March 2024 Newsletter
- CB Foundation
- Mar 1, 2024
- 4 min read
Monthly Welcome to Colonial Beach Meetup
Thursday, March 21
6:00 until 8:00 PM
Colonial Beach High School (CBHS)
(100 First St)
Our guest speaker will be Principal Scott Lush, CBHS.
CBVRS Installs AEDs
Using Grant Money From the Foundation
Last year, the Foundation awarded a $13,500 grant to the Colonial Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad (CBVRS) to purchase and install Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) around town. Those AEDs are now being installed in the following businesses:
Los Hermanos Cantina, 11 Monroe Bay Ave
Lenny's Restaurant, 301 Colonial Ave
Dockside Restaurant and Tiki Bar, 1787 Castlewood Dr
High Tides on the Potomac, 205 Taylor St
El Toro Authentic Mexican, 700 McKinney Blvd, #100
Wilkerson's Seafood Restaurant, 3900 McKinney Blvd
AEDs
The American Red Cross describes an AED as "a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use medical device that can analyze the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart reestablish an effective rhythm." An AED bridges the gap between a sudden cardiac arrest and arrival of first responders, which can help increase survival rates.
The CBVRS will provide training on using the AEDs, so look for more information from the squad.
4-H Junior Camp
Summer is Coming
We're in March already and summer is fast approaching ... and summer means summer camp. The Foundation has a tradition of ensuring that all interested kids can afford to go to 4-H Junior Camp held at the Jamestown 4-H Education Center.
So far, five children from Colonial Beach and Westmoreland County have requested financial assistance to attend the camp. The cost per child is $365. The Virginia Cooperative Extension, which runs the camp, is giving each of those children $120 to go towards their fees. The Foundation is providing the remaining amount for each child.
Want to Donate With a Check?
If you prefer, you can mail a check payable to the Colonial Beach Community Foundation (or CBCF) to P. O. Box 375, Colonial Beach, VA 22443. Please write Youth Summer Camp on the memo line.
CBCF 101
A Community Foundation's Purpose
Several hundred community foundations exist throughout the U.S. They share the common goal to make philanthropy easy within their communities.
The Colonial Beach Community Foundation (CBCF, or, simply, the Foundation) connects donors to local nonprofits and, sometimes, community projects. For example, we were the fiduciary agent for development of Torrey Smith Park -- donors received a tax benefit for their donations to the Foundation earmarked for the park, and the Foundation took on accounting responsibilities and paid invoices using those donations. Currently, the Foundation is serving as fiduciary agent for Community Heart & Soul.
The Foundation also awards grants to other local nonprofits. We use proceeds from the our flagship fundraiser, the Annual Northern Neck Beach Music Festival, to fund grants that support our Strategic Objectives.
Last year, for example, we invited our local nonprofits to spearhead projects that promote safety and well-being. As a result, the CBVRS is placing AEDs around town, Potomac River Keepers provides swim guide reports, the Town of Colonial Beach is installing beach accessibility mats this season, and WWER 88.1 community radio has backup generators and software for its transmitters and equipment in case of emergencies.
Restricted vs. Unrestricted Funds
The Foundation manages restricted and unrestricted funds. Restricted funds are targeted for a specific purpose and are used for that purpose only. When you make a donation to the Foundation online, you'll see a drop-down list that offers these selections:
General Fund. This fund covers our operating expenses. We use it to pay administrative (e.g., supplies and Quickbooks), marketing (e.g., website, advertising, and printing), and other costs necessary to conduct general business.
Community Center. This fund receives both donations and rental fees, and pays for everything related to the management and maintenance of the Center (e.g., supplies, furniture, cleaning, repairs, routine maintenance, and lawn care).
Community Crisis Fund. This fund is currently supporting our local food pantries.
Growth Fund. The purpose of this fund is to position the Foundation for growth -- the first step of which is to hire an Executive Director. Currently, the Foundation is run by volunteers at all levels -- from the Board of Directors, to committee and team leaders, to support persons. Consequently, we have a low overhead. However, many of our volunteers, including those in leadership positions, work full time. The Foundation can do much more for Colonial Beach with a Director whose sole professional focus is steering and growing the Foundation's successes.
Youth Summer Camp. These donations provide financial assistance to local children attending 4-H Junior Summer Camp.
Youth Scholarships. Every year we award one or more scholarships to Colonial Beach High School graduates furthering their education in colleges, universities, or trade schools.
Community Heart & Soul. Donations to this fund belong to Community Heart & Soul, which they use to help further their own goals and objectives.
Another type of restricted fund are the proceeds from the Northern Neck Beach Music Festival. We designate the target of those funds every year, such as the safety grants awarded last year and beautification grants awarded the year before.
If you prefer donating with a check, you can write the name of any of the above funds on the memo line and your donation will go to that fund. Any donations we receive that are not targeted are considered unrestricted and go into the General Fund.
Look For Us ...
... On Town Hill This Festival Season
We'll have a tent staffed with volunteers ready to greet you and answer any questions you might have about the Foundation. This year's festival season begins next month with the 6th Annual Virginia Osprey Festival in Colonial Beach, on Saturday, April 13 from 9 AM until 4 PM. We hope to see you there.
Town Pier Ornament
Town Pier ornaments are still available at Colonial Buzz Espresso and Wine Bar (234 Colonial Ave) and Beach Paws Boutique (116 Hawthorne St). Ornaments are $25 each.