Community Foundation of the Virginias

**About the Foundation** The Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. was formed by a merger of the Bluefield Area Foundation and the Greater Mercer County Charitable Foundation in June 2002. This joining together of talent, ideas, energy, and resources allowed the foundation to more fully serve the residents of Mercer County, WV, Tazewell County, VA, and other nearby counties. The Bluefield Area Foundation was established in 1993, and the Greater Mercer County Charitable Foundation was founded in 1998. Both had the goal of addressing the changing and varied needs of the community, and to provide assistance in the areas of education, the arts, health services, human services, and recreation, and providing a number of college scholarships to area students. In March 2003, the Community Foundation announced the first grant awards of the newly formed organization. Philanthropic efforts are available to all through the Community Foundation. By pooling assets, supporters at all financial levels can join in support of their community through an array of giving opportunities, such as memorial gifts, honorary donations, the establishment of new funds for named individuals or causes, legacy gifts through donations from estate planning, as well as monetary gifts of all sizes. The flexibility of the Community Foundation ensures that the best programs and organizations continue to receive funding while allowing for the support of new programs and ideas. The Community Foundation is just one example of the communities in Mercer and Tazewell counties joining together with the common goal of community improvement for all. Through the combined efforts of all area citizens, the community continues to grow and improve for today and the generations of tomorrow.