News
Grant to support tornado recovery in Gloucester
On April 16th, a severe storm spawned a series of tornadoes that caused extensive damage in Gloucester County. In the week since the disaster, the leadership of the Gloucester Community Foundation (one of TCF’s three regional affiliates) has been working to identify areas of need and ways to assist individuals and families affected by this disaster.
The research has allowed us to identify one immediate need as it relates to the public schools. Page Middle School, one of two middle schools in the county, was destroyed by a tornado. As a result, the remaining middle school will serve all youth for the balance of the academic year. Students will attend classes in two shifts, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. While the school day has been adjusted to meet educational needs, new challenges emerge with regard to student supervision, safety and transportation during non-school hours.
To accommodate students who will not go to school until the afternoon, the Boys & Girls Club of Gloucester has agreed to expand its operating hours to open at 6:30 a.m. This will impose an additional cost of $2,100 per week on the Boys & Girls Club, over and above the nominal charge that parents will pay for programmatic services and supervision.
The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia, in partnership with the Gloucester Community Foundation, will provide a combined grant of $8,400 to support additional costs incurred by the Boys & Girls Club of Gloucester over the next four weeks.
“Guided by the efforts of those working on the ground in Gloucester, we are pleased to be able to act quickly and in partnership with our regional affiliate to provide much-needed aid to those recovering from this natural disaster,” said Darcy Oman, TCF’s President and CEO. “We are especially grateful to Margaret Nost, our regional director, and the advisory board of the Gloucester Community Foundation whose efforts represent an unwavering dedication to their community in times of crisis and throughout the year.”
Please feel free to contact our donor services team at (804) 330-7400 if you would like to help. In addition, you may wish to visit http://www.gloucesterva.info for the latest information including a map of the tornado path and damage and local organizations assisting with the recovery.
TCF Donor Services Team:
Bobby Thalhimer, Sr. VP of Donor Engagement & Philanthropic Services, rthalhimer@tcfrichmond.org
Teri Lovelace, VP of Philanthropic Services, tlovelace@tcfrichmond.org
Lisa O’Mara, VP of Donor Engagement, lpomara@tcfrichmond.org
Marcia Flaherty, Donor Engagement Officer, mflaherty@tcfrichmond.org
Margaret Nost, Regional Director of Philanthropic Services, mnost@tcfrichmond.org