nonprofit grant recipients report 2024 community impact

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.