The Birdsong Trust Fund gave $92,000 to seven local entities in 2015 and hopes more organizations will apply this year for available funds.

The trust fund has been in existence since December 1943, when the Birdsong family founded it with the purpose of assisting local charitable, literary, religious and educational organizations. Trustees are also allowed to distribute money to other groups as they see fit.

But according to trustee Billy Chorey Sr., the trust fund hopes to hand out more money this year.

“We were all rather dumbfounded this past year that not more local organizations requested specific financial needs, as we had money to help,” Chorey said. “Our requests were numerically down from prior years. We are hoping that perhaps being more public about our mission and intent will generate more, worthy requests this new year for our consideration.”

Chorey said more money was given in 2015 than in any prior year. There were 16 gifts made in 2014, he added, which was the most ever, but they totaled less than the $92,000 given in 2015.

The 2015 gift recipients were:

• The Boys and Girls Club, to upgrade the game room used by the club at John F. Kennedy Middle School
• Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, to help construct the North Suffolk campus
• Suffolk Salvation Army, to acquire land adjacent to the building as well as to fulfill a previous commitment
• Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, to make renovations to the Taylor Ballroom
• Suffolk Literacy Council, for new materials
• Western Tidewater Free Clinic, to start an eye examination facility at the clinic
• Suffolk YMCA, to fulfill a pledge for the new program center at Camp Arrowhead on Kenyon Road

“It is our sincere and collective desire as trustees to carry on the intent of the Birdsong Trust Fund founders, and that is to help as many people as possible in the Suffolk and vicinity areas within our stated charter criteria, so I personally encourage worthy candidates to reach out to us for our consideration,” Chorey said.

Send requests to Birdsong Trust Fund, P.O. Box 916, Suffolk, VA 23439.