THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE GIVING PROVIDES HOUSING
Talk with community leaders about the most pressing needs in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula, and, to a person, they will mention housing that is affordable for middle-income workers such as teachers and police officers.
“Housing is a massive issue here,” said Alan Walker, assistant director of multifamily housing development for Bay Aging. “That’s always been true, but the need has only increased year after year.” For example, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the fair market rent for a two-bedroom unit in Middlesex County is about $1,200, Walker noted.
But the actual market rate is closer to $1,750. “For the most part, moderate-and low-income people are just priced out of the available units.”
As part of efforts to address that issue, in 2021 Bay Aging took over a planned housing development in Cook’s Corner from the Middlesex Foundation. The plan called for the construction of two 12-unit, multifamily apartment buildings to provide affordable housing for the county’s workforce.
But the original construction bid of some $4 million, made just as the COVID pandemic took off, soared to more than $6 million because of dramatic increases in the cost of labor and materials. Although Bay Aging remained committed to the project, total funding had not been procured, and ground had not been broken for the buildings, collectively known as The Residences at Rawley Park.
Acknowledging the urgency of workforce housing development for the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula, River Counties Community Foundation this year approved a $500,000 grant to Bay Aging to support Rawley Park. “It is the largest single grant we’ve ever made to any organization in the history of our existence,” said Lincoln Boykin, the foundation’s director. River Counties had also awarded an initial grant of $150,000 to the Middlesex Foundation for the project. The recent award to Bay Aging brings its total investment to $650,000. The Jesse Ball duPont Fund has committed $250,000, and Virginia Housing, the state’s housing finance agency, has pledged $2,210,000.
“This is a good example of the power of collective giving—RCCF, duPont, and Virginia Housing coming together to meet this urgent need,” said Boykin.
Joe Hudnall (r), CEO of Noblett's Appliances in Kilmarnock, is a mentor to Michael Cook (l). Hudnall says it's a great program and he is so happy to participate.
EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS
Lancaster County Public Schools have a one-on-one mentoring program to help students meet challenges they face in education and in their daily lives.
Mentoring will improve social maturity, reduce absenteeism and behavioral issues, and promote interest in being successful in life.
The Kilmarnock fire ravaged five businesses and displaced six families. One resident died in this fire.
RCCF MEETS BIG CHALLENGES
Over the years, RCCF has been an organization to which others turn to meet big challenges.
When fire fueled by strong winds destroyed seven apartments and five businesses in the heart of Kilmarnock, RCCF partnered with the Town of Kilmarnock and the Lancaster County Department of Social Services to respond to the urgent and immediate needs of the six families displaced by the fire as well as the funeral expenses of the one resident who died in the fire.
“RCCF had the capacity to receive funds from the community and provide charitable donation letters to donors,” said Town Manager Susan Cockrell.
“Best of all, there was an established relationship with Lancaster County Department of Social Services and a simple mechanism to route funds to the affected families. This was a win/win for all.”
More than 100 individual donors and local businesses contributed more than $91,000 to the Kilmarnock Fire Relief Fund. The Jesse Ball duPont Fund and the Matthews Community Foundation also donated. And Horn’s Northern Neck Ace Hardware gave the proceeds from the sale of t-shirts emblazoned with #kilmarnockstrong to the relief efforts.
The funds were distributed by the Lancaster County Department of Social Services to those displaced to help them rebuild their lives.
“This fund represents what happens when non-profits, business and community members join hearts and hands to ensure that resources will be available to help the families meet their needs as our community recovers,” said former Kilmarnock Mayor, Mae Umphlett.
Small communities like Kilmarnock rarely experience crises like the fire, which displaced so many.
“But when they happen, our community always rallies together to support our friends and neighbors who need it most,” said River Counties Community Foundation director Lincoln Boykin.
DOLLAR AMOUNT DISTRIBUTED IN 2025: OVER $1,100,000
One of the ways RCCF allocates funds to community nonprofits is through the annual Community lmpact Grants program. Over the years, even as RCCF’s endowed assets grew, the needs of the community continued to exceed available funding. RCCF decided to react proactively to this situation by implementing an annual fund initiative, known as Together.Stronger. See the 2025 grant recipient list at https://bit.ly/4mtnkES.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Together.Stronger. provides an easy and effective avenue for those who want to give to have a broad impact. These funds support RCCF operations, the Community Impact Grants program, and, importantly, meeting unforeseen emergencies. RCCF makes it easy to give, too. Just scan the QR Code below and make your donation online today.
Thank you for supporting RCCF and causes that matter.
Donations may also be made by check and mailed to our secure lockbox: River Counties Community Foundation, Post Office Box 94044, Baltimore, MD 21297-9044.
POWER OF ENDOWMENT: RCCF has grown its assets to more than $34,000,000 since 1996, while simultaneously granting more than $24 million to local nonprofit organizations.
PUT YOUR CHARITABLE VISION INTO ACTION. EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM A THRIVING COMMUNITY:
Contact Lincoln Boykin or Jonathan Putt: 804-436-1600
834 Rappahannock Drive I Post Office Box 54 | White Stone, Virginia 22578 I RiverCountiesCF.org
