Mutts with a Mission was nominated anonymously. Established in 2008 by founder Brooke Corson, the organization originated from firsthand observations of the positive impact dogs had on troops returning from overseas deployments. Initially focused on assisting veterans dealing with PTSD and mobility disabilities, Mutts with a Mission expanded its programs to include placing service dogs with first responders and law enforcement personnel. Their mission is to provide qualified veterans, wounded warriors, law enforcement officers, Federal employees, and first responders with meticulously trained service/assistance dogs. The organization offers qualified individuals the opportunity to owner-train their own service dogs by providing education, training classes, and comprehensive support. They also partner with the United States Navy to introduce facility dogs on ships through the Expanded Operational Stress Control Facility Dog Program. All dogs are provided at no cost to their owners. To make a donation, become a puppy raiser, or volunteer, please click here.

The Center for Child & Family Services was nominated anonymously. Since its establishment in 1943, the Center has remained committed to empowering and supporting families confronting life challenges through counseling and support services. With over 20 comprehensive programs, they aim to assist families in overcoming challenges, making responsible choices, and enhancing their quality of life. These programs encompass various areas, such as employment improvement, parenting skills, mental health/psychotherapy, violence prevention, job training, and more. Originally founded in response to the wartime need in the 1940s, providing counseling to disrupted families, the Center has expanded its reach by collaborating with several organizations to offer services across the Virginia Peninsula. If you are interested in getting involved or supporting the Center for Child & Family Services, please click here.

Little Theatre of Norfolk was nominated by Laura Sommo, the Client Service and HR Coordinator in our Norfolk office. This community theater is dedicated to producing musicals, plays, workshops, and more. Although the distinctive all-red theater they currently occupy was constructed in 1949, the Little Theatre has been staging plays since 1926. Operated entirely by a volunteer staff, both on and off the stage, the theatre thrives on a strong sense of community. The theatre is also actively involved in a scholarship program, awarding a $1,000 grant to a high school student to support their pursuit of further education in theater. To volunteer, donate, or become a part of a show, please click here.

VCU Parkinson's and Movement Disorders Center was nominated by Amber Everett, a Trust and Estate Paralegal in our Norfolk office. The center is dedicated to providing exceptional care and empowering individuals affected by Parkinson's disease or other movement disorders to lead fulfilling lives. Their mission extends to achieving scientific breakthroughs that result in lasting benefits for patients, their families, and the community at large. The center offers various programs, including the Clinical-Translational Research Program, Clinical Multidisciplinary Diagnostic and Therapeutic Program, and Education and Outreach Program. Through these initiatives, they aim to devise strategies to combat movement and neurodegenerative disorders. For more information or to make a donation, please click here.

The Life Enrichment Center was nominated by Lisa Kim, who is Of Counsel in our Virginia Beach office. The Life Enrichment Center provides literacy tutoring to elementary school students from Title I Schools across Virginia. Their mission is to enrich the lives of children, youth, and adults from underserved communities and assist students who are below their reading level to become proficient readers. They also aim to increase students' technology proficiency to aid in their educational progress. Tutors are assigned to one student who they work with for one hour a week for one academic school year. They have found that students who reach or exceed their reading level by the end of the third grade are four times more likely to graduate from high school. Approximately 90% of students who participate in the Life Enrichment Center program have shown reading proficiency. If you would like to become a tutor or find out more ways to get involved, please click here.

Dos Santos Food Pantry was nominated by Nicole Naidyhorski, the firm's Director of Marketing and Recruiting. Dos Santos works within the Hispanic community on the Eastern Shore to provide assistance to families and individuals lacking adequate food and safe housing. Clients are able to receive food, clothing, help with transportation, house repairs, and assistance with health concerns. They are currently operating three food pantry sites serving approximately 150 families. Dos Santos Food Pantry is also a founding member of Agriculture Workers Advocacy Coalition, which cooperates with the Legal Aid Justic Center to assist migrant agricultural workers. To volunteer or find out more ways to help, please click here.

The Eliza Hope Foundation was nominated by Laura Rixey, a Member in our Virginia Beach office. The Eliza Hope Foundation and Therapy Center is a center for children with autism to receive therapeutic and individualized care. The foundation was established after the passing of Eliza, who was only a 4-and-a-half-year-old. This was done to both honor Eliza's life and help families who have similar struggles. They provide dedicated specialists that offer services to children who have been diagnosed with autism. They work with children and their parents in a therapeutic environment to identify the needs of each child and create a schedule that best suits the family. If you would like to get involved or support the Eliza Hope Foundation, please click here.

Let Christmas THRIVE was nominated by Lydia Mugler, a Tax Paralegal in our Newport News office. Let Christmas THRIVE is a program dedicated to assisting families who are under financial distress put Christmas presents under the tree for their children. They understand the best gifts come from loved ones and the ones that know you best. That’s why instead of donating toys, Let Christmas THRIVE offers parents the ability to choose gift cards, enabling them to select their children’s gifts and make the holidays more meaningful and individualized to each child. With the rising cost of food, housing, and goods, THRIVE aims to alleviate the burden of worrying about what to place under the tree and make the holidays special. Since 2020, Let Christmas THRIVE has been able to provide gift cards to over 1,144 children and their families, continuing to support children in households that have faced financial hardships. To find out how to donate or get involved, please click here.

The Bohring-Optiz was nominated by Melissa Jackson, a Paralegal in our Williamsburg office. Bohring-Optiz syndrome is a rare genetic condition, with only 300 cases worldwide, that affects various parts of the body and is caused by spontaneous mutation. The Bohring-Optiz Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by BOS through the establishment of a medical advisory board, awareness initiatives, and parent/patient advocacy. Since their establishment in 2015, they have increased a sense of community surrounding BOS and helped share knowledge about this rare disease. They ask that anyone with BOS shares their story so that more research can be done and to track the number of cases. Our donation will help support research that increases the medical community’s knowledge about BOS and treatments as well as assisting families and patients who are affected by BOS. If you would like to get involved and find other ways to support The Bohring-Optiz Foundation, please click here.

The Norfolk Law Library was nominated by Laurie Claywell, the firm’s Director of Library and Research Services. The Norfolk Law Library is a resource for the general public, lawyers, and the courts to assist in all their research needs. The library opened to the public in 1987 and has continued to emphasize the role of community connection in the provision of its services. They believe that improved access to legal and law-related information is best achieved through community cooperation and collaboration. Not only do they provide legal resources for both legal professionals and self-represented litigators, but they also provide access to the internet, computers, and printers. Our donation will support the library’s outreach efforts to better connect with its community post-pandemic as it works to rebuild existing relationships and establish new ones. If you would like to donate or learn more about the library resources available, please click here.

The Tidewater Youth Services Foundation was nominated by Will Palmer, an Associate in our Norfolk Office. The Tidewater Youth Services Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1991 in order to raise funds for, and offer support to, at-risk and court-involved youth. They have seven locations across the Commonwealth of Virginia and are the primary resource for juvenile justice services in the region. They offer a variety of programs and services such as literacy and academic support, school-based case management, art and cultural enrichment, pro-social activities, independent living skills, and more. Our donation will allow TYSF to continue providing independent living skills, Aggression Replacement Training groups, field trips, mentoring opportunities, and more. If you would like to volunteer, become a tutor or get involved, please click here.

The Animal Resources of Tidewater was nominated by Sarah Gay, a Paralegal in our Norfolk office. Animal Resources of Tidewater was established in 1999 and has since grown to meet the needs of the community through grants, donations, and volunteers. They have established various programs such as SpayHR, Community Medical Assistance, Legislative Policy Advocacy, and the Pit Bull Awareness Coalition in order to improve the lives of companion animals in Hampton Roads. The Spay Hampton Roads Program was created in response to the high volume of calls to Norfolk Animal Control. Since 2010, they have successfully spayed or neutered over 6,000 cats and dogs. If you would like to donate or find out more information on how to help, please click here.

The Hospice House of Hampton Roads was nominated by Laura Rixey, a Member in our Virginia Beach office. The Hospice House of Hampton Roads will be the first freestanding inpatient hospice facility in Hampton Roads and their grand opening is expected in early 2024. Hospice is appropriate for anyone diagnosed with a terminal illness whose life expectancy is measured as 6 months or less, and whose primary goal has changed to comfort-oriented care. The Hospice House will be the premier inpatient community-based provider of quality hospice services and programs in Hampton Roads and their goal is to continually educate the community about end-of-life care. Their focus is on improving the patients’ quality of life, allowing them and their loved ones to make the best of the time they have left together. Our donation will help fund hospice services, purchase hospice equipment and supplies, and support hospice research projects. If you would like to volunteer or learn more about Hospice House of Hampton Roads, please click here.

The Doorways was nominated by Tiffany Lynch, our Talent Acquisition & Engagement Manager in the Norfolk office. In 1983, the compassionate members of the MCV Hospital Auxiliary of VCU Health purchased an eight-room, 19th-century brownstone—the Zeigler House, located two blocks away from MCV Hospitals—to provide lodging for patients who had to travel to Richmond for critical medical treatment. The 28-bed facility, then known as Hospital Hospitality House, served patients and their caregivers until 1994 when the need to accommodate more guests arose. That’s when a new 117-bed hotel located at 7th & Marshall Streets in downtown Richmond was purchased and renovated. In April 2015, the former Hospital Hospitality became The Doorways, making it one of the largest hospitality houses in the country. The Doorways provides a healing, emotionally supportive environment for those who need to be close to the hospital but not far from the feeling of “home.” Our donation will provide a two-week stay for a patient and their caregiver, non-perishable food, clothing, paper and more. If you would like to get involved and find other ways to support The Doorways, please click here here.

The Alzheimer’s Association Southeast Virginia Chapter was nominated by Delaina Hoad, a paralegal in our Williamsburg office. The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. They work hard to fund early detection and maximize quality care and support. The Southeastern Virginia Chapter offers free community education programs that are designed by topic, to help caregivers through specific challenges. Our donation can help advance critical research and provide care and support for families affected by Alzheimer’s. If you would like to sign up for a program or to learn more about Alzheimer’s or dementia, please click here here.

Kaizen Athletics was nominated by Robin McNutt, Facilities Assistant Manager in the Norfolk office. Kaizen Athletics provides an all-inclusive training facility for individuals with long-term physical or traumatic impairments, both visible and invisible through movement and community. They make fitness training accessible and inclusive for everyone, regardless of ability. They serve Wounded Warriors, veterans, first responders, law enforcement officers and, our adaptive community. Kaizen Athletics also provides a sense of community. Their 100% donation based group or individual classes help the adaptive population regain their strength and independence, gain strength, speed and power, improve their cardiovascular endurance and their mental health. With our donation, we are supporting an all-inclusive training facility, adaptive coaching, and adaptive equipment for the athletics. To start your fitness journey to help the adaptive community or learn more about their classes, please click here here.

The Community Tax Law Project was nominated by our Business Taxation Team. The Community Tax Law Project (CTLP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring access to legal services for Virginia's low-income taxpayers embroiled in federal or state disputes. As the first independent low-income taxpayer clinic (LITC) in the nation, CTLP has been a leader in the field of low-income taxpayer representation since its founding in 1992. CTLP provides free legal representation in tax disputes, educates taxpayers about their rights and responsibilities, and identifies and advocates for issues that impact low-income taxpayers. CTLP was founded on the belief that a taxpayer's access to professional representation in tax disputes should not depend solely on his or her ability to pay for such services. The clinic is operated by in-house staff who handle most cases directly, while referring other clients to outside pro bono attorneys, accountants, or enrolled agents. Their staff also engages in outreach and education to taxpayers who speak English as a second language, participants in welfare-to-work job skills programs, elderly and disabled individuals, self-employed individuals, and those who are survivors of domestic violence. CTLP relies on grants and donations to fund their services, so our donation will help fund direct legal representation, legal advice, education on tax matters and outreach to low income and ESL taxpayers throughout Virginia. To learn how you can help support CTLP’s programs, click here.

Chesapeake Humane Society was nominated by Amy Harman, a Member in our Chesapeake office. Founded in 1972, Chesapeake Humane Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is funded by private donors and does not receive government subsidies. Their mission is to promote the welfare of companion animals through programs and initiatives that reduce pet overpopulation, increase adoptions, and encourage responsible pet guardianship through affordable pet care. Their vision is to help pets and the people who love them find each other and stay together. The Society supports the homeless and underserved animals of Chesapeake by providing low-cost veterinary services including, offering financial assistance to shelter animals and pets at risk of surrender in immediate medical need, and operating an adoption program for dogs, cats, and small animals. Our donation will help provide shelter, food, vaccinations and testing fees, microchip and registration for pets, and spay and neuter surgery. To adopt these adorable pets or read more about how you can help, please click here.

Peninsula READS was nominated by Connie Sobieski, a legal assistant in our Newport News office. Since 1968, Peninsula READS has been teaching adults literacy for success. Serving about 250 adults per year, the organization has historically guided the development of numerous other literacy organizations and continues this mentoring to this day. Their mission is to provide literacy skills necessary for adults to function more effectively in their lives and communities. Peninsula READS is a community-based program that provides one-on-one instruction in the areas of reading, writing, and math, as well as small group instruction in English for speakers of other languages. Additionally, since technology is becoming increasingly necessary for everyday tasks, computer literacy is incorporated into the curriculum. Our donation will help purchase computers, auction items or food for one of their events, and set up a scholarship program to assist learners who cannot afford the intake fee. To become a tutor or see how you can support Peninsula READS, please click here here.

New Vision Youth Services, Inc. was nominated anonymously. Their mission is to serve as a bridge linking the people and resources for youth to make the connections needed to transition successfully into adulthood. New Vision Youth Services was developed in direct response to the regional and national studies of disadvantaged youth falling through the cracks entering and aging out of the foster care system without family support. Approximately 30,000 foster care adolescents age-out of the foster care system each year. Current statistics show that one in five youth that leave the foster care system will become homeless after age 18, and that foster youth are more than twice as likely as non-foster youth to drop out of high school and become victims of sex trafficking. Some of the services New Vision Youth Services offers include mentoring and training, case management/home-based services, educational mentoring, health and nutritional information, job readiness, and more. If you would like to get involved with these services or make a donation, please click here.

Siren City Pipe Band was nominated by Nia Lissimore, the firm’s Marketing Manager. Siren City Pipe Band is the premier pipe band of Virginia, taking root in Norfolk and building ties between our local community and the international bagpipe scene. Siren City Pipe Band continues to set the standard for bagpipe music in Hampton Roads by fielding a band at the highest level possible. Members invest in the band’s future with a formal development program, of which they invite all determined community members to take part. They offer an organization that represents Norfolk on a global scale, while also performing locally for the community. They started a Youth Piping & Drumming program for the next generation of pipers and drummers in Hampton Roads. Students 8 to 18 have the opportunity to go from zero to pipe band, learning either the bagpipes or Scottish-style snare drum from Siren City Pipe Band members. The program is intended to bring the next generation into the field, while instilling the values of teamwork, leadership, and musicianship. Our donation will fully fund the purchase of learning instruments for ten students in Siren City Pipe Band's flagship education program, Youth Piping & Drumming. To learn more about their youth program or learn how you can help, please click here.

Williamsburg Parent Cooperative Preschool was nominated by Adam Pratt, an Associate in the Williamsburg office. The Co-op was founded in 1969 by the community and parents who were intrigued by the possibility of being involved with their children’s education. Co-op is a non-profit, non-denominational, non-discriminatory school run by a Parent Board and is located at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Williamsburg, where it is regarded as part of the church’s outreach program. As a cooperative preschool, Co-op not only insists, but requires, the active participation of parents, whether through classroom volunteering, hosting events, or serving on the board. Their belief in children’s joy in discovery, and the particular charm added when teachers, children, and parents come together in the classroom, are central to their philosophy. Co-op chooses to create an environment that allows children 2 ½ - 5 to teach themselves as much as possible by exploration and discovery, and building confidence and competence. Our donation will help purchase supplies and materials for classrooms, provide professional development opportunities for teachers, and offer scholarships to students who might not otherwise be able to afford the Co-op experience. If you wish to donate or learn more about Co-op, please, please click here.

Firm Foundation of Virginia Inc. was nominated by Maisha Jackson, Litigation Paralegal in the Norfolk office. Firm Foundation of Virginia Inc. was founded in 2011 and is a nonprofit faith-based organization that serves mothers age 18 to 35 who are homeless, living in poverty, or experiencing crisis. They provide a nurturing environment where emotional, social, spiritual and financial needs are addressed. Single mothers are provided the time and opportunity to learn the skills required to become financially self-sufficient and a better-equipped parent. They offer transitional housing and short-term transitional housing services. Residents of the program receive case management services, food, transportation, job assistance, financial education, and participate in life skill groups to support their transition out of homelessness. Our donation will help purchase essentials items, toiletries, furniture, bus passes, and more. To donate or read how you can help, please click here.

TRDance was nominated by Brac McKee, a Member in our Virginia Beach office. TRDance is a center for promoting the highest level of professional performance, education, and community outreach, through innovation, creativity, and inclusion. They explore modern dance and contemporary ballet that enriches the culture and community of the Mid-Atlantic region. They seek to establish a culture that ignites a passion and appreciation for all forms of dance and develops the next generation of professional dancers, students of all abilities, dance educators, and audiences for this ephemeral art form. They instill their values in all of their dances, and are committed to the freedom of expression in the art of dance. Our donation will go to scholarships for their Mixed Abilities In Motion (MixMo) program, which is an adaptive dance academy for kids and adults with disabilities that TRDance has been running for over 11 years. To sign up for dance classes or to learn more about what other opportunities they offer, please click here.

Old Dominion Honor Flight was nominated by Nicole Naidyhorski, the firm’s Director of Marketing and Recruiting. Old Dominion Honor Flight is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. Their mission is to celebrate veterans by transporting America's heroes to Washington D.C. to visit the various memorials dedicated to honoring their sacrifice and service. Each veteran is assigned a guardian and provided transportation, meals, fellowship, all free of charge. The highlight of the day is a welcome home celebration, one that many veterans never received. Old Dominion Honor Flight serves the Richmond area and Southeastern Virginia to include the Outer Banks and Northeast North Carolina. Our donation will help with travel fees and enable Old Dominion Honor Flight to complete its mission of transporting more veterans to Washington D.C. To volunteer to be a guardian, make a donation, or if you would like to participate in the sendoff and welcome back of our nation’s heroes, please click here.

HOME, Inc. was nominated by Joe Stiles, Of Counsel in our Norfolk office. The Rivenbark family founded HOME, Inc. in 2020 after discovering a family had been living in an apartment with only an air mattress. They personally assisted them with locating household items and realized there was a shortage of assistance in our community in this area. The mission of HOME, Inc. to help families in need or those that are starting over. HOME, Inc. works with referrals from area partner agencies to provide additional housing assistance in the form of furnishings and household needs. With our donation, we will help purchase toiletries, kitchen essentials, bedding, mattresses, and more. If you would like to help purchase some of the items or learn how else you can contribute, please click here.

The Genieve Shelter was nominated by Nicole Harrell, a Member in our Norfolk office. The Genieve Shelter’s mission is to provide a safe refuge and supportive environment for the victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking and provide free information, education, and training services that focus on ending the cycle of violence. Through their 24-hour crisis hotline, they are able help guide callers to safety in cases of domestic violence. Our donation will help provide free housing, purchase clothing, and personal care products and help families deal with legal issues that arise due to domestic violence. If you would like to donate or volunteer your time to help victims escape the cycle of violence and prevent future family violence, please click here.

ForKids was nominated by Nicole Harrell, a Member in our Norfolk office. ForKids was established in May 1988 to provide emergency shelter to families and children. Since then they have grown to become one of the largest providers of homeless services to families in Virginia. ForKids believes stable housing, a great education, and a healthy, diverse community are essential to the welfare of families. The ForKids Housing Crisis Hotline is the central point of contact for all persons experiencing a housing crisis throughout Southeastern Virginia. Through the Hotline, they connect individuals in crisis to the community’s extended network of resources. The Hotline also allows ForKids to collect an enormous amount of data about the homeless population in the region. ForKids offer services such as housing placement, job coaching, mental health coordination, and case management. Our donation will help purchase living essentials such as air mattresses, pillows, cleaning supplies, and more. To host a drive, volunteer, or donate to ForKids, please click here.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) was nominated by Hannah Pearson, a Real Estate Paralegal in our Williamsburg office. AFSP was established in 1987 and is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death. AFSP is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health by engaging in the following core strategies:

• funding scientific research,

• educating the public about mental health and suicide prevention,

• advocating for public policies in mental health and suicide prevention,

• supporting survivors of suicide loss and those affected by suicide,

Our donation will help fund research to improve interventions, train clinicians in suicide prevention, and advocate for policy that will save lives. To see how you can help bring awareness to your community, please click here.

Girls on the Run of Hampton Roads has fun, evidence-based programs that inspire all girls to build their confidence, kindness and decision-making skills. Girls on the Run inspires girls of all abilities to recognize their individual strengths, while building a sense of connection in a team setting. They work with girls in grades 3 through 8. Teams meet three hours a week for 12 weeks to explore critical topics that improve self-esteem, peer relations, nutrition, and physical fitness. At the end of the season, each team designs and implements an age-appropriate community service project. Each girl completes a celebratory 5k alongside an adult "5k buddy" and hundreds of other girls from the region. Through training and teamwork, the girls learn that triumph is tangible with careful planning and preparation. These achievements provide them with a framework for setting and reaching larger goals as they mature. Lessons are age appropriate and culturally relevant for elementary or middle school girls. Our donation will go to their scholarship fund, which allows them to provide after-school programs at a lower cost to girls in need. To participate in their next 5k or read more about their programs, please click here.

Heritage Humane Society was nominated by Delaina Hoad, a paralegal in our Williamsburg office. The Heritage Humane Society serves as compassionate stewards of homeless pets that are in transition from stray/surrender to forever homes. They serve to educate the public about humane animal care and treatment, advocate animal welfare, and provide affordable adoption services and spay/neuter services to measurably reduce overpopulation of unwanted companion animals. Our donation will help saves lives of the homeless pets and give shelter, food, and medical assistance. To adopt a small pet or read more about the Heritage Humane Society, please click here. To adopt a small pet or read more about the Heritage Humane Society, please click here.

The Union Mission Ministries was nominated by Ellis Pretlow, a Member in our Norfolk office. The Union Mission Ministries was founded in 1892 by a group of Methodist businessmen who had a vision to provide for the physical and spiritual needs of the poor and homeless. From that vision, the original Union Mission Ministries opened its doors, and to this day continues to provide help and hope for homeless people in our community. For more than 125 years The Union Mission Ministries has compassionately served men, women, and children without a home and with nowhere else to turn. They help connect the homeless to numerous resources in the South Hampton Roads community so they can work to get back on their feet and in permanent homes. Our donation will help provide hot meals, safe shelter, and bring hope to those in need. If you would like to donate to The Union Mission Ministries or read more about their programs and services, please click here.

Eastern Shore Rail Trail Foundation was nominated by Ed Spivey, a Member in our Norfolk office. The newly established Eastern Shore Rail Trail Foundation (ESRTF) is a non-profit organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, to engage in the development, improvement, financing, use, operation, promotion, marketing, maintenance, and repair of the Eastern Shore Rail Trail. The future ESVA Rail Trail will be a 49-mile walking and biking trail along the historic Eastern Shore railroad corridor. With the new development, ESVA Rail Trail will provide a safe place for healthy outdoor activities that will attract tourists and new businesses contributing to economic growth, while supporting a healthier and more prosperous community. The trail offers natural and scenic views while also providing a safe, cost-effective place to enjoy healthy and sociable activities. Our donation will help support the construction of the trail and help with all of the maintenance the trail requires along the way. If you would like to donate to the foundation or explore the trail, please click here.

Buffalow Family and Friends Community was nominated by Amy Harman, a Member in our Chesapeake office. The mission of Buffalow Family and Friends Community Days is to end hunger for seniors in Hampton Roads. Many independent-living seniors are facing rising costs for food, clothes, rent, and medicine. Because they are on a fixed income, they have to choose what medicine they will purchase and if they will eat that day. Buffalow Family and Friends Community Days provides food at their pantry for vulnerable senior citizens, as well as to various senior communities monthly. Their programs include Thanksgiving community day dinners, Christmas presents giveaways, mobile food pantries, and back-to-school supplies for the community. Our donation will go towards food, clothes, rent, medicine, and transportation needs. If you would like to volunteer or learn more about their programs, please click here.

Billy the Kidden Rescue was nominated by by Andrea King, our Marketing Coordinator in the Norfolk office. Billy the Kidden Rescue began in the summer of 2013 and its focus is to improve the lives of displaced cats and kittens and reduce feral cat populations in Hampton Roads by socializing outdoor-born and unwanted kittens for adoption into forever homes. Since its start, the rescue has saved countless cats and kittens mainly through its practice of trap, neuter, return. Through TNR, they have significantly decreased the feral cat population and reduced the number of kittens born into an environment in which their survival is slim and their suffering inevitable. Billy the Kidden Rescue is also a foster-based rescue. Even with all of their efforts to implement TNR, hundreds of kittens continue to be born outside every year. Whenever possible, they attempt to place kittens born to outdoor ferals in foster homes to be socialized and adopted into forever homes. They are the largest home-based rescue on the East Coast and their extensive network of fosters enables them to break the cycle for hundreds of cats annually. Our donation will provide help in the rescue, care, and rehabilitation of all the kitties. To help rescue a cat or read more about how you can support the organization, please click here.

ECHO Family Care Partners was nominated by by Nikki Duncan, our Accounts Manager in the Norfolk office. ECHO Family Care Partners helps connect children with caring families in the community. Its mission is to provide children with a safe, stable home through fostering or adoption programs. ECHO provides the resources to help find homes for children in foster care and bring homelessness awareness to the community. They partner with local churches to host conferences and educate families on the process of adoption. Our donation will help with transportation, find temporary homes for the children, and give the children hope for a better life. If you would like to foster, attend their conferences, or learn more about their mission please click here.

LGBT Life Center was nominated by Mary Beth Sherwin, a Member in our Norfolk office, and chair of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee. With over 30 years of local history in Hampton Roads, LGBT Life Center’s mission is to empower the LGBTQ communities and all people affected by HIV through improving health and wellness, strengthening families and communities, and providing transformative education and advocacy. When they started in 1989, they focused on women and children living with HIV/AIDS. Over the years, as HIV has changed, their work has changed. Their organization has grown as well, and they work to meet the diverse needs of our community. Today, LGBT Life Center’s commitment to a healthy Hampton Roads remains as strong as ever. Our donation will help with monthly bus pass for clients to travel to medical and support services (support groups, testing services, and social activities), provide one week’s worth of nutritious meals for an HIV+ client, cover free HIV/STD screening and sexual health consulting for one client and lastly provide a “move-in-kit” to one of their housing clients including cups, plates, sheets, and basic cleaning supplies. To read more about LGBT Life Center, please click here.

James River Association was nominated by Greg Davis, a Member in our Williamsburg office. The James River Association strives to provide a voice for the James River on important policy issues. Through advocacy at the citizen, local, state, and federal levels, the James River Association works to ensure the health of the James River. Thanks to their advocacy, the river has become one of the nation’s most improved river from one of the most polluted rivers. More than one-third of all Virginians rely on the James River and its tributaries for water, commerce, and recreation. The river is 340 miles long and is fed by 25,000 miles of tributaries, which makes it one of the longest rivers in America that begins and ends in the same state. Our donation will help pay for water quality bacteria tests, to train a RiverRep volunteer to become a voice for JRA, plant a living shoreline project to help slow erosion, provide wildlife habitat and improve water quality. To learn more about their advocacy efforts and how you can help JRA, please click here.

BARC was nominated by by Andrea King, our Marketing Coordinator in the Norfolk office. Bully Advocate & Rescue Collective (BARC) is a breed-specific organization that focuses on pitbulls and their mixes. Because of a few bad examples in the media, the entire breed is suffering from an undeserved stigma. BARC pulls bully breeds from shelters throughout the Hampton Roads area and gives the dogs a chance to shine in a private home setting via fosters. When a dog is out of the unfamiliar and scary shelter environment, it has a chance to relax and become more social, which in turn makes it easier to find a permanent home for the dog. BARC has even had a dog that the shelter called "unadoptable" become a loving family pet. Our donation will go towards medical care (heart worm treatments, spaying and neutering, flea and tick preventative, etc.), food and basic equipment like collars, leashes and kennels. Without these donations, large bully breeds would end up waiting in shelters for their entire lives, or worse, euthanized as unadoptable. To learn how you can help or rescue these kind pets, please click here.

Roc Solid Foundation was nominated by Tiffany Lynch, our Talent Acquisition & Engagement Manager in the Norfolk office. Roc Solid Foundation’s founder, Eric Newman, fought a rare form of liver cancer when he was just three years old. To the surprise of his doctors, he beat the odds and has been in remission since then. To give back, Eric founded Roc Solid in 2009 and he created the first fundraiser that benefited the hospital that saved his life. Roc Solid offers two programs to help kids who are fighting cancer. The first program is the Play It Forward which provides custom backyard playsets to kids fighting cancer, the second the Ready Bag program which includes everything that a family might need for their unexpected hospital stay. The bags may include toiletries, a blanket, a journal, a tablet and more. These essentials are helpful, but they hope they also send a message to each family that they are not alone as they begin their journey. Roc Solid has distributed thousands of Ready Bags in partnership with children’s hospitals all over the country. Our donation will help purchase playset supplies/materials to build customized playsets and to purchase supplies for their Ready Bags. To read more about their two programs, please click here.

Moms Matter was nominated by Lauren Kadish, a Member in our Norfolk office. Sentara Norfolk General Hospital is the first hospital in Virginia to launch Moms Matter, a program of home-based follow-up care for new mothers who leave the hospital on prescribed hypertension medications. Hypertension is a known cause of morbidity and death for women after childbirth. Women of color are especially vulnerable. As part of Sentara's newly expanded Corporate Social Responsibility program, a $65,000 grant will support a partnership between Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and the Children's Health Investment Program (CHIP of South Hampton Roads), which assigns nurses to visit new moms during the first year after childbirth. Every woman in the program also goes home with a personal blood pressure cuff to aid in self-monitoring. Moms Matter nurses will help women attend follow-up OB visits and assist in connecting them with primary care physicians. They'll look for stressors that complicate life after childbirth, including food insecurity, transportation issues, and other children at home learning virtually during the pandemic. The nurses will initially make weekly virtual visits to ensure moms are taking their medications correctly and provide additional health education. They will screen for postpartum depression and support breastfeeding and safe sleep practices for newborns. Our donation will help get the resources that the new moms may need such as food, transportation costs to doctors’ visits, and medications not covered by insurance. To learn more about Moms Matter and their impact in our community, please click here.

Luke’s Legacy

Luke’s Legacy was nominated by Sarah Messersmith, Of Counsel, in the Newport News office. Luke’s Legacy is a non-profit organization established in March 2021 by his family and friends to carry on Luke's last wishes. Luke was born in Newport News in 2004 to an Air Force family. He was an integral part of the track and cross-country team at Menchville High School, where he was known for his commitment to the team and speed on the track. In December 2020, after a courageous battle, Luke succumbed to a rare form of cancer and passed away at the age of 16.

Luke’s Legacy was created to serve many purposes:

• Support the Menchville High School Cross Country and Track team

• Provide two scholarships to benefit high school athletes living in Hampton Roads, Virginia

• Support pediatric cancer research and research into rare cancers

Our donation will support the Menchville athletics team and help fund the scholarships to the graduating seniors. To learn more about Luke’s Legacy, please visit their Facebook Page.

The Children’s Center was nominated by Bob Powell, Of Counsel, in our Norfolk office. The Children’s Center is a nonprofit agency that provides children ages birth to five with early childhood education services, such as high-quality childcare. They nurture and educate children, as well as their families because the family is the best teacher and decision-maker. Their programs serve a diverse Western Tidewater community, including children with disabilities and developmental delays. They offer educational childcare services including both center-based and home-based services and programs for pregnant moms. Our donation will help serve children from the classroom to the home, purchase school supplies and give children unlimited opportunities to help better their quality of life. To learn how you can help the Children’s Center, please click here.

Tidewater Ukrainian School was nominated by Laura Mae, the firm’s Facilities Manager. Tidewater Ukrainian School was established by Americans of Ukrainian heritage with the support of Tidewater Ukrainian Cultural Association (TUCA) to promote and preserve the language and culture of Ukraine through offering classes in Ukrainian language, history, crafts, music, and dancing. Its mission is to teach and guide a new generation of Americans of Ukrainian heritage through classes and special events. After the devastating and unexpected war with Russia, the school started a fundraiser to help purchase emergency supplies and assist Ukraine citizens in their most vulnerable time. All donated items will be distributed to Teropil, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and others in western Ukraine. To read more about the school and learn how you can help donate to Ukraine, please click here.

3e Restoration was nominated by Robert Johnson, a Member in our Newport News office. 3e Restoration is a Williamsburg-based Christian Community Development Agency that helps equip and encourage faith communities to empower neighbors living through social displacement to holistic sufficiency. Their holistic approach helps address the physical, mental, and social traumas that occur in those without housing, those living in poverty, those who have substance abuse challenges, the formerly incarcerated, survivors of domestic abuse, and other often marginalized populations. Through direct action and partnerships with other governmental, non-profit, and business organizations, 3e Restoration provides holistic relationships-based assistance to strengthen well-being and self-efficiency, housing assistance, educational and workforce assistance, and related services within a defined framework. Our donation will go to finding placement and housing resources for the homelessness. To find out more about their approach and programs, please click here.

Paws In Need, Inc. was nominated by Amy Harman, a Member in our Chesapeake office. Paws In Need was started by Gina Highfield in 2019 after her pet, Sissy, had an emergency life-threatening situation and Gina was unable to afford the veterinary care to save her life, even with the help of friends and complete strangers. The cost of surgeries and emergency vet visits can quickly become costly, and Paws in Need’s goal is to assist those who have exhausted all measures to cover the care their pet needs. They are able to help pet owners in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and parts of North Carolina, such as Moyock and Elizabeth City. To date, Paws In Need has helped over 600 pets and assisted with nearly $150,000 in medical bills, all from the help of the community and donors. Our donation will go directly towards the lifesaving treatment of a pet in need in Hampton Roads. To make a donation or learn how you can help, please click here.

Mercy Chefs was nominated by Gayle Gregg, Technical Services Librarian in our Norfolk office. Mercy Chefs was founded in 2006 by Chef Gary LeBlanc, after he volunteered in New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He saw the difference that a hot meal could make and was surprised and outraged by the quality of food that was being served. With thirty-five years of hospitality industry under his belt, Chef Gary started Mercy Chefs and to date, Mercy Chefs has served over 18.5 million meals. They now have six mobile kitchens, four community kitchens, and they can respond across the United States, as well as abroad. They work with existing organizations within a community to maximize efforts and strengthen the community itself. They partner with local organizations and volunteers, so their work can continue long after the Mercy Chefs’ team and trucks depart. In some instances they maintain a permanent presence in an area and provide locals with the necessary equipment, materials, and training to maintain operations. Their focus is not solely placed on immediate impact but also long-term recovery and enrichment. Our donation will help maintain regular maintenance and upkeep for their mobile kitchens, to help cover travel expenses and prepare for their next emergency call, and most importantly to help cover any meals and food costs to those who have fallen on hard times. To read about how you can help support their mission, please click here.

St. Timothy Lutheran Food Bank was nominated by Laurel Gunter, the firm’s Accounting Supervisor. St. Timothy Lutheran Food Bank is associated with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, a member of Feeding America™ and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. This particular food bank supports its warehouse distribution program, including all food and grocery products from food drives, purchases, and donations from manufacturers and supermarkets. This is the heart of the Foodbank – where millions of pounds of food are sorted, boxed, and delivered to 300 Partner Agencies and Programs. They provide for people experiencing food insecurity throughout Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. The Foodbank remains committed to ending hunger today for the people they serve. That’s why they strive to ensure that healthy, nutritious options are available to the most vulnerable communities. With 40 years of experience, they understand that providing food for someone will lighten the issue of hunger at that moment. Our donation will help with food programs and transportation costs to their distribution centers. To read about their programs or how you can help, please click here.

Child Development Resources, Inc. (CDR) was nominated by Alex Powell, a Member in our Williamsburg office, and Benny Zhang, an Associate in our Williamsburg office. Established in 1965, CDR’s purpose is to inspire and empower children, families, and early childhood professionals to reach their full potential, whatever their challenges may be. They serve families with infants and toddlers from birth to age three in Williamsburg, James City County, York County, and Poquoson, Virginia. By providing early intervention services and making affordable, high-quality early care and education a priority, they are helping to ensure that the children of today grow up to be productive citizens of tomorrow. They have skilled consultants work with each program to identify and meet its individual needs and to help caregivers address the most pressing issues in the field today. The training is offered by CDR’s Center for Professional Development on a fee-for-service basis and by funded projects at no cost to participants. Our donation will help purchase supplies for CDR therapists, educators and family consultants, but will mainly cover diapers for infants. To learn more about CDR, please click here.

REACH (Reading Enriches All Children) was nominated by Bob Powell, Of Counsel, in our Norfolk office. REACH is a volunteer organization that promotes literacy and education for children who are at-risk and homeless throughout Coastal Virginia. Through their programs, they advocate volunteers to spend time with children in various settings, reading and providing fun interactions and activities. Reading is an important foundation for success and their Read Aloud programs help homeless and at-risk children beat the odds and work to achieve future academic achievement. Their goal is to continue meeting regional priorities of improving literacy and education for children ages 0-17, especially those living in poverty. With our donation, REACH will purchase more books at a discounted price from local vendors to support their newly renovated bookstore in Norfolk and help reach their goal of 40,000 books in their distribution center. If you would like to read more about REACH or would like to volunteer, please click here.

Governor’s School for the Arts Foundation was nominated by JoAnn Byrum, the firm’s Document Resources Supervisor. The Governor's School for the Arts is a center for innovation that develops excellence, nurtures creativity, inspires artistic vision, and builds communities with a passion for the arts. They offer premiere arts training in Hampton Roads in six departments: Dance, Instrumental Music, Musical Theatre, Theater & Film, Visual Arts, and Vocal Music. Each department trains students to develop in their art form with a focus on conservatory style study. The GSA Foundation helps support travel fees since GSA fully covers transportation and there are no tuition fees for students to participate. Their goal is to help prepare students to engage the arts thoughtfully and creatively while becoming life-long learners and advocates of the arts. Doing so also helps build audiences to appreciate and enjoy the arts within the community. Our donation will help with transportation, hotels, and food when the students travel out of town for performances. To read more about GSA and to view their schedule of events, please click here.

Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities was nominated by Nia Lissimore, the Marketing Manager in our Norfolk office. VCIC creates spaces and places where people from all backgrounds feel engaged and supported. They believe that inclusion exists when people accept, respect, and value differences. The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities works with schools, businesses, and communities to achieve success by addressing prejudices, in all forms, in order to improve academic achievement, increase workplace productivity, and enhance local trust. Through workshops, retreats, and customized programs that raise knowledge, motivation, and skills, VCIC develops leaders who work together to achieve success throughout the Commonwealth. To read more about VCIC, please click here.

Tidewater Arts Outreach was nominated by Lydia Mugler, our Newport News Tax Paralegal, and Nora Kopacki, our Newport News Litigation Paralegal. It was founded in 2004 by artist MaryAnn Toboz and the mission of TOA is to bring joy to older adults and those living in isolating circumstances, and enhance their well-being through creative engagement with the arts. Tidewater Arts Outreach reaches thousands of participants with an average of over 200 programs per year. Even in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, TAO continues to engage those who experience isolation from society. To read more about Tidewater Arts Outreach, please click here.

Stand for the Silent, anonymously nominated by a K&C employee, was started in 2010 by a group of high school students in Oklahoma City, OK, after they heard the story of Kirk and Laura Smalley’s son, Ty Field - Smalley. At eleven years-old, Ty took his own life after being suspended from school for retaliating against a bully who had been bullying him for over two years. Stand for the Silent exists as a platform to allow Kirk and Laura to share their story, and offer education and tools that will prevent their tragedy from happening to another child and family. Kirk and Laura’s mission is to continue to change kids’ lives and bring awareness to bullying and the real devastation it causes. The program addresses the issue of school bullying with an engaging, factual, and emotional methodology. Above all, it illustrates the main lesson taught through the Stand For The Silent program: I AM SOMEBODY. To learn more about Kirk and Laura’s program, please click here.

Chesapeake Area Shelter Team was nominated by David Whitson, the Director of Administration in our Norfolk office. Chesapeake Area Shelter Team is the community of faith providing Emergency Overnight Winter Shelter for the homeless in the city of Chesapeake, Virginia. Through local donations from churches, organizations, business, and ministries, CAST has served 8,173 dinners to those in need to the community thus far. The program typically runs from November through April and has 20 to 22 church partners. To read more about CAST, please click here.

Afghan Interpreter’s Fund – Semper Fi was nominated by Dustin DeVore, a Member in our Williamsburg office. The Fund emphasizes interpreter heroes as family. Service members have made it clear that their interpreters, who fought side by side with them in Afghanistan, are a part of their family. That is why Afghan Interpreter’s Fund was created. Their initiative will provide aid to interpreters and their own families as they start a new life in the United States. This aid will be delivered by service members and veterans, sending the message that “you had our backs, now we have yours.” Our donation will help the Afghan families create a brighter future in America. To learn more about Afghan Interpreter’s Fund, please click here.

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle was nominated by Tami O’Brien, a Legal Assistant & Office Administrator in our Raleigh office. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and a member of the Feeding America National Network of Food Banks. As a Feeding America Food Bank, they recover and distribute food to our low-income neighbors, but they know putting food on a plate is not enough. They also provide programs designed to empower people with skills to meet their own food needs through culinary job training, beginner gardening, and cooking healthy on a budget. They feed, teach, and grow to create a hunger-free and healthy community. The Food Shuttle operates in a seven-county service area in central North Carolina, including Wake, Durham, Johnston, Orange, Chatham, Nash, and Edgecombe counties. For more information on Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, please click here.

Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory was nominated by Laura Mae, Facilities Manager in our Norfolk office. Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory’s mission is “Protecting wildlife through field research, education and habitat conservation.” The healthy survival of our wildlife is critical to our region’s way of life. The Observatory has funded songbird banding and hawk banding by other organizations and has conducted its own banding programs at Kiptopeke State Park and First Landing State Park. The Observatory participates in the Prothonotary Warbler Nesting Program, in conjunction with Virginia Commonwealth University and partners with Richmond Audubon Society in the study of Northern Saw-whet Owls. Since 1977, CVWO has conducted raptor research during fall migration at Kiptopeke State Park located on Virginia's Eastern Shore. During this time, raptor populations have declined due to habitat loss and pesticides, as well as other factors. CVWO's research contributes to international databases, scientific insight, and preservation of these magnificent birds of prey. To learn more about the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory, please click here.

Virginia Beach CASA was nominated by Laura D. Rixey, a Member in our Virginia Beach office. Virginia Beach Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a private, non-profit organization that recruits, trains and supervises competent volunteers dedicated to advocating for the needs of abused and neglected children currently in court proceedings. The program promotes safe, permanent homes for all children and seeks to educate the community concerning the needs of these children. CASA volunteers are members of the community who receive extensive education and training to advocate for the children. Their ultimate responsibility is to promote safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible. It is slow, painstaking, and incredibly challenging work, but one child at a time, CASA Volunteers are making a difference in our community. Our donation will go toward training volunteers that will help children in Virginia Beach who are in dire need of a powerful and compassionate advocate. To learn more about Virginia Beach CASA, please click here.

Assisting Families of Inmates was nominated by Lewis W. Webb III, a Member in our Norfolk office. The mission of AFOI is to provide opportunities for regular, meaningful visitation, referrals to community resources, and other services that help families cope with incarceration and prepare for release and reunification. They strive to prevent the breakdown of relationships among inmates and their families by providing these services. Their programs help families and loved ones throughout the period of incarceration, and also prepare families for a successful transition when the inmate is released from prison and back into the community. Assisting Families of Inmates is one of only a handful of such programs to provide these services in Virginia and across the United States. To learn more about Assisting Families of Inmates, please click here.

Island Dog Rescue was nominated by Caitlyn Anderson, our Client Service & Recruiting Assistant in our Norfolk, VA office. Island Dog Rescue’s mission is to promote the responsible care and humane treatment of animals of the Caribbean communities. They ensure shelter for animals and enable adoption programs for orphaned animals from the Caribbean islands to homes in the United States. Since 2016, they have found forever homes for over 31,000 dogs from the U.S. Virginia Islands, Puerto Rico, and other Caribbean islands. Our donation will help cover the costs of travel fees, food, and veterinary care. For more information on Island Dog Rescue, please click here.

St. Joseph’s Villa was nominated by Neil Talegaonkar, Of Counsel in the firm’s Richmond office. St. Joseph’s Villa provides children with special needs and their families the opportunity to succeed through innovative and effective programs. They serve children and families facing homelessness, autism and developmental disabilities, mental illness, special education needs, and other challenges. Their passion is helping them reach their potential and live fuller, more independent lives. No matter what, they never stop believing in them. Their wraparound approach to education, therapy, and care addresses individual needs and leads those they serve to recognize that they are valued. Vulnerable children and families grow stronger as they gain skills for long-term success and stability. Villa staff brings expertise from many fields to help them thrive in the community. They have served 57 locations throughout Virginia since 2015, and impact more than 3,000 lives each year. For more information on St. Joseph’s Villa, please click here.

Pandas Fight Against Cancer was nominated by Nicole Duncan, Kaufman & Canoles' Account Manager. Based in Hampton Roads, Pandas Fight Against Cancer started with founder PJ Reed, who is a big cuddly teddy bear and was given the nickname Panda. He started giving back in 2015 by holding fundraisers for his birthday and donating the money to a local cancer patient. Pandas Fight Against Cancer became a 501© 3 nonprofit organization in January 2020. The Panda represents helping a family in need effected by cancer. It signifies strength, hope, and unity. Their goal is to expand outside of Hampton Roads. Our donation will help local families in need who are battling cancer. For more information on Pandas Fight Against Cancer, please click here.

Literacy for Life was nominated by Benny Zhang, an Associate in our Williamsburg office. Literacy for Life improves lives by teaching adults literacy skills required for self-sufficiency, better health, and meaningful participation in society. They are the only organization in Williamsburg that provides individualized, one-to-one, and small group tutoring for adults in reading, writing, and math skills as well as instruction in English for speakers of other languages. They also support learners pursuing high school completion through the General Educational Development (GED) Test. Literacy for Life’s offsite program provides classes taught by professional instructors with tutor support at area businesses, nonprofit agencies, and public schools. Literacy for Life has helped people with numerous individual goals, including studying for and passing the U.S. citizenship exam, obtaining a better job, learning to manage family finances, passing a driver’s license test, effectively communicating with medical professionals, and helping a child with homework. For more information on Literacy for Life, please click here.

Organization of Chinese Americans - Central Virginia Chapter (OCA-CVC) was nominated by Sherry Li, an Associate in our Richmond office. OCA-CVC is dedicated to the betterment of Chinese and other Asian Pacific Americans. They strive to foster development, leadership, and engagement through their programs. OCA-CVC advocates for social justice, equal opportunity, and fair treatment and promotes civic participation, education, and leadership. Part of their goals also include advancing coalitions and community building, and fostering cultural heritage. Recently, in response to the dramatic rise of anti-Asian hate crimes, OCA-CVC helped to co-organize Stop the Hate Rally and the Candlelight Vigil to honor the dead, pray for peace, and stop the hate. OCA-CVC also offers many programs to increase engagement such as free virtual tutoring dedicated to bringing equal academic opportunities to underserved communities. OCA-CVC plans to use this fund for their Free Virtual Tutoring Program. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions in many students' learning. Therefore, OCA-CVC offers a free virtual teaching program dedicated to bringing equal academic opportunities to underserved communities. For more information on Organization of Chinese Americans – Central Virginia Chapter, please click here.

Richmond Cycling Corps was nominated by Tony Basch, a Member in our Richmond office. RCC aims to change the lives of youth who live in Richmond’s public housing projects by using bicycles as a means to build relationships with middle school and high school students. RCC has a five pillar approach to outreach: Community, Education, Employment, Health & Wellness, and Individual Support. Cycling is used as a tool to create engagement towards further development and as an opportunity to provide structure and stability through RCC’s various programs. RCC provides an inventory of bikes with which kids are able to participate at zero cost to families. RCC also provides employment opportunities through local businesses and their own Kickstand for bike rentals. They offer individual support and help to invest resources to educate the most marginalized students who are unable to succeed in a traditional education environment. For more information on Richmond Cycling Corps, please click here.

Latisha's House Foundation was nominated by Alison Lennarz, Of Counsel in our Williamsburg office. Founded in response to Latisha’s story of being a young girl who was trafficked as a child and sold across state lines and then was forced to turn tricks, was beaten if she kept any money she earned, and had to depend on her pimp for any clothing, food, or shelter, Latisha’s House Foundation provides a long-term, trauma-informed safe house for adult female survivors of human trafficking. Latisha’s House Foundation provides its residents the services and tools they need to allow them to live healthy and productive lives. They offer trauma counseling; life skills, life coaching, and job training; emergency medical, dental, and psychiatric care; GED tutoring and education; victim advocacy; identification; social support; and spiritual development. For more information on Latisha’s House Foundation, please click here.

ACCESS College Foundation was nominated by Ran Randolph, a Member in our Norfolk office. ACCESS College Foundation provides educational pathways leading to certification or college degree attainment and career opportunities for students, particularly those who may not otherwise have access. They aim to give every desiring student the opportunity to enrich their lives and our communities through training and education beyond high school. They provide scholarships to seniors and offer college counseling and financial counseling on how to make college possible in order to inspire hope that a college experience is possible for any qualified student, regardless of resources. Our donation will help their fundraising goals, as many of their primary fundraising events have had to be canceled due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, and will help to support their scholarship program. For more information on ACCESS College Foundation, please click here.

The Hurrah Players is a not-for-profit organization committed to unite and advance communities through accessible, quality, family-friendly performances and education. They seek to provide affordable performing arts training that promotes the building of strong character for all students, regardless of race, religion, creed, or ability to pay. One of the hallmarks of The Hurrah Players is that they never turn a child away because of an inability to pay for academy classes or camps. Their students come from all types of economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds. The Hurrah Players teach not only acting, dancing, and audition tech, but also life skills, such as time management, confidence, self-worth, a strong work ethic, teamwork, accountability, and discipline. In honor of Black History Month, The Hurrah Players held a show dedicated to the educational celebration of Black Girl Magic, a compilation of original scenes, vignettes, poems, and performances that celebrate the lives and accomplishments of Black girls and women past and present. Black Girl Magic is an inclusive opportunity to join in the celebration of women often overlooked and undervalued. For more information on The Hurrah Players, please click here and for information on their upcoming shows, please click here.