Supporting Youth to Write, Dream Achieve       ​
Empowering youth ages 10 - 19 in greater Richmond to become confident, capable writers with the skills necessary to succeed in college, career, and life.

Podium RVA is a local non-profit organization founded in 2008 to help middle school and high school student to become confident writers.  It currently serves 500 students in the Richomnd Metro area.  Student may participate in after-school weekly classes lasting 1-2 hours, for a three-month session.
Students practice different concepts, such as poetry, short stories, and preparing debates.  Students are referred by teachers and guidance conselors.  Podium RVA is preparing to expand into the Hopewell and Petersburg areas.  
​For over 10 years, Podium has provided safer and more supportive educational environments for students in Richmond, VA, and surrounding areas. By creating opportunities for young people to develop essential writing and communication skills, Podium aims to increase youth confidence and engagement, while supporting students in defining their own avenues for success.

https://podiumrva.org/​
Achieve|

About the organization that won: 
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HELPING CHILDREN IN NEED SLEEP BETTER.  We fully believe that a bed is a basic need for the proper physical, emotional, and mental support that a child needs. When it was brought to our attention that the need for beds went far beyond our own neighborhoods, we stepped up and took initiative. We're a national organization answering the call to a national problem.

All children deserve a safe, comfortable place to lay their heads. In Idaho and across the U.S., too many boys and girls go without a bed - or even a pillow - to sleep on. These children end up sleeping on couches, blankets, and even floors. This can affect their happiness and health.

That's where Sleep in Heavenly Peace comes in. We're a group of volunteers dedicated to building, assembling and delivering top-notch bunk beds to children and families in need. Our organization has grown steadily over time, and we're working on opening more chapters in different states to serve more people. No kid sleeps on the floor in our town®.

Learn more at https://www.shpbeds.org/​

With two other great organizations presented at our January meeting, (St. Francis Home and Southside Releaf),  Power Over Parkinson's came out on top with the most votes. 

Here's a bit about our winning organization:

Our MISSION
POP is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt private foundation supporting the use of exercise and wellness to reduce the symptoms or slow the progression of Parkinson’s Disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. 
 
Support is provided by:

• Providing financial and other support for people with Parkinson’s Disease;
  
  
• Assisting People with Parkinson’s (“PWP”) and their care partners in overcoming impediments to making exercise and wellness a part of their daily lives.  This includes financial and logistical support that may not be available from other means;
  
  
• Using communication methods including social media to increase awareness of exercise and wellness opportunities within the local Parkinson’s community;
  
  
• Conducting periodic fundraising activities to maintain support of area PWPs and increase awareness of the benefits of various types of physical activity.

Our POP Profiles Series aims to provide you with information and stories from others with the disease as well as clinicians and researchers working in the field.  We've interviewed some remarkable people! View our POP Profiles series on YouTube or via our podcast! ​

We are pleased to share that Sportable was River City Giver's recipient of funds from the quarterly meeting.
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Sportable has been creating opportunities and transforming lives of individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments through sport since 2005. Sportable provides sporting opportunities to more than 400 athletes each year by offering a variety of competitive and recreational adaptive sports programs. It is the only adaptive sports club in Central Virginia and one of the top Paralympic sport clubs in the country. 

This adaptive sports club provides people with physical disabilities and visual impairments access to 13 sports in the greater Richmond area. These sporting opportunities build a community of athletes with active, healthy lives who take pride in there and each other’s accomplishments.
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Learn more here: Home - Sportable

Congratulations to presenter Carol Olson and Project EMPOWER, a violence prevention and support program for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.    April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month-- the funds were gifted in a very timely month. 

Project EMPOWER is a multi-disciplinary initiative dedicated to enhancing prevention and intervention services to individuals and their families who have or are experiencing Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), Domestic Violence or Sexual Violence (SV). They provide direct services to patients and team members as well as training for healthcare providers.

​The patients and team members of VCU Health System who are or have experienced intimate partner violence, family violence, or sexual violence have the option to meet with a trained advocate. The following services are provided at no cost:

• Crisis Intervention
• Community based referrals and resources
• Liaison to law enforcement (ex: assistance with protective orders)
• Safety Planning
• Court accompaniment
• Ongoing counseling/ case management

Learn more here: https://www.vcuhealth.org/services/injury-and-violence-prevention/ivpp-programs/project-empower
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From the Heart Stitchers is a community-based volunteer organization that shares hope, joy, and comfort by creating and distributing hand-stitched items that improve the physical and emotional well-being of individuals who are sick or in need. They currently have more than 1,700 members, primarily from the Commonwealth of Virginia with a smaller number from surrounding states. 

Volunteers contribute their time, hearts, and skills by knitting, crocheting, and sewing blankets, hats, scarves, socks, mittens, and quilts. Their efforts provide warm and gentle head coverings for cancer patients; a variety of items including blankets to warm chemotherapy and dialysis patients during their chilling treatments; hand-made outfits for premature babies in neonatal and intensive care units; burial outfits to ease the pain of parents whose baby never came home with their families; and sleeping bags, mittens, and hats for the homeless to provide warmth on cold nights.

Since 2001 they have contributed over 425,000 hand-made items to organizations. 

Learn more here: fromtheheartstitchers.org

Congratulations to Margaret Hill and the Hanover Education Foundation. Margaret pitched the need for funds to provide hotspots for students in need of internet services.  During these challenging months, we all can appreciate the importance of having a strong internet connection for work and school.
 
Learn more about the Hanover Education fund here:​

River City Givers went virtual in July to host their 1st ever Zoom call.  It was a fun and successful experience. We will be repeating this process for our October meeting.

Rising Creek Family Connections was the winner. Rising Creek Family Connections provides customized housewares packages to families who are starting over after being sheltered, most commonly to escape domestic violence.
Learn more here: https://www.rcfconline.org.