Editor’s note: The article is the third in the series to reveal the way The Alleghany Foundation has provided financial support to improve the quality of life in The Alleghany Highlands.
The Alleghany Foundation was formed in June of 1995 from funds derived from the sale of Alleghany Regional Hospital, and it has become a boon for the governing bodies in the Alleghany Highlands.
The Alleghany Foundation approved grants for 73 organizations during the first 20 years for a total of $50 million, and by June of 2022, the total in funds granted had surpassed the $60 million mark.
All area governments have received a financial boost from The Alleghany Foundation, including in alphabetical order: Alleghany County, 31 grants funded for $2,119,859; Bath County, two totaling $30,000; Botetourt County, one for $5,000; City of Covington, 25 for $2,576,814; the Town of Clifton Forge, $1,799,824 via 27 approved and the Town of Iron Gate, five for $492,017.
A more penetrating view of The Alleghany Foundation’s support for the governing bodies reveals that entities within each of the jurisdictions also benefit financially from grants funded by The Alleghany Foundation, adding valuable resources, cultural opportunities and community services that serve to enrich the residents and visitors to each jurisdiction.
Bath County Hospital received a $100,000 grant, Bath County Health Department was granted $14,149, Bath County Historical Society received two grants for $43,000 and Bath Animal Welfare Foundation was funded $58,902 for three.
The Town of Clifton Forge has additionally benefited from nonprofit organizations within its boundaries receiving support from The Alleghany Foundation as follows: Appalfolks of America Association, $84,000 for restoration improvements of the Historic Stonewall Theatre that the nonprofit organization donated to the Town of Clifton Forge in 2003, Clifton Forge Nursery School, $7,850; Clifton Forge Public Library, three for $251,429; and Clifton Forge Main Street, seven for $1,017,338.
Others that have benefited the Town of Clifton Forge are the C&O Historical Society, eight for $714,678; Clifton Forge Little League, three for $260,259; the Clifton Forge Company-Clifton Forge School of the Arts, five for $306,454; Scott Hill Foundation, $29,872; and the Masonic Theatre Foundation that leases the Historic Masonic Theatre from the Town of Clifton Forge, eight for $3,094,801.
Examples of grants funded that have benefited the City of Covington are Total Action Against Poverty (TAP), four totaling $366,824; Alleghany Historical Society, nine for $1,624,718; Alleghany Highlands Regional Library (formerly the Charles P. Jones Library), $988,884 via 10 grants funded; Jackson River Enterprises, 19 for $1,835,102; Safehome Systems, 10 for $368,322; and Olde Town Covington, three for $158,999.
Ingevity and the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism teamed up with The Alleghany Foundation in June to sponsor Give Local Alleghany Highlands, and 34 nonprofit organizations in the Alleghany Highlands benefited from the Giving Tuesday event that resulted in those nonprofits sharing portions of the $172,522 raised compared to the $175,000 that nonprofits shared in 2021 when 619 donors contributed.
The 34 nonprofit organizations competed for $32,000 in prize money that was awarded by the sponsors to the top competitors that competed in two categories, those nonprofits with budgets more than $100,000 and those with less than $100,000.
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