Impact Stories

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.

Fairfax, VA (December 11, 2024) – Paul Gilbert, a lifelong resident and prominent leader in the region, has joined the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s (CFNOVA) Board of Directors. Paul brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to community service, having made significant contributions to the environmental, historical, and economic success of Northern Virginia.

A Deeper Dive into Health and Safety of NOVA Youth 

This in-depth session will continue our January conversation in a more focused lense. We will dive deeper into the critical issues affecting the safety and well-being of youth in Northern Virginia (NOVA), providing a comprehensive exploration of the complex factors influencing students today. Building on foundational topics, we’ll examine key challenges surrounding students' perceptions of safety, mental health concerns, and substance use trends in the region.

This session is designed to provide educators, mental health professionals, community leaders, and parents with a deeper understanding of the pressing safety and health challenges facing youth in NOVA. 

When School Lunch is not Available, How do NOVA Youth Eat?
June 17, 2025 at 12:00 pm 
Zoom 

Join us for an in-depth discussion on the growing issue of food scarcity among youth in Northern Virginia. This session will explore the complex factors contributing to food insecurity in the region, the impact it has on the health and well-being of local young people, and the innovative solutions being implemented to address this critical issue.

This session is essential for educators, school administrators, nonprofit leaders, community organizers, policymakers, and anyone passionate about addressing food insecurity in Northern Virginia.

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Housing Needs of NOVA Youth
August 21, 2025 at 12:00 pm 
Zoom 

In this session, we will explore the critical issue of housing instability among youth in Northern Virginia, a growing challenge that impacts their overall well-being, educational outcomes, and future opportunities. With rising housing costs and a lack of affordable options, many young people in the region are facing uncertainty and insecurity in their living situations. Key topics will include the scope of housing instability in NOVA, impact on youth development, identifying their needs, and community solutions working to address this widespread issue. 

This session is vital for educators, social service providers, nonprofit leaders, policymakers, and community leaders looking to better understand the housing challenges faced by youth in NOVA and learn about strategies to ensure that every young person has access to safe, stable housing.

Back to School: Focus on NOVA Youth Educational Performance 

As students in Northern Virginia head back to school, it's the perfect time to take a closer look at the educational performance of youth in the region. This session will explore key factors influencing academic success, challenges facing students, and the support systems that can help improve educational outcomes for all learners. Key topics will include: current trends in educational performance, barriers to success, support systems and interventions, and collaborative solutions. 

This session is designed for educators, school administrators, parents, social service providers, and community leaders looking to better understand the state of youth education in Northern Virginia and explore actionable strategies to support student success.

The Community Foundation’s Manager of Marketing, Communications, and Events, Amanda Bomfim, recently spoke with Sumeet Shrivastava, President and CEO of Unissant, about his recognition as the 2023 Community Leadership Award honoree. Sumeet possesses great humility and grace; indeed, when he learned he would be the 2023 Raise the Region Gala’s honoree, he was blown away. “It’s not something you expect,” he told Amanda.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and it is a great time to spotlight the Yolonda Pajot Memorial Fund for Ovarian Cancer, a Donor Advised Fund.

Recently, the Community Foundation’s Renée Byng Yancey, Sari Raskin, Jennifer Cochran, Gaby Webster, and Amanda Bomfim visited Boxes of Basics, a local nonprofit that provides schoolchildren in need with clothing. Our team met program manager Sally Crockett and Founder/Executive Director Sarah Tyndall to learn more about their critical work and the inspiration behind it.

Mary-Carson Stiff, Executive Director of Wetlands Watch, presented “The Escalating Climate Change Impacts Throughout Virginia: How the Philanthropic Sector is Responding, and What You Can Do To Help” on the afternoon of August 21. Participants gathered over Zoom to learn about the growing climate concerns Virginians face in the years ahead.

The legacy of Amy Takayama-Perez is characterized by a commitment to educational opportunity, equal access, and inclusivity. According to her best friend Julie Simmons, Amy wanted to “build a longer table and make room for diverse perspectives at the table,” a goal she pursued for 23 years as the Dean of Admissions at George Mason University. Yet Amy’s time was cut tragically short when she passed away last year following a courageous battle against triple-negative breast cancer.

Nevertheless, Julie and the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia team carry on Amy’s torch through the Amy Takayama-Perez Fund for George Mason University and its scholarship programs. Here, we survey Julie’s philanthropic career with the Community Foundation and why she started a fund in memory of her best friend.

A retired IT professional turned philanthropist, Meera Pillai is an influential figure in Northern Virginia nonprofit circles who has become prominent through board membership and outreach. She left a lucrative IT career to pursue philanthropy, which she felt was her life's purpose. Since then, Meera has served as Board Chair of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of DC, a member of the Board of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, and a member of the Board of Educate Fairfax.

As a second-generation Indian-American, Meera appreciates the value of paying it forward, as such opportunities enabled her family’s pursuit and achievement of the American Dream. Indeed, Meera was pivotal in the recent launch of The Scholarship Fund for Northern Virginia, which supports local students pursuing higher education at a Virginia public college.

Collective action ushers in community-wide impacts. This principle underlies the Virginia Funders Network (VFN), a statewide association of 130+ philanthropy organizations seeking to address the region’s most urgent needs. At the beginning of May, the VFN held its 3rd annual conference in Richmond, a sold-out event that drew over 300 members of the Commonwealth’s philanthropic community. The Community Foundation’s Sari Raskin, Vice President of Grants and Community Leadership, and Renée Byng Yancey, President and CEO, had the opportunity to attend the event. There, they learned about the issues Virginians face and the innovative programs emerging to address those issues.

• Only 1.8 percent of charitable giving is dedicated to women and girls, and the share dedicated to women of color is even smaller; approximately 0.5% in the U.S. (Source: Women and Girls Index, 2023)
• In 2021, women represented 35% of the STEM workforce; up from 32% in 2010 (Source: National Science Foundation). Specifically, women make up 25% of jobs in computer science and 15% of jobs in engineering (Source: Pew Research Center, 2021)
• In evaluating STEM programming by impact on girls interest, confidence, competence and value, GirlScounts USA found that participation in even ONE program can make a difference

The 2023 Champions for Accountability Badge, awarded in partnership between the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia and the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, recognizes more than 40 employers willing to collect, share, and act on data about the diversity of their leadership. To receive the badge, an organization must operate in Virginia, Maryland, and/ or Washington DC; collect demographic data on board members and/or c-suite members and executives; and have completed the application by 31 August, 2023. By accepting their badges, the Champions commit to the following action:  

Inclusive Prosperity means that every child is prepared for success