by Regan Lonchena, Director of Advanced Planning and Trust Legal Counsel, United Bank Wealth Management
Now that you’ve emerged from the hectic tax-planning whirlwind that often characterizes the last few weeks of the year, you may be turning your attention to the commentary in the media about how the new administration might impact legislative priorities and tax law changes.
Well before establishing their partnership with the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia (CFNOVA), Linda Carr and her husband, Clarence James, were committed to supporting the causes they hold dear. Indeed, giving back is a cornerstone of Linda’s life, instilled from an early age by her family. “Even when we didn’t have much, we still gave,” Linda recalls. Thanksgiving dinners were shared with other families, and Christmas gifts were offered to those in need. These moments shaped Linda’s belief that giving back builds character and brings joy. “I enjoy giving because it makes a difference. I think of it as something you’re supposed to do,” she says. Over time, her generosity has helped support organizations like St. Jude’s Research Hospital, Shelter House, Parkview Community Center, Shriners Hospitals for Children, ASPCA, and WETA.
Building a Community that Works for Everyone
The English Empowerment Center is a 2024 grantee of the Education Fund, a component of The Permanent Fund for Northern Virginia. To mark the occasion in September, the Community Foundation’s Sari Raskin and Renée Byng Yancey met the Empowerment Center’s Roopal Mehta Saran, Executive Director, and Michael Mahrer, Senior Director of Advancement. Our team was joined by Benton Fisher, a who collaborates with us on the Avalon Charitable Fund, which he and his wife Joan established. Benton also serves on the Board of the Justice High School Scholarship Fund. We were also happy to include our donor, Benton Fisher, in the visit! They discussed the Center’s history and work within the greater community.
A Lifelong Commitment to Lasting Impact
Although he joined the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Board of Directors in November 2024, Paul Gilbert’s dedication to the Community Foundation’s mission began many years ago. Paul, who has served as the Executive Director of NOVA Parks since 2005, has contributed invaluable insights as a member of our Investment Committee since 2017. However, his passion for CFNOVA’s work was first realized during a coffee meeting with former CFNOVA President and CEO Eileen Ellsworth.
Who are NOVA Youth?
December 19, 2024 at 12:00 pmThe Community Foundation’s data and research center, Insight Region®, launched a dynamic series of deep-dive sessions where we uncover the key factors shaping our upcoming 2025 Children & Youth Report. Each session is led by our Senior Director of Insight Region®, Denise Bellows.
Watch our recording, read our recap questions, and learn more in our blog written by Denise Bellows, PhD and Katharyn Loweth, MS, on Who are NOVA Youth?
The Loudoun Impact Fund recently awarded $118,000 in grants to 18 nonprofit organizations serving Loudoun County. This year’s grant awards were made possible through the generosity of 64 individuals and businesses that pooled charitable gifts.
by Emily M. Harper, CFP®, Vice President & Partner, Monument Wealth Management
Don’t overlook the power of Qualified Charitable Distributions, or “QCDs” for charitably-inclined clients over 70 ½. A QCD allows IRA money to be donated directly from the IRA to charitable organizations. In 2024, each client can donate up to $105,000 through a QCD (or $210,000 for married couples filing jointly), and that limit will be indexed for inflation going forward.
Community Foundation staff recently visited Bryant High School and met administrators and representatives from Food for Neighbors, a nonprofit dedicated to ending child hunger across Northern Virginia through community support. This year, Food for Neighbors is a proud recipient of the Lamond Fund grant.
Benton Fisher, a Northern Virginia local and an economic consultant at FTI Consulting, has long championed community-driven causes. Long before he founded his donor-advised fund, the Avalon Charitable Fund, with the Community Foundation, Benton was the child of a Naval officer and a Unitarian minister. This upbringing ingrained an interest in service and has shaped his philanthropic endeavors ever since. Benton’s journey toward philanthropy was further influenced by his time coaching his children in team sports, which fostered his passion for leadership and collaboration. These experiences taught him that the most meaningful rewards come from uplifting others.
Last Friday night, I had the privilege of attending my first Raise the Region Gala as President and CEO of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. I woke up this morning feeling both overjoyed by the celebration of philanthropy and deeply inspired by your contributions supporting the Northern Virginia community we all cherish.
The event was a resounding success, with hundreds of guests joining us both in-person and online. Wherever you were, your support was felt, helping us raise more than $730,000 to address the changing needs of our region. We couldn’t have done it without your incredible generosity and commitment.
Questions?
Questions?
