Eastern Shore of Virginia Community Foundation celebrates 20th Anniversary with major grants and legacy building

On October 9, 2024, the Eastern Shore of Virginia Community Foundation (ESVCF) marked a significant milestone—its 20th anniversary—with a celebration at the Eastern Shore Yacht & Country Club. The event honored the vision and dedication of the foundation’s founding board members, who in 2004 accepted a challenge from The Norfolk Foundation (now Hampton Roads Community Foundation) to establish a new community foundation for Accomack and Northampton counties.

Polk Kellam, George McMath, and Suzanne Tankard, the founding members tasked with overseeing the foundation’s creation, spearheaded efforts to conduct a feasibility study, recruit initial board members, and create the necessary documents for the foundation’s formation. Their hard work, along with a $50,000 start-up grant from The Norfolk Foundation, set the stage for ESVCF’s future. The Norfolk Foundation also offered an unprecedented challenge: if the ESVCF board could raise $4 million by January 2009, an additional $2 million would be added to the foundation’s grant-making capacity.

At the anniversary event, Kellam reflected on the growth of the foundation, comparing it to a small acorn that, with the support of the community, has grown into a strong tree providing shade and strength. “We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the founding board members, who accepted that challenge 20 years ago and worked tirelessly to create this invaluable community resource,” he said.

Hampton Roads Community Foundation President and CEO Debbie DiCroce delivered the keynote address, highlighting the impact of ESVCF’s grantmaking. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded over $11 million in grants to nonprofits across the region, including funds for donor-advised funds, organization endowments, and community funds. DiCroce emphasized the lasting impact of endowed funds, which help ensure that philanthropic support continues for years to come.

The celebration also included a heartfelt thank-you to Julie Badger, who retired in June after serving as ESVCF’s Executive Director for eight years. Badger was recognized for her exemplary service, particularly her work supporting local nonprofits during the competitive grant application process and her leadership in filling service gaps during the COVID-19 pandemic, including overseeing the Shore Delivery Corps—a community effort to provide services and supplies to those in need.

In conjunction with the anniversary celebration, ESVCF announced the recipients of its Fall 2024 Competitive Grants. A total of four local organizations were awarded significant funding to support important community projects:

• $10,000 to Citizens for Central Park for public restroom renovations at Cape Charles’ Central Park.
• $20,000 to the Eastern Shore of Virginia Barrier Islands Center for repairs to the Main Almshouse and 1890 African American Almshouse.
• $35,000 to the Northampton Historic Preservation Society to complete the final phase of restoration at the historic 1907 Jail in Eastville.
• $50,000 to the Mary N. Smith Alumni Association for renovations to the Mary N. Smith Cultural Enrichment Center.

These grants are made possible by generous philanthropists who established unrestricted endowed funds and through annual contributions from community members committed to supporting the Eastern Shore. With a legacy of community engagement and support, ESVCF is well-positioned to continue its mission of making a lasting impact for years to come.