Fall 2014 - Williamsburg Community Foundation

The Community Connection
Fall 2014
Volume 7, Issue 2
Formula for a Scholarship
Board of Trustees
2014-15
Margaret Pritchard, Chairman
Joseph Burkart, Vice Chairman
Bill Morrison, Treasurer
Kendall Kerby, Secretary
James Allburn
Mark Monroe
Betsy Anderson
Randy Myers
John Curtis Jr.
Joe Poole III
Paul Gerhardt
Bill Roberts
Ellin Gordon
Roger Schultz
Susanna Hickman Howard Smith Sr.
Ronald Lodzieski
Craig Stambaugh
Albert Louer
Michael Maddocks Honorary
Eric McDonald
Colin Campbell
Taylor Reveley
Nancy Sullivan, Executive Director
When Rob and Jill Swain decided to create a permanent Scholarship
Fund at WCF this spring, they sought inspiration from their own educational experiences and those of their son,
Connor (Jamestown H.S. ‘16). Jill, with a
degree in Chemical Engineering, and
Rob with an MBA and a former basketball coach, share a love of basketball with
Connor. What better way to give back to
students in their community than
through those activities that have made a
Jill (L) and Rob Swain (R) presentdifference in their lives.
ed scholarships to Benjamin Wahls
& Logan Evans (Center L to R)
The Swain Scholarship Fund will provide
an annual scholarship to a W-JCC basketball player with high scholastic
achievement and a second scholarship to a W-JCC senior who plans to
pursue a degree in chemical, mechanical, nuclear or aeronautical engineering.
Permanent funds like the Swain Family Fund are prudently invested and
managed to grow over time so that they will keep awarding scholarships
and grants in perpetuity. For more information about establishing your
family fund this fall, call 757-259-1660.
Hope & Bobby Beck Center for Philanthropy
WCF board and staff members would like to publicly
acknowledge the tremendous generosity of Hope and Bobby
Beck who have provided the Foundation with a new home.
Through their donation of three office condominiums in the
Williamsburg Office Park, the Foundation not only has an
elegant and expanded office space, it has a permanent location.
We would like to invite our friends in the community to visit the
new Hope & Bobby Beck Center for Philanthropy on WednesBobby and Hope Beck with WCF Chairman
day, October 8, 2014 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Margaret Beck Pritchard
Page 2
Williamsburg Community Foundation
2014 Trustees Elected
The Williamsburg Community Foundation recently elected five new members to its Board of Trustees.
Ellin Gordon grew up in New York City and raised her children in the surrounding area. Upon moving to
Williamsburg, Ellin became involved in her new community by volunteering in the W&M Admissions office
and Colonial Williamsburg. She is currently on the Advisory Board of the Baron and Ellin Gordon Galleries
at ODU.
Ronald (Ron) E. Lodzieski retired as a Managing Director of Citibank N.A. to Williamsburg in 2002. He
had a diverse 30 year career with Citibank in the US and internationally. Since retirement, Ron has volunteered at Olde Towne Medical Center, Governors Land
Home Owners Association, Men’s Charity Tennis, and
Colonial Williamsburg’s President’s Council. Currently
he is a William & Mary Executive Partner, and is involved
with Williamsburg Landing. Ron and his wife of 45
years, Carolyn, have three children and three grandchildren.
Albert O. Louer first joined the Colonial Williamsburg
Foundation in 1968 and served five years before directing
public relations at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut and the
Indianapolis Museum of Art. He returned in 1982 and
transferred to Colonial Williamsburg’s development staff
Pictured: Ron Lodzieski, Ellin Gordon, Al Louer
in 1991. He has had several titles before assuming his
& Eric McDonald
current position as principal gift officer. Al is on the local
board of WHRO, a representative at the Thomas Nelson
Community College Board, vestry member and Junior Warden, Bruton Parish Church, Life Trustee, Lake
Forest Academy (Illinois) and Board member, Center for Railroad Photograph and Art (Madison, Wisconsin).
He and his wife Tessa, a local realtor, enjoy collecting and travel.
Eric McDonald - has been involved in the field of international trade for the past 25 years, both in the U.S.
and overseas. Currently, he works with Virginia companies to export their goods and services. He serves as
Liaison to the Board of Directors for the Virginia International Business Council (VAIBC).
Born and raised in Williamsburg, Virginia, he was a member of the Colonial Williamsburg
Fife and Drum Corps as a youth. After an absence of many years, he has returned to the area and is enjoying active involvement in the community.
Howard Smith, Sr. was raised in Williamsburg, on the oldest laboring farm on the great
James River; the Gospel Spreading Farm. He served honorably in the US Marine Corps and
worked at the Newport News Shipyard. He began driving for the College of William and
Mary Athletics in 1980. In 1984 he became the Pastor of The Church of God in Williamsburg. He established Oleta Coach Lines Inc. in 1986. Howard and his wife Towana have
raised their family in Williamsburg and are active supporters of the community.
Howard Smith, Sr.
Save the Date for the Announcement of the Founder’s Grant
Fall Grant Award Luncheon will be held at the Williamsburg Lodge on Tuesday, October 14, 2014.
Volume 6, Issue 1
By Craig Stambaugh
Page 3
Youth in Action on the James
In mid-July, Barbara Watson, Nancy Sullivan, and I had the good
fortune to be given a personal tour of the Jamestown 4-H Education
Center, a recent WCF grant recipient. I knew the center existed, but
had no idea of the scope or the size of camp or the tremendous diversity of the programs/activities they have offered youth since 1948.
The property sits on 16 beautiful acres along the James River. Tony
Lea, 4-H Center director was our personal guide and, I think it is important to note that he is on the staff of Virginia Tech and assigned to
the Camp Director’s position. There are 12 individual buildings on
the campus including sleeping cabins, a recreation/dining hall, lodge,
administration building, etc. Maintenance of all these structures is a
significant part of the center’s expense budget.
4H Campers build outdoor skills, self
The key purpose of the 4-H Center is what Tony describes as
confidence and friendships.
“building a sense of community among a broad cross-section of Virginia’s youth.” The young people who attend the summer season
camping experiences here are from both urban and rural environments, spread across the socio-economic
spectrum of all of Virginia. Each week approximately 200 youths (ages 9-18) make this campsite a beehive
of activity. During our tour we observed kayaking, canoeing, rowing, archery, swimming, Lego robotics, and
arts & crafts. The camp emphasizes the development of individuals skills as well as teambuilding. Evening
campfires with various themes are a nightly activity. All of this activity is done under the supervision and
instruction of a volunteer staff of high school youths as well as adults. The year-round paid camp staff totals
only six individuals. We spoke to a number of the young volunteers, and their enthusiasm for what they do
and for the contribution they are making to the campers and to their community is very evident.
Speaking for Barbara & Nancy as well, I can say with conviction that this 90-minute visit was time well
spent. It enabled us to see firsthand how our grant dollars are being put to good use.
Spring Grants Support Much Needed Programs
This spring, grants totaling $37,000 were awarded to
the following organizations: The Arc of Greater Williamsburg, Avalon: A Center for Women and Children,
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Virginia Peninsula, Early Childhood Music School of United Methodist Church, Jamestown 4-H Educational Center,
Literacy for Life, Lyric Opera Virginia, Network
Peninsula, Olde Towne Medical Center, Peninsula
Agency on Aging, Inc., the Peninsula Metropolitan
YMCA, and Stagelights.
WCF Spring Grant Recipients
The majority of these agencies received grants from the funds of the Community Endowment, however
several WCF donors made additional generous gifts to support these programs. A named fund may be
established as part of the Community Endowment which will support programs and projects such as these
forever. For more information on how you can participate, call 757-259-1660.
Connecting People Who Care With Causes That Matter...Forever
Nonprofit Org.
Williamsburg Community Foundation
US Postage Paid
1323 Jamestown Road, Suite 103
Williamsburg, VA 23185
Phone: 757-259-1660
www.williamsburgcommunityfoundation.org
Williamsburg, VA
Permit No. 40
Return Service Requested
Record Number of Scholarships Awarded
WCF awarded a record 60 scholarships to local students at its Scholarship Award Ceremony. In addition to
sponsoring the event, Monarch Bank provided three scholarships to students planning to study finance.
WCF is able to award these scholarships because of the many gifts given
by individuals, organizations, and businesses in our community. The
W-JCC Scholarship Fund at WCF is also building an endowment to
increase the number of scholarships awarded in future years.
The selection process is conducted by a dedicated committee of volunteers, most of whom have backgrounds in education. Recipients are
selected based on a combination of class rank, difficulty of curriculum,
financial need, and a written essay.
Eloise B. Agee Honorary Scholarship
The W-JCC Scholarship Fund at WCF is celebrating 40 years of helping
students afford a
was presented to Sarah Kim by Eloise
higher education. We
& Joseph Agee.
thank those donors
whose enthusiastic support year in and year out keeps the
fund going.
$66,825 was awarded to W-JCC HS Seniors
The fund gratefully accepts gifts in any amount to support
general scholarships or the W-JCC Scholarship Endowment. With a gift of $1,000 or more, a donor may select
some additional criteria and award the scholarship in
person at the Award Ceremony.

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