The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation Celebrates 50 Years and Welcomes SHARE Greater Lynchburg as a new program
The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation (GLCF or Foundation) celebrated 50 years of service to the community on Wednesday. In 1971, an employee of Fidelity National Bank submitted an idea to form a Community Trust. This innovative idea arose at a time when there were not many community foundations in the nation, but it was well received. On October 12, 1972, the Board of Directors of Fidelity National Bank adopted a Resolution and Declaration of Trust creating the Greater Lynchburg Community Trust (now Foundation). Initial funding came from just three donors: The Plymale Foundation, A.H. Easley, and Nancy B. Pollack, and totaled $14,000. From those few visionary supporters, and under the able and dedicated guidance of those who followed, the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation has grown exponentially.
In 2022, the GLCF awarded $2,092,907 to 185 charitable organizations. Since 1972, the GLCF has provided grants totaling $30,344,055 to help those in need and to support the arts, education, and historical preservation. One particular fund, the Century Fund, provides an annual grant of $100,000 to a transformative project that is projected to significantly impact our community. The James River Association was the 2022 recipient to support its new Upper James River Center.
In June 2022, Kathryn Yarzebinski was hired as President & CEO. At that same time, the GLCF formally adopted SHARE Greater Lynchburg as a program of the Foundation. SHARE Greater Lynchburg connects neighbors, nonprofits, and businesses to strengthen our community. Its online platform, found at www.SHAREGreaterLynchburg.org, makes it easy to find over 150 local nonprofits and engage with them by donating, volunteering, attending an event, or buying from their wish list. SHARE directly supports the mission, vision, and values of the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation by providing a tool for local nonprofits to collaborate, leading to more efficient use of funding. With no cost to nonprofits featured, the platform magnifies the great work that’s being done at nonprofit organizations across the Greater Lynchburg region. On October 12, 2020, SHARE Greater Lynchburg went live online and on Wednesday, celebrated two years of community engagement. Megan Huffman serves as the GLCF Director of Community Outreach & SHARE Greater Lynchburg.