CLIFTON FORGE—Appalfolks of America Association (AAA) has launched its annual “I Have a Heart Fund Drive” in coordination with Mighty Cause’s “Giving Tuesday” to be held on Tues., May 21.
Appalfolks will be competing against 17 other non-profit organizations in the “Small Non-Profit Division” of the competition being held by Mighty Cause in conjunction with The Alleghany Foundation and the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism.
M. Ray Allen, president and founder of Appalfolks, said, “Appalfolks has competed each year, and in 2022, our organization was able to finish second, our highest finish ever.”
Allen hopes that the 501 ( c ) 3 corporation that he founded in Clifton Forge in 1985, to promote the literary and performing arts will be competitive again during the competition. He noted that AAA has combined its annual “I Have a Heart Fund Drive” with Mighty Cause’s
“Giving Tuesday” and mailed 100 letters to potential donors.
Allen remarked, “Our organization has received donations from donors from 15 states over the years, and it is my hope that friends of Appalfolks in those states will contribute to our cause on May 21, to help us finish in first place.”
The prize that will be awarded to the first place finisher is $1,500, and AAA is the only nonprofit in its division that has been recognized for its good work with Appalachian youth by the Encyclopedia of Appalachia which is a 2006 publication by the University of Tennessee Press.
Also, AAA is the only competition in its division that has established an arts program that has become an official entertainment entity that is recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia. AAA founded The Virginia Opry in 1992, and in 2017, the Commonwealth of Virginia General Assembly passed “Resolution 397” to honor The Virginia Opry for producing country music shows for 25 consecutive years in the Alleghany Highlands.
Allen concluded, “On March 31, 2020, Governor Ralph S. Northam signed “Senate Bill 283” that passed the Virginia Senate by a 40-0 vote and the Virginia House of Delegates by a 93-6 vote to designate The Virginia Opry as the official Opry of the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
The Virginia Opry performed “A Patsy Cline Tribute to the Grand Ole Opry” on Feb. 10, at The Historic Masonic Theatre to open its 33 rd performance season, and Special Theatrical Artists Revue & Showcase (STARS), a troupe of performers who face intellectual challenges and/or physical disabilities, opened its 28 th performance season on April 21, at Good News Church on Main in Covington. Both are AAA’s programs that serve the Alleghany Highlands community.
Appalfolks owned and operated The Historic Masonic Theatre that was operating as the Historic Stonewall Theatre, and during the 12 years of ownership, AAA made more than $200,000 worth of restoration improvements before donating the theatre to the Town of Clifton Forge in 2003.
The competition that will culminate on May 21, begins on May 7, and anyone who wishes to support Appalfolks may mail a tax-deductible check made payable to Appalfolks of America to P.O. Box 613, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.