Working Together We Are Improving Our Region
Partnering to make a lasting impact
The Hampton Roads Community Foundation has many goals for southeastern Virginia region and its people.
FEATURED INITIATIVE
Robert Johnson's Story
One of our homeless initiative success stories is that of Robert Johnson. No longer homeless, the disabled masonry worker has a happier, more stable life at one of five area apartment complexes for formerly homeless people built with help from $1.8 million in Hampton Roads Community Foundation grants.
But two are at the top:
- Helping residents lead good lives today and even better lives in the future.
- Connecting charitable residents with causes and organizations to help create a thriving community with opportunity for all.
We achieve these goals by stewarding charitable funds, running a robust grants program, equipping area nonprofit staff members to excel and providing college scholarships.
But sometimes a leadership initiative is the best approach
We are not afraid to take "deep dives" into impact that can take years to accomplish with help from multiple partners. Our role is as a convener, collaborator, "incentivizer" and funder to help:
- identify pressing regional issues
- explore solutions
- make long-term commitments to success
In 2018 we introduced Understanding Hampton Roads, an ongoing effort to improve civic engagement by bringing key issues to the forefront and inspiring collaboration to solve them.
Over the years collaborative efforts have helped stabilize the arts, re-energizing our region's economy, get our youngest residents off to great starts in life, and reduce homelessness. After incubating initiatives we typically launch them as their own nonprofits or as part of other organizations and then focus on new challenges.
In 2018, after nearly three years of incubation, Minus 9 to 5 became a program of Eastern Virginia Medical School. This early care and education initiative was inspired by research that showed that nearly half of area children under age 6 live in households earning less than 200 percent of the federal poverty line. And, 30 percent live in single-parent homes.
Minus 9 to 5 harnessed the power of more than 100 experts from around our region -- educators, parents, grandparents, health professionals and child-care providers -- to focus on families with children from conception to kindergarten.
Thank you
Like all our community foundation's work the initiatives highlighted in this section are made possible by the generosity of people -- particularly those who have established charitable funds with us. Such generosity includes contributions of time, ideas and money to making a difference in the lives of area residents these generous donors may have meet. For that, we say thank you!