The Greenbrier Valley Community Foundation (GVCF) has awarded seven grants for enrichment activities in area public schools through its Community Fund Mini-Grant program and the Mary B. Nickell Fund for Arts Education. These grants will be used to purchase supplies and pay honoraria to bring talented community members into the classrooms.
The Community Fund Mini-Grant was established in 2013 by the board of directors of the Greenbrier Valley Community Foundation. This year’s recipients are the first to receive the awards. They include Katie Ickes working with Communities in Schools of Greenbrier County to continue her Mindset for Success program at both Eastern and Western Greenbrier Middle Schools, Friends of the Lower Greenbrier River to expand their Know Your Watersheds program at Alderson Elementary School, Kelli Martin to teach YogaMotion at White Sulphur Springs Elementary School, and the Monroe Arts Alliance to maintain its Youth Art Show throughout the Monroe County Public Schools.
The Mary B. Nickell Fund for Arts Education began making awards in 2011. To date, it has disbursed over $15,000 for art programs in the Greenbrier County Public Schools. The fund was endowed by the late Mary Nickell who was a painter and a member of the Greenbrier Artists. This year’s recipients of the grant are Carli Mareneck to work with fourth grade classrooms at Ronceverte Elementary School to create collages and block prints that will enhance their interest in the study of West Virginia, Ross Weiseger to teach folk dancing with Beth White to physical education students at Greenbrier East High School, and Amy Robertson, principal Greenbrier West High School, to help expand the Nancy Robertson Art Show. Like Mary Nickell, Nancy Robertson was a member of the Greenbrier Artists. Last May, GWHS held its first memorial art show to honor Mrs. Robertson. Seventy-five high school students participated. This year, organizers plan to include middle and elementary students, to teach the students how to matt and frame using custom frames created in the shop classes, and to have the Pro-Start students prepare the food for the show opening.
The Community Fund Mini-Grant is awarded annually. Applications for 2015 will be available in January. The Mary B. Nickell Grant for Arts Education is awarded bi-annually. Applications are currently available and are due Dec. 1. Visit www.gvfoundation for more information.
The Greenbrier Valley Community Foundation is a collection of over 100 funds, each with its own charitable purpose. These funds are established to make annual distributions to the community in perpetuity. For more information about GVCF, contact Courtney Smith, executive director, at 304-645-5620 or info@gvfoundation.org.