Suffolk Foundation awards $70,000

Published 10:20 pm Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Representatives of Suffolk Foundation grantees gathered at a breakfast Tuesday to receive their awards. The foundation handed out $70,000 to 17 organizations.

By Heather McGinley

Staff Writer

Sometimes, everyone needs a helping hand. The Suffolk Foundation offers just that to deserving and qualified organizations, which received grant awards from the foundation in a Tuesday breakfast at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts.

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Seventeen organizations received a total of $70,000 to support their programs.

“It is a difficult decision to make,” said Billy Hill, executive director of the foundation. “We fund a piece of the total program. We identify what does a lot of good for a lot of people, so we can get the most bang for the buck for that program.”

The foundation was able to fully fund the requests of four organizations this year — ForKids, Southeastern Virginia Areawide Model Program, Access, and Suffolk Literacy Council. Only half of the organizations that requested funds received a grant.

Because of the economic climate, Hill explained, programs that support human needs and services — particularly those serving children and the elderly — were placed above other requests.

The Suffolk Foundation is a non-profit organization with the mission of developing and facilitating philanthropy in Suffolk and the surrounding areas. The organization was incorporated in 2006, and received its non-profit status in 2007.

The organization distributes funds received from businesses, individuals, foundations, and other non-profit organizations in the form of grants to non-profit groups in the community.

“What other organization is giving away 70,000 today or this year?” George Birdsong, vice president of the Suffolk Foundation, said at the awards breakfast. “This shows me that this foundation is already making a difference and will continue to do so.”

Hill said the committee ranked applications and identified the organizations that best met the criteria, had the greatest need and shared the Suffolk identity. Grants typically fund only a particular program or service offered by the organization.

ACCESS College Foundation — $2,500

Boys & Girls Club Suffolk Unit — $4,000

Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters — $4,000

Edmarc Hospice for Children — $2,000

ForKids, Inc. — $10,000

P.D.C.C. Foundation — $2,000

Southeastern Virginia Areawide Model Program — $5,000

Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts — $2,000

Suffolk Family YMCA — $5,000

Suffolk Literacy Council — $2,500

Suffolk Meals on Wheels — $5,000

Suffolk Salvation Army Corps — $5,000

Suffolk Special Olympics Area 29 — $4,000

The Children’s Center — $2,000

The Genieve Shelter — $2,000

Virginia Legal Aid Society — $5,000

Western Tidewater Free Clinic — $5,000