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Washington and Lee Announces May Community Grants

Washington and Lee University’s Community Grants Committee has made 10 grants totaling $24,757 to non-profit organizations in Lexington and Rockbridge County. They are the second part of its two rounds of grants for 2015-16.

The committee chose the grants from 19 proposals requesting over $77,000.

W&L awarded grants to the following organizations:

  • Boxerwood Project NEST – Funds to support school program fee subsidies.
  • City of Lexington Office on Youth – For support of the youth outreach program “Summer Fun ’16.”
  • Lylburn Downing Middle School – Funding to purchase a 3D printer.
  • Mission Next Door – Assist needy families in the Rockbridge County area with home repair and social service advocacy.
  • Rockbridge Animal Alliance and Cats Unlimited – Assist local residents with the cost of spaying and neutering their cats and dogs.
  • Rockbridge Ballet – Funds to support a storytelling project, Where the Page Meets the Stage.
  • Rockbridge Historical Society – Purchase of a banner to promote the History Bee project.
  • Rockbridge Regional Drug Task Force – Funds to purchase equipment.
  • Waddell Elementary School Music Department – Class set of djembe drums.
  • Yellow Brick Road Early Learning Center – To assist with the purchase of an updated structure for playground.

Established in 2008, W&L’s Community Grants Committee evaluates requests for financial donations and support from Lexington and Rockbridge County. While the University has long provided financial and other assistance to worthwhile projects and organizations in the community on a case-by-case basis, the Community Grants Program formalizes W&L’s role in supporting regional organizations and activities through accessible grant-making.

During its 2015-16 cycle, the Community Grants Committee awarded $50,000. Proposals may be submitted at any time, but they are reviewed only semiannually, at the end of the calendar year and at the end of the fiscal year. The submission deadline for the two rounds of evaluations for 2016-17 will be: by the end of the work day (4:30 p.m.) on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016, and Friday, April 14, 2017. Interested parties may download the proposal guidelines at http://go.wlu.edu/communitygrants.

Proposals should be submitted as electronic attachments (Word or PDF) via e-mail to kbrinkley@wlu.edu. Please call (540) 458-8417 with questions. If an electronic submission is not possible, materials may be faxed to (540) 458-8745 or mailed to Washington and Lee University Community Grants Committee, Attn: James D. Farrar Jr., Office of the Secretary, 204 W. Washington St., Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA 24450-2116.