The YMCA at Virginia Tech has announced a $10,000 donation from 100+ Women Who Care – New River Valley (NRV), a local chapter of the global philanthropic movement that empowers women to make a collective impact in their communities.
The donation will be used to support and expand the YMCA’s food insecurity programs, which aim to combat hunger and improve access to nutritious food for individuals and families throughout the New River Valley. These efforts are a vital part of the YMCA’s mission to strengthen the foundations of community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
“Support from 100+ Women Who Care – NRV allows us to further invest in programs that directly address critical community needs,” said Ryan Martin, CEO of the YMCA at Virginia Tech. “This contribution will help us reach more people and deepen our impact in fighting food insecurity.”
With Montgomery County’s food insecurity rate standing 37% higher than the Virginia state average, this funding plays a vital role in expanding the YMCA’s efforts to ensure that every individual and family in the New River Valley has access to nutritious food and essential resources.
The check presentation was attended by YMCA leadership, including Ryan Martin, executive director; Pat Boyle, board member; and Jim Lawrence, board treasurer.
Ann Raridon, a member of 100+ Women Who Care, said she “nominated the YMCA at Virginia Tech to receive our quarterly donation because I have seen firsthand the many contributions that the Y makes to our community.”
“As a Virginia Tech student, I volunteered with the Y through a program that paired students with seniors needing help in their community garden plots,” she continued. “Soon after returning to Blacksburg in 2006, I discovered Y-TOSS, which diverts tons of usable items from the landfill during student move out, and have been volunteering ever since because I think the program is brilliant. More recently, I began volunteering at the thrift store and during COVID I saw how the Y quickly expanded their meals program to meet the increased need. Since its establishment in 1873, the Y has been constantly evolving to serve the community and is looking to do so again through another expansion of its meals program.”
The YMCA at Virginia Tech extends its sincere appreciation to 100+ Women Who Care – NRV for their outstanding generosity and commitment to community betterment.
