The River Ellis Foundation was nominated by Laura Rixey, an Associate in the firm’s Data Privacy and Security, Health Care, and Mergers, Acquisitions & Strategic Alliances practice groups. The River Ellis Foundation was founded by Doug and Rachel Ellis after they tragically lost their daughter River to an unexpected birth injury. Faced with such hardship, the Ellis’ were overwhelmed by the amount of support they received from their friends, family, and community. In return, they wanted to form an organization that could “give a sunrise” to others who unexpectedly find themselves in the middle of their darkest hour. The River Ellis Foundation provides support and financial assistance for those who need help getting through the adversities they are facing, with the hope that those people will one day be able to pay it forward in return. They accept nominations on their website for people who could use support and cater that support on an individual level depending on the need of the nominee. Our donation will provide much needed financial assistance to help the foundation continue to grow. For more information on the River Ellis Foundation, please click here.

The Community Tax Law Project was nominatedby Scott Seymour, a Member in the firm’s Business Tax and Mergers, Acquisitions, & Strategic Alliances practice groups. The Community Tax Law Project is Virginia’s only statewide provider of free tax controversy representation for low- and moderate-income taxpayers. They provide education in taxpayer rights and responsibilities. CTLP operates through the assistance of its Pro Bono Panel, composed of over 100 volunteer attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents. Virtually any taxpayer can encounter a problem with the IRS or the Virginia Department of Taxation, but not every taxpayer can afford the professional representation necessary to solve these problems and protect their rights. The CTLP volunteers step in by providing expert advice and knowledge of the tax system. As the CTLP does not charge eligible taxpayers for its services, it relies solely on grants and donations in order to provide its services. Our donation will help boost their efforts so they can reach more moderate- and low-income taxpayers and help strengthen the financial stability of working families by ensuring that all Virginians receive fair and equal treatment in tax disputes. For more information on the Community Tax Law Project, please click here.

The Navy Safe Harbor Foundation was nominated by Donna Gorman, a Legal Assistant in the firm’s Norfolk office. The Navy Safe Harbor Foundation aims to honor and empower sailors, Coast Guardsmen, and Merchant Marines who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound in service. The Navy Safe Harbor Foundation creates an alumni network for service members and helps to understand and cater to their needs on an individual basis. Every day, thousands of service members suffer from invisible wounds such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and brain trauma. While advanced medicine and treatment can save lives, the Navy Safe Harbor Foundation continues to serve those who were injured and enhance their quality of life by giving a voice to their needs and empowering warriors to begin their journey to recovery. They aid in the transition from military to civilian life and help provide a positive future throughout that journey. Our donation will help the Navy Safe Harbor Foundation provide financial and family support and will help fund their adaptive athletics program, which assists members in discovering their abilities despite any disabilities. For more information on the Navy Safe Harbor Foundation, please click here.

Military Child Education Coalition has a mission of ensuring inclusive, quality educational opportunities for all military-connected children affected by mobility, transition, deployments, and family separation. MCEC aims to help military-connected children become college, career, and life ready by working to recognize and support their academic, social, and emotional needs. Jill Gaitens, a Director at MCEC, plans to use our donation to fund the Student 2 Student programs, which helps provide support through peer-to-peer mentoring. The frequent moves the children experience causes increased disruptions in their systems of support and in the connections they have built with peers and educators. Due to the high number of military-connected families in this area, there is currently a waiting list of high schools requesting training and support for Student 2 Student programs. As Jill mentioned, “military-connected children do not enlist; however, they serve and make great sacrifices.” Our donation will help fund the training and implementation of a sustainable peer-to-peer leadership program in four high schools that will impact hundreds of students each year and will help mitigate some of their challenges. For more information on Military Child Education Coalition, please click here.

Animal Aid Society was nominated by Lydia Mugler, a Tax Paralegal in the firm’s Newport News office. Animal Aid Society is a nonprofit no-kill dog shelter working to provide shelter, medical aid, care, and protection for animals. They act as a placement agency for animals and provide education for the humane care and treatment of animals. Animal Aid Society receives no state or federal funding, so it works solely from donations to the shelter. Donations are used to help with the care and boarding of their animals. As this is a no-kill shelter, all dogs are kept at the shelter until placed, so they only have limited placement for new arrivals until their current dogs are adopted or permanently placed. Our donation to the Animal Aid Society will help keep the dogs safe and happy and provide food, toys, supplies, and medical care for the dogs in the shelter. For more information on Animal Aid Society, please click here.

One Summit was nominated by Caitlyn Anderson, a Client Service and Recruiting Assistant in the firm’s Norfolk office. One Summit brings the courage, strength, and resilience of the Navy SEALS to help support and encourage children fighting cancer. One Summit aims to build resilience through experimental learning with Navy SEALS, storytelling, and community engagement. It is their belief that the SEALS can help empower children through challenges and adventure. Children, or Little Warriors, form long-lasting relationships with their Navy SEAL mentors, who help to inspire hope to continue their fight against cancer. Our donation will help fund their Climb for Courage program, where patients are guided through a series of rock-climbing challenges and a curriculum based on teamwork, goal setting, and overcoming adversity. Climb for Courage helps patients to achieve growth through mentorship and conquering adversity. To learn more about One Summit, please click here.

Duke Radiology CSF Leak Clinic was nominated by Nicole Naidyhorski, Director of Marketing and Recruiting in the firm’s Norfolk office. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are a medical condition in which a tear or hole forms in the outer membrane of the spinal cord, which contains the fluid. This tear results in leakage of spinal fluid, causing debilitating headaches. Duke Radiology CSF Leak Clinic is one of only three centers in the country that work continuously on diagnosing and treating CSF leaks. This clinic helped to diagnose and treat Nicole, who has suffered for over 18 months with this condition. As further education and research are key to raise awareness and enhance treatment options, Nicole hopes that our donation “can be put towards more research and more education for all in the health care team.” For more information on the Duke Radiology CSF Leak Clinic, please click here.

Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc. was nominated by Bob Barry, a Member in the firm’s Labor & Employment, Government & Municipal Law, and Manufacturing & Distribution practice groups. The Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc. is a community health center committed to enhancing the quality of life for the people on the Eastern Shore. The organization seeks to serve the needs of the rural community by providing accessible, comprehensive and affordable medical, dental and health services in a caring, professional and safe environment. The demand for health and dental services has grown at a rate that is very difficult to serve. There are not sufficient private practices on the Shore to meet this demand, and there is only one hospital. Eastern Shore Rural Health fills in this very substantial gap. They complete more than 100,000 patient encounters each year and serve more than 37,000 of the Shore's 45,000 residents. For more information about Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc., please click here.

Mary's Garden was nominated by Ran Randolph, a Member in the firm’s Commercial, Lender Representation, and Mergers, Acquisitions & Strategic Alliances practice groups. Ran’s mother, Jean Marie Randolph, began Mary’s Garden 20 years ago when her friend Mary Babb Savage died of cancer while in Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. Like Jean, Mary loved gardening, and Jean wanted to create a place at the hospital where patients and their families, as well as doctors, nurses and hospital staff could retreat from the hospital into a serene, peaceful and beautiful setting. With the help of volunteers in the community, she raised the funds to build Mary's Garden on the hospital’s grounds. It has served as a model for others like it and improves the experiences of many patients, families and hospital employees in what otherwise can be a difficult environment. The Garden depends on donations to remain well-maintained and beautiful year-round. Our donation will be used for its current maintenance and holiday decorations. For more information about Mary's Garden, please click here.

Hospice House & Support Care of Williamsburg was nominated by Jane Beatty, a Trust and Estate Administrator in the firm’s Williamsburg office. Hospice House was founded in 1982 as a nonprofit charitable organization and is staffed by lay and professional volunteers who work to enhance the quality of life for their residents, support the people they love and empower others to do the same. Staff and volunteers work in close cooperation with local healthcare providers to assure patients and families receive needed services. Hospice House is designed to be a “home away from home” for those who are caring for a terminally ill loved one with residential services providing spacious accommodations for family, friends and guests to gather. Jane states, “I’ve heard from several clients what a difference Hospice House & Support Care of Williamsburg made during the final days/weeks of their loved one’s life”. Hospice House believes that support during a time of bereavement can bring about healing, renewal and hope for the future. With this in mind, staff at Hospice House continue helping families following the death of a loved one to offer comfort, support, referrals and services as needed. Support services are provided to individuals living in Williamsburg, James City County or upper York County. For more information on Hospice House & Support Care of Williamsburg, please click here.

The Autism Society, Tidewater Virginia was nominated by Lara Lucas, a Legal Assistant in the firm’s Williamsburg office. The Autism Society, Tidewater Virginia was founded in 1981 with the goal of helping to improve the lives of all those who are affected by autism. Originating in the Tidewater area, the Autism Society has grown to include the Peninsula area as well. The Autism Society works to increase public awareness, advocate for appropriate services for individuals across their lifespan and to provide the latest information on treatment, education, research and advocacy. The Autism Society has a mission to create a world where persons within the autism spectrum disorder are fully included and participating members of their community. Our donation will help the Autism Society’s efforts to continue raising community awareness, providing education and maintaining supportive, informative networks comprised of parents, professionals and community leaders. For more information on the Autism Society, Tidewater Virginia, please click here.

Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation was nominated by Randy Sparks, an attorney in the firm’s Labor & Employment practice group. Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation was started after the Griffin family tragically lost their 12-year-old daughter. Gwyneth was in 7th grade when her minor heart condition caused her to go into cardiac arrest at school. She was not given CPR or an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) quickly enough and passed away seven weeks after the incident. The Griffin family wasted no time in helping pass legislation in Virginia mandating that AEDs be placed in every Virginia school and CPR training be provided for students and teachers. Four years ago they started the foundation to raise public awareness of the importance of AEDs and CPR training. Since then, Gwyneth’s Gift has donated 33 AEDs and CPR trained over 5,000 people in the community which has directly resulted in six lives saved. Randy proudly sits on the board for Gwyneth’s Gift and states, “ My wife has saved two lives herself – including a volunteer attending an HR conference with me.” For more information on Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation, please click here.

Peninsula SPCA was nominated by Sarah Messersmith, an Associate in the firm’s Private Client Services and Real Estate Strategies practice groups. The Peninsula SPCA has been providing shelter and adoption services for more than 50 years. In its most recent years, the Peninsula SPCA has transitioned to an adoption guarantee or “no-kill" shelter. This transition has resulted in a $1,000,000 loss in funding from local governments and the SPCA now solely relies on grants and donations from individuals. Even with budget cuts, the SPCA still feels it is important to educate the public on humane treatment of animals and preventative veterinarian care. Sarah has served on the Peninsula SPCA board since 2013 and is currently the Board's Vice President. Sarah states, “The SPCA works very hard on a limited budget to find good homes for homeless pets here on the Peninsula.” For more information on the Peninsula SPCA, please click here.

Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads was nominated by Chuck McPhillips, a Member in the firm’s Government Contracts & Construction, International and Mergers, Acquisitions & Strategic Alliances practice groups. Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads serves Portsmouth, Norfolk, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Hampton City public elementary, middle and high school students. Some of the students in these areas are living below the poverty line and without basic needs like health care and nutrition. Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads helps address these basic needs as well as provide academic assistance, college and career preparation, family engagement, life skills and behavioral interventions. The Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads will use the donation to buy paint for student and community volunteers to paint inspirational and motivational quotes on the walls of Ruffner Academy. For more information on the Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads, please click here.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Coastal Virginia Chapter was nominated by Terry Murphy, a Member in the firm’s Government Contracts and Construction practice group. NAMI has touched lives across all 50 states. Locally they serve Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore. NAMI connects people suffering from mental illness and their families with free online education and training classes, support groups, local programs, events and a helpline, with the goal of improving the quality of life for recovering individuals. NAMI is working on local, state and national levels to eradicate the stigma associated with mental illness. For more information about The National Alliance on Mental Illness – Coastal Virginia Chapter, please click here.

Tidewater Friends of Foster Care was nominated by Nicole Harrell, a Member in the firm’s Data Privacy and Security, Franchising, Intellectual Property and Mergers, Acquisitions and Strategic Alliances practice groups. Tidewater Friends of Foster Care (TFFC) is committed to enriching the lives of foster children in the community. TFFC provides enrichment programs that bridge the gap between what is available from public services and those elements that are essential to a healthy, happy and thriving childhood. The services that TFFC provide help foster children attain confidence and stability and include resources for foster parents. TFFC has provided over 6,500 hours of tutoring services, over 1,500 Birthday/Holiday wishes and 513 YMCA memberships. Audra Bullock, Director and President, stated TFFC plans to use the donation to further their goal of serving 70% of school-aged Foster Youth in Hampton Roads within the next three years. For more information about The Tidewater Friends of Foster Care, please click here.

Foundation Fighting Blindness, Hampton Roads/Virginia Beach Chapter was nominated by Gaither Thompson, the firm’s Recruiting & Marketing Coordinator. Gaither was diagnosed with a degenerative retinal disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa, when she was 10 years old. She has lived the majority of her life with limited peripheral vision and very low vision in the dark. The Foundation Fighting Blindness is the leading organization driving research that provides preventions, treatments, and cures for people like Gaither affected by these blinding diseases. The Hampton Roads/Virginia Beach Chapter was started three years ago and hosts events like “Crush the Dark” at Chick’s Oyster Bar and the annual VisionWalk to bring awareness and support to the local community. Gaither states, “This disease can make life difficult sometimes, but it has taught me to live life every day to the fullest and not take for granted the gift of vision. I am so thankful for the FFB and all of the work they are doing that gives so much hope to me and people living with retinal diseases.” For more information on the Foundation Fighting Blindness, please click here.

Horizons Hampton Roads was nominated by Kristan Burch, a Member in the firm’s Government Contracts & Construction, Franchising and Intellectual Property practice groups. Horizons Hampton Roads is an academic, cultural, and recreational program designed to encourage a diverse group of students from low-income families in Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach to reach their full potential. Students from kindergarten through eighth grade participate in fun activities and academics during their summer break when research shows most children significantly decline and fall behind in their schooling. At Horizons Hampton Roads, students are given the chance to get ahead in their reading and math skills to help them maintain and excel during the following school year. Kristan states, “I had the chance to go and observe the program again this summer. It was great to sit at a table with young students, eat pizza, and hear how they spent their week.” Our donation will help fund field trip experiences for next summer's programs. For more information on Horizons Hampton Roads, please click here here.

Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation was nominated by Ed Spivey, a Member in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. The Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation was founded in 2014 when the Peterson family tragically lost their 15-year-old daughter, Sarah, to suicide. SMP Foundation was started in honor of Sarah and has been a life-saving resource for people dealing with depression and mental health issues in the Hampton Roads area. Through programs for middle school-, high school-, and college-aged students, as well as general community programming, there isn’t one area of Hampton Roads the foundation isn’t reaching. In 2018 alone they provided 140 separate programs in the Hampton Roads area. Our donation will help support programming for September’s Suicide Prevention Month. For more information on the Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation, please click here.

Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg is a non-profit home building organization that helps families in need build and purchase safe, decent and affordable housing. The homes are built by volunteer groups and the families purchasing the homes. Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg serves families in the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg and the counties of Charles City, James City, New Kent, and York. They are on track to complete 13 homes this year alone. Our donation will go directly towards the building and materials for one of these homes. For more information about the Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg, please click here.

Wildlife Response, Inc. was nominated by Laura Mae, the firm’s Facilities Manager. Wildlife Response, Inc. is an all-volunteer organization committed to caring for orphaned, injured, and displaced native wildlife. The rehabilitators are permitted by the state of Virginia and are based in the Virginia Beach area, but reach all of southeastern Virginia with their programs. Laura first volunteered with the organization over 15 years ago by helping frostbitten pelicans. She later helped staff their Wildlife Hotline which pairs citizens who found injured wildlife to nearby rehabilitators. Laura has also served on the Wildlife Response Inc. board. Our donation will be going directly to help fund the construction of their Wildlife Response and Rehabilitation Center, where citizens, animal control officers and other agencies will be able to drop off injured wildlife. For more information about Wildlife Response, Inc., please click here.

Samaritan House was anonymously nominated. Since 1984, the Samaritan House has provided emergency and permanent housing, support services, and community outreach to victims of domestic violence and homelessness. The Samaritan House owns 12 safe houses for families fleeing violence and those who are at risk of losing their homes. They serve almost 110 people every night in the emergency houses and provide trauma-informed services to those in need. A few of the specific programs that the Samaritan House provides include: Victim Advocacy; Children’s Programs, including art and play therapy, family counseling, and academic support; Emergency Housing; Housing NOW; Case Management, which assists with transportation, nutrition, counseling, medical care, dental care, workforce development and employment; and Community Education and Outreach. Our donation will directly support victims of violence in getting their GED. For more information about the Samaritan House, please click here.

Hope House Foundation was nominated by two of our K&C attorneys, Rick Mapp, a Member in the firm’s Business Tax, ESOPs & Employment Benefits, and Mergers, Acquisitions, & Strategic Alliances groups and Christopher McLean, a Member in the firm’s ESOPs & Employment Benefits and Private Clients Services groups. Both Rick and Christopher have sat on the Board of Directors for Hope House Foundation and have been an integral part of the foundation for many years. Hope House Foundation serves adults living with developmental disabilities by providing them support services to enable them independence in their day-to-day lives while staying in their own homes. Some of the services Hope House provides to these individuals includes personal care and dressing; grocery shopping; social skills and recreation; budgeting and spending; and health and safety. Hope House has been improving lives in the Hampton Roads area for the past four decades. For more information on Hope House Foundation, please click here.

Hero’s Bridge was anonymously nominated. Hero’s Bridge is dedicated to serving veterans, ages 65 and older at no expense to the heroes or their families. Aging veterans are at a higher risk of experiencing diseases and disorders due to their time spent serving in the military. Hero’s Bridge recognized the need for specialized assistance for veterans who served in World War II, Korea, and especially Vietnam. There are over 630,045 veterans in the state of Virginia alone. As many veteran programs are geared towards assisting younger veterans, Hero’s Bridge has had no shortage of opportunity to help those of the older generation. Hero’s Bridge offers six distinct programs to assist with the most frequent needs in this veteran population. These include the Battle Buddy Program, Honor Guard, Resource Scouts, Paw Patrol, Corps of Engineers, and Rapid Relief Corp. One of the most important programs remains the Battle Buddy Program, which pairs older heroes with younger veterans. These younger veterans provide friendship, become an advocate, and a navigator. “We strive to improve outcomes in both elderly and younger veterans, simply connecting younger veterans with older ones. This intergenerational approach yields an improved and more supportive existence for the volunteers and heroes – we serve the veterans by creating a ‘bridge’ to improve quality of life.” For more information on Hero’s Bridge, please click here.

The Tryall Fund was nominated by Nia Lissimore, the firm’s Marketing Manager. The Tryall Fund is a non-profit organization committed to supporting and implementing a model program for preschoolers and their caregivers focusing on education, literacy, health, and nutrition in Hanover Parish, Jamaica. The Tryall Fund was formed in the early 1960s by members of the Tryall Club who saw a deep need to give back to the community in which their luxury club resides. Dr. Olivia Masry, DDS, has been traveling to Jamaica as the Dental Team Director for over seven years and has helped facilitate treatment for over 525 children and 250 adults in 2018 alone. Nia nominated the Tryall Fund because, like many of these children in Jamaica, her life was impacted by Dr. Masry, who provided Nia with dental care, a part-time job in her dental practice, and helped her apply for financial aid for college. Nia states, “Without people like her, I wouldn’t be where I am today and neither would my smile.” Our donation will go directly to the dental program in Hanover, Jamaica. For more information on the Tryall Fund, please click here.

The MEDARVA Foundation was nominated by Neil Talegaonkar, an Of Counsel in the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group. The MEDARVA Foundation connects people who have permanent vision loss with new and growing technology to expand what lines of vision they have left so they can still navigate their world. MEDARVA Healthcare has been committed to the greater Richmond area by providing charity care and services to multiple local organizations. Neil sits on the Board of Directors for the MEDARVA Foundation. Our donation will help both children and older people who might not have access to the available health opportunities some take for granted. For more information on the the MEDARVA Foundation, click here.

MaxStrong Memorial Fund was nominated by Mary Beth Sherwin, a Member in the Healthcare and Private Client Services Practice Groups. The MaxStrong Memorial Fund was established in 2013 by Walt and Pam Salzman to honor their son Max’s life after he died tragically in a car accident. “As a living memorial to Max we were compelled to establish something in his name that would represent Max’s kind heart and willingness to help others.” Through donations, grants, annual golf tournaments, and partnership with the YMCA of South Hampton Roads, the MaxStrong Memorial Fund ensures that traditional swim lessons are provided to the children in Norfolk who would otherwise not have the opportunity to receive this life-saving skill. “Together we are making a difference. Max’s legacy continues to grow with each lesson taught, and each life saved. Saving lives by teaching lessons.” Our donation will contribute directly to 12 children learning these life-saving swimming water safety skills. For more information on the MaxStrong Memorial Fund, please click here.

St. Mary’s Home was nominated by Gayle Gregg, the firm’s Technical Services Librarian. St. Mary’s Home was established in Norfolk in 1944 for abandoned and orphaned children. It is now home to 88 children, newborn to age 21, living with severe intellectual and physical disabilities resulting from birth disorders, traumatic accidents, illness, or child abuse, who require around-the-clock attention. Additionally, with the opening of The Albero House in 2013, St. Mary’s also cares for 12 adults older than age 21. One of its kind in the entire state of Virginia, St. Mary’s Home offers medical, therapeutic, education, and recreational service. The home features four courtyards, including sensory and butterfly gardens, an atrium for sports and activities, hydrotherapy pool, and playground with specially adapted equipment. The residents of St. Mary’s home play with youth volunteers, therapy dogs, shop with staff, have their own prom, and go on field trips, providing the best quality of life. Our donation will help provide activities for the residents and occupational equipment. For more information on St. Mary’s Home, please click here.

Young Audiences Arts for Learning Virginia was nominated by Win Short, a Member in the firm’s Environmental Law, Private Client Services, and Real Estate Claims and Title Insurance Solutions Practice Groups. Young Audiences Arts for Learning Virginia (YAV) is the leading provider of quality art-based educational programming in Virginia. According to YAV, “Children need arts for learning. It sparks their imaginations and feeds their minds. It improves their academic performance and encourages them to stay in school. It connects them to their families, their cultures, and their communities.” Signature initiatives for YAV include Arts for Learning, Dance for Life, and the Early Childhood Kindergarten Readiness Program. In the 2017-2018 fiscal year, YAV provided 1,286 service hours to 71,675 student families and educators across the state of Virginia. For more information about Young Audiences Arts for Learning Virginia, please click here.

The Safe House Project was nominated by Mary Beth Sherwin, a Member in the Healthcare and Private Client Services Practice Groups. The Safe House Project (SHP) is a national organization supporting survivors of sex trafficking in America through safe house networks and by ensuring restorative healing and empowerment. Elizabeth was 16 when she left her abusive home to be with a man who ended up abusing her and selling her for money. Through the Safe House Project, Elizabeth found her voice and the courage to testify against her abuser. “You took love and you twisted it. But I am here to make sure you never get to do that to another person,” she said as she took the stand. The SHP provided Elizabeth with education, community, hope, and a home where she found freedom from the bonds of abusers that had once controlled her life. Our donation will be benefiting The Safe House Project – Hampton Roads Chapter and will be helping empower women in our area with stories very similar to Elizabeth. For more information on the Safe House Project, click here.

Best Buddies International was nominated by Christopher Sattes, Security & Endpoint Computing Administrator for the Firm. Best Buddies International is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Best Buddies Global Ambassador, Jack Mayor, states, “They gave me the confidence to speak in public. They also give other people with intellectual disabilities the chance to advocate for themselves. This organization makes me want to change things for all kids like me. Best Buddies took my worst days and made them my best. Everyone deserves their best days and every kid deserves Best Buddies.” Christopher’s cousin Matt has participated in the Best Buddies International program for most of his life and has created friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime. Our donation will be supporting Hampton Roads newest chapter at Landstown High School. For more information on Best Buddies International, click here.

Art on Wheels was nominated by Terry Frank, a Member in the firm’s Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights & Business Restructuring and Consumer Finance Practice Groups. Art on Wheels was founded by husband and wife duo, Kevin & Andrea Orlasky with a simple idea, “that making art - creating something from nothing, something that is uniquely yours, is powerful, and healing, and not enough people get the chance to do that. That the experience of expressing yourself, of learning new things and being empowered by abilities you might have never even known you had is important. That the many therapeutic benefits of the arts aren’t often available to the people who need them the most.” Art on Wheels has four focus areas: Aging in the Arts, Arts and Disability, Healing in the Arts and Arts in the Community. Through these focus areas, Art on Wheels is traveling to the people of the local Richmond community enriching lives one program at a time. For more information on Art on Wheels, please click here.

Honor and Remember was nominated by Nicole Harrell, a Member in the firm’s Data Privacy and Security, Franchising, Intellectual Property, and Mergers, Acquisitions and Strategic Alliances Practice Groups. Honor and Remember was founded by George Lutz when his son, Tony, was tragically killed in December of 2005 while serving in the Army in Fallujah, Iraq. In the months following his son’s death, George found commonality among the families of fallen soldiers: after their grief had transitioned to acceptance, many families wanted to know their loved one’s sacrifice was not in vain and that the nation would never forget. This led George to discover that there was no universally recognized symbol that specifically acknowledges the American servicemen and women who never made it home. Thus the Honor and Remember flag was created and has been adopted by 25 states. In addition to the custom flags, the Honor and Remember organization provides different opportunities to families such as Run for the Fallen and Gold Star Family Evenings. In honor of Memorial Day, we couldn’t think of a better way to memorialize those have who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Our donation will be helping to purchase flags for families in Virginia who are currently on the waitlist for one. For more information about Honor and Remember, please click here.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation was nominated by Laura Baker, a paralegal in the firm’s Hampton office. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) was founded in 1967 and led by the late Arthur Sherwood. The CBF was early to coin “SAVE THE BAY,” a term that can be found on many bumper stickers around the Hampton Roads area. Serving as a private sector organization, the CBF fights for pollution reduction throughout the Chesapeake Bay's six-state, 64,000-square-mile watershed, which is home to more than 18 million people and 3,000 species of plants and animals. “Our community here in Hampton Roads is intricately linked to the Chesapeake Bay: a source of leisure, activities, industry and tourism,” stated Laura in her nomination. CBF is also known for “Save the Bay Day” which takes place this year on Saturday, June 1st. With annual participation over 6,000 strong, this day has proven to really change and restore the Bay. Our donation will be used for multiple upcoming projects including the first ever Oyster Restoration Mobile Unit and a new classroom in the Brock Environmental Center for students in Virginia Beach schools to learn about different topics like environmental sustainability. For more information on The Chesapeake Foundation or to sign-up to participate in Save the Bay Day, please click here.

The Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast was nominated by Ellis Pretlow, an Associate in the firm’s Private Client Services and Tax Practice Groups. The Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast (GSCCC) serves girls from eastern North Carolina to Hampton Roads and on the Peninsula. The Girl Scout mission is to “build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.” We see an example of this mission living out through our colleague Ellis. She states that “GSCCC is especially important to me as my grandmother was the first president of the Girl Scout Council of Greater Tidewater which has since become the GSCCC.” Ellis now sits on the Board of Directors and is head of the Bylaws Committee. Our donation will be helping “community troops” whose members do not pay dues, but are able to be a part of a troop, thus truly representing the Girl Scout mission to serve all girls. For more information on The Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, please click here.

The Chas Foundation was nominated by Jessi Gonzalez, a legal assistant in the firm’s Norfolk Office. The Chas Foundation was established in 2012 in memory of Tucker Corprew’s son, Charles Kirkwood (Chas), who suffered from bipolar disorder and ultimately lost his life to suicide. The organization began as a grassroots movement to significantly change the perception of people suffering from mental illness and enhance the quality of life for those individuals. Jessi has a personal connection to the foundation as she grew up dealing with someone who had a mental illness. She stated “I wish I had a charity like The Chas Foundation to get resources, assistance, and information.” Our donation is directly contributing to the launch of Chas Foundation’s newest program called “Mindfulness,” where people suffering from mental illness will attend free classes on mindfulness and will also provide a place of refuge for individuals and families that may need a quiet reflective place to meet with Chas representatives. For more information on The Chas Foundation, please click here.