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The Suffolk Foundation on Dec. 2 made its annual grant distributions at a brief, socially-distanced, outdoor gathering at Decoy’s Seafood.

This year, the Foundation was able to disburse $144,650 to 29 different nonprofit agencies. Since the Foundation received its 501 (c) (3) nonprofit community foundation status in October 2007, it has awarded more than $5.9 million in unrestricted and donor-advised grants and scholarships.

The Foundation funded agencies seeking support in the following areas: cultural arts, education, environment, health, and human need. As the invested funds continue to grow, the Board anticipates being able to support more agencies, and a diversity of needs, with more funds.

The 2020 Suffolk Foundation grant recipients were:

• ACCESS College Foundation ($5,000) — will support college access and success services for students in Suffolk public high schools and in three Suffolk public middle schools, as well as the colleges Suffolk public school students are attending.
• American Red Cross of Coastal Virginia ($5,000) — will support 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) — will support DIY STEM and Career Launch programming for Suffolk students.
• Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters ($10,000) — will support the Child Abuse Program by providing medical, mental health, and forensic services to children suspected of being abused and neglected.
• Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters ($5,000 — 1st of 5-year grant commitment totaling $25,000) — will support the construction of CHKD’s new pediatric mental health hospital.
• Coalition Against Poverty in Suffolk ($7,500) — will support eviction prevention.
• Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads ($1,000) — will support a 12-week Reading At-Home Routine program and tutoring support services for two Suffolk public schools.
• ForKids ($7,500) — will provide critical education services for homeless students in Western Tidewater by funding materials, supplies and transportation for ForKids education programs.
• Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast ($5,000) — will support STEM programming for Suffolk K-12 girls.
• Nansemond River Preservation Alliance ($10,000) — will support The Nansemond Watershed Initiative: Connecting the Classroom with the Environment program for 7th graders and high school students, and The Wetlands Explorers program for 3rd grade students (funded by grants from the Richard F. III and Carolyn Barry Donor Advised Fund & the Dwight and Jane Schaubach Donor Advised Fund).
• Nansemond-Suffolk Academy ($5,000) — will support the Lower School Guided Reading Program.
• Riddick’s Folly ($1,750) — will support restoration of carriage house foundation walls and enclosure of exterior HVAC units.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities ($2,500) — will support night stays for Western Tidewater families of hospitalized children.
• Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia ($5,000) — will support delivery of emergency meals to Western Tidewater senior citizens and improve access to medical care by providing transportation to medical appointments for Suffolk senior citizens and adults with disabilities.
• Suffolk Art League ($2,000) — will help fund visiting artist workshops in four Suffolk high schools, seven Suffolk middle schools and 12 elementary schools, and support a theater performance at the Suffolk Art Gallery.
• Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts ($8,000) — will support the Youth Arts Education Initiatives, including the Arts Enrichment Program and other youth art education initiatives.
• Suffolk Cheer Fund ($2,500) — will provide toys to needy Suffolk children at Christmas.
• Suffolk Education Foundation ($1,000) — will support the Teacher Supply Store serving Suffolk Public Schools.
• Suffolk Family YMCA ($5,000) — will help address Suffolk’s childcare crisis by assisting low-income children to attend the Before and After School program and a summer camp program.
• Suffolk Meals on Wheels ($9,000) — will support funding for meals for need-based recipients in the underserved areas of Suffolk, Isle of Wight, Windsor and Smithfield.
• Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society ($1,750) — will support repairs to SNHS headquarters, which houses its invaluable historical collection.
• Suffolk River Heritage ($5,150) — will support publishing “An Oyster Saga,” telling the story of the historical and environmental changes of the local oyster reefs in the lower Chesapeake Bay.
• The Children’s Center ($2,000) — will help fund a new kitchen in the expansion of the Suffolk facility.
• The Doorways ($3,000) — will support the Patient and Family Access Program serving Suffolk area residents who stay at the Doorways while accessing medical care.
• The Links ($2,000) — will support free swim instruction and water safety classes to children in underserved communities in the Suffolk area.
• The Salvation Army, Suffolk Corps ($8,000) — will support the basic needs programs and the community center programs at the Robert Harrell Physical Health and Education Center.
• The Up Center ($2,500) — will support outpatient counseling services for 435 individuals in Suffolk and the surrounding areas by providing trauma informed counseling, and mental health and substance use counseling services.
• United Way of South Hampton Roads ($5,000) — will support the “LEAP” and “LAUNCH” summer school programs for 500 at-risk Suffolk students, providing academic support, nutritious meals, healthcare screenings, physical fitness, and enrichment opportunities.
• Virginia Legal Aid Society ($5,000) — will support the LawLine component of the Strengthening Families with Children program, which incorporates legal advice and representation to strengthen low-income families.
• Western Tidewater Free Clinic ($9,000) — will help provide dental care to 32 Suffolk patients to improve their overall health, self-esteem and employability.