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The Birdsong Trust Fund set a record in 2020 for the amount of monetary gifts given to local organizations in Suffolk and Western Tidewater.

“We are excited to report that the Trust Fund gave more than $123,000 to 10 recipients, including ForKids, Healthy Suffolk, Suffolk Art League, Suffolk Christian Fellowship Center, Suffolk Foundation, Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy and Western Tidewater Free Clinic, as well as others,” Chairman Billy Chorey Sr. stated.

“Some of the requests that were granted specifically met the immediate needs of COVID-19 related problems, and the Trust was happy to step in and meet those needs,” added Secretary/Treasurer Ken Spain.

“We still terribly miss John C. Harrell, who died last year and who led the Trust Fund as chairman for many decades, but I’m personally confident he would be happy with what we did this year, and we look forward to many more years of helping to meet the needs of those local organizations that need our assistance,” Chorey added.

The Birdsong Trust Fund is a private foundation that was founded in 1944 and currently has more than $2 million in assets. The Fund is always looking for worthy organizations in the area who meet the criteria for financial help. Trustees are Richard Savage, Clifton Harrell, Dr. Ralph Howell, Kent Spain and Billy Chorey.