The Suffolk Foundation distributed $128,875 to 30 different nonprofit agencies during a ceremony on Tuesday.

Since receiving its nonprofit community foundation status in October 2007, the organization has awarded more than $3.6 million in unrestricted and donor-advised grants and scholarships.

This year, the foundation helped fund agencies seeking support in the cultural arts, education, the environment, health and human needs.

“As the invested funds continue to grow,” Executive Director Win Winslow stated in a press release, “the board anticipates being able to support more agencies and a diversity of needs with more funds.”

Grant recipients and the programs the Suffolk Foundation will support this year included the following:

• Access College Foundation ($5,000): To provide operating support of the ACCESS program in the Suffolk public high schools and in two Suffolk public middle schools, as well as the colleges Suffolk public school students are attending;
• American Red Cross of Coastal Virginia ($2,500): To support American Red Cross direct disaster services (food, shelter, clothing, medications, etc.) to those affected by home fires and other disasters in Suffolk;
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia ($3,500): To help support a tutoring program for 15 students for 30 weeks in Suffolk;
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation ($2,500): To help support environmental science training for Suffolk Public Schools teachers;
• Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters ($7,500): To help support CHKD’s Child Abuse Program by providing medical, mental health, and forensic services to children suspected of being abused and neglected;
• Children’s Literacy of Suffolk ($2,050): To help provide tutorial reading education (through the Book Buddies program) for at-risk students in Title 1 Suffolk elementary schools;
• Coalition Against Poverty in Suffolk ($2,500): To help homeless families to secure sustainable, long-term housing, through the Permanent Housing for the Homeless Fund.
• Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads ($1,000): To support the coordination of non-academic services for at-risk students in Elephant’s Fork Elementary School;
• Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia ($5,000): To help support the Backpack Program at Elephant’s Fork Elementary School, which provides food-insecure children with nutritious food on weekends and school vacations;
• ForKids ($5,000): To help provide critical education services for homeless students aged 3-18 years old in Western Tidewater by funding materials, supplies and transportation for the “Beyond the Bell Program”;
• Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast ($2,500): To help to provide financial assistance for program fees/supplies for up to 500 girls in Suffolk;
• Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast ($2,500): To support STEM programming for girls in grades K-12 living in Suffolk;
• Nansemond River Preservation Alliance ($5,000): To help support The Nansemond Watershed Initiative Community and School Environmental Education Program, which encourages environmental stewardship (funded by grants from the Dwight and Jane Schaubach Donor Advised Fund and the Richard F. III and Carolyn Barry Donor Advised Fund);
• Nansemond-Suffolk Academy ($8,000); To help support the creation of a new Student Leadership Academy made up of students from all Suffolk public, private and parochial schools;
• Riddick’s Folly ($2,500): To help support the House Museum education programs;
• Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia ($5,000): To provide up to 175 trips to medical appointments for Suffolk senior citizens and persons with disabilities;
• Special Olympics Virginia – Area 29 Suffolk ($3,000): To assist in funding the cost incurred for three major events — the Suffolk Games, Summer Games and Fall Championships;
• Suffolk Art League ($1,500): To help fund professional visiting artist workshops in four Suffolk high schools and six Suffolk middle schools and allow for fourth- and fifth-grade Talented Art students to tour and participate in a hands-on workshop at the Suffolk Art Gallery;
• Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts ($5,000): To help support the SCCA’s Student Matinees, “Artists in Schools” Program, and youth art education initiatives;
• Suffolk Education Foundation ($6,325): To fund a history field trip to Pamplin Park for fifth-grade students at three Suffolk public elementary schools.
• Suffolk Education Foundation ($1,500): To help fund the purchase of two “Buddy Benches” for Suffolk public elementary schools;
• Suffolk Family YMCA ($5,000): To help address Suffolk’s child care crisis by assisting 35 low-income children to attend an after-school program and providing 10 children with a week of summer camp;
• Suffolk Foundation ($3,500): To fund a one-day class for 16 Suffolk area nonprofit organizations on the topic of nonprofit law;
• Suffolk Literacy Council ($3,000): To help support the Tutor and Student Retention and Support Program.
• Suffolk Meals on Wheels ($6,000): To support funding for meals for up to 18 need-based recipients in the underserved areas of Suffolk and Isle of Wight;
• The Children’s Center ($3,000): To support the purchase of a shade structure for the playground at the Pruden Center;
• The Salvation Army, Suffolk Corps ($5,000): To help support the basic needs programs and community center programs of the Salvation Army and the Robert Harrell Physical Health and Education Center;
• The Suffolk Cheer Fund ($1,000): To provide toys to needy children at Christmas;
• The Up Center ($2,500): To help support outpatient counseling services for 320 individuals in Suffolk and the surrounding areas by providing Trauma Informed Care Services;
• United Way/United for Children ($8,000): To help support the Suffolk Public Schools “LEAP” and “LAUNCH” summer school programs for 900-1,000 Title 1 at-risk students in grades pre-K through eighth grade;
• Virginia Legal Aid Society ($5,000): To help support the “Strengthening Families with Children” program, which incorporates legal advice and representation to strengthen low-income families;
• Western Tidewater Free Clinic ($7,500): To help provide dentures to approximately 45 Suffolk patients to improve their overall health, self-esteem and employability.