New President at Lake Monticello Community Foundation
Longtime board member Alan Stewart was elected president of the Lake Monticello Community Foundation at its meeting March 20. He replaces Nancy Parsons, who was the founding president of the foundation four years ago and shepherded it through its startup, initial fundraising efforts, multiple rounds of donations to benefit the community, and completion of the very popular All-Inclusive Playground.
Parsons, who stepped down from the presidency, remains an active member of the Foundation board. Re-elected at the meeting were Joe Grubb as vice president, Sarah Monceaux as secretary and Anne Stoppe as treasurer. Directors re-elected to new three-year terms were Stewart, Grubb and Mike Feazel.
After opening the playground in September, the Foundation completed a new round of $8,500 in donations in December to community groups, including Meals on Wheels, Lake Monticello Volunteer Fire & Rescue, the Fluvanna chapter of Dolly Parton Imagination Library and the Fluvanna SPCA. It also donated kayak launch ramps which LMOA staff will install at the Marina and Beach 3 this spring, and will give community service scholarships to high school students from the Lake and the county in May.
The Foundation is now working to select its next big project, after soliciting ideas from the community.
Bama Works Grants $5,000 to Lake Monticello Community Foundation
The Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band has awarded the Lake Monticello Community Foundation a $5,000 grant to further its work on the All-Inclusive Playground and its other efforts to improve Lake Monticello and Fluvanna County.
“We look forward to partnering with you to achieve your goals,” said Bama Works Fund Donor Relations Manager Chaquita Venable in announcing the grant. The Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band ultimately approved funding for 120 proposals, awarding a total of over $750,000 in this grant round to organizations throughout the Central Virginia area.
. “This grant is so special, both because of the financial support itself and because it’s a ringing endorsement of what we’re doing from such a widely-respected organization as Bama Works,” said Foundation President Nancy Parsons. “This will certainly spur us to look for new projects to take on throughout the Lake and the county.”
Established in 1999, the Bama Works Fund, along with Dave Matthews and the band, has raised over $65 million and made over 2,500 grants. Bama Works has operated under the philosophy that meaningful and long-lasting change begins in the community.
Great coverage of the March 17 groundbreaking for the All-Inclusive Playground
PLAY VIDEO
NBC29 also did Great Coverage of the Groundbreaking
The Lake Monticello Community Foundation broke ground
on the All-Inclusive Playground March 17, 2023
Thanks to Mark Vyrros and members of the Broadcast Group for the video
Festival of Trees is
Big Success
The Festival of Trees included a sold-out dinner-dance, a horde of kids and their parents visiting trees decorated by our great sponsors, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a great raffle of the trees.
NBC29 even weighed in with a nice report on the event.
Fundraising Efforts Show Community Really is ‘Better Together’
Foundation Awards First Community Service Scholarship
Laker Ava Amato was awarded the first annual $1,500 community service scholarship by the Lake Monticello Community Foundation at the Fluvanna High School awards night Wednesday by Foundation President Nancy Parsons. The scholarship award was created by the Foundation to encourage students to engage in service to their community.
Amato, a senior, listed more than 300 hours of community service on her application, including two years as president of the Interact community service club, two years organizing events and service projects for the Student Government Association, working at church as a server and on on meals and other activities, and two years as president of the Beta Club, which promotes academic achievement and service.
She plans to be high school language arts teacher. On her application, she said “service is the compass that guides my life and I will never cease to follow it.”Amato, a senior, listed more than 300 hours of community service on her application, including two years as president of the Interact community service club, two years organizing events and service projects for the Student Government Association, working at church as a server and on on meals and other activities, and two years as president of the Beta Club, which promotes academic achievement and service.
She plans to be high school language arts teacher. On her application, she said “service is the compass that guides my life and I will never cease to follow it.”
News
On Your Mark, Get Set, Let the Playground Fundraising Begin!
The $100,000 fund drive to build an all-inclusive playground at Lake Monticello’s Lafayette Park officially kicked off Thursday (Oct. 21) – with $22,000 already committed toward the project. The fundraising is being done by the Lake Monticello Community Foundation.
“This will be a wonderful playground for all kids,” said Foundation President Nancy Parsons at the kickoff press conference at the park. “It will also benefit a lot of parents and grandparents.”
Laker Jennifer Valentine, director of special education for Fluvanna Schools, told the audience she knew of at least four families within a four-block radius of the new playground that would benefit from the planned playground updates.
“This idea is just so inspirational,” she said.
Valentine had said previously that there are at least 130 children in the area who could benefit from the playground.
“I want to thank LMOA for putting together a work group of staff, LMOA board and Foundation members to develop a plan for the playground,” Parsons said Thursday in prepared remarks. “We are indebted to that group for their diligence and determination to make this happen!” She said the group included LMOA Board members Jay Hinkle and Larry Henson, LMOA Staff members Director of Operations Tom Schauder and General Manager Steve Hurwitz and Foundation Board Members Alan Stewart and Scott Mein.
Since the Lake Monticello Community Foundation was founded two and a half years ago, it has given grants to Lake Monticello Fire and Rescue and to families who could not afford season's pool passes, Parsons said, adding “We have sponsored a number of activities and are planning to award community service grants to students and to give grants to organizations that support community needs, but our most ambitious project is this playground.”
Parsons said the Foundation is especially grateful to people like “the very generous Dr. Niepraschk” for giving us a great head start to our goal of $100,000. Dr. Markus, as his patients at Mill Creek Orthodontics call him, presented an $11,000 check on Monday—doubling the Foundation’s playground total, bringing it to $22,000 raised so far.
Dr. Marcus said at Thursday’s official kick-off ceremony that as the father of five children (one of them with special needs), the playground project spoke to him. “I love the idea of lots of smiles here as we make this playground even more inclusive,” Dr. Marcus said. “I hope other local businesses jump in and contribute. I think the Foundation will reach its goal way before May!”
Schauder also praised Dr. Markus. "Thank you, Dr. Markus, for your generosity…your work as a dentist brings smiles to the faces of many, and your generosity will bring smiles and joy to many more in the years to come,” Schauder said. “Bringing everyone together at this playground site builds community and fosters friendship.”
“The positivity of this project is infectious, and we are very grateful for it,” said Schauder. He said the new playground will “bring more smiles, more laughter and more joy” to the entire community, and the work of the Foundation “represents teamwork, generosity, and simply paying it forward.”
An inclusive playground simply means “all children can play” in it, Parsons said. She said it will be used by children with “a wide spectrum of abilities,” including being fun for the fully-abled, and will “encourage acceptance and belonging” among children of all abilities. “This is truly a game-changer for Lake Monticello,” she said.
Lake Monticello Community Foundation raising money for an all-inclusive playground
Published: Oct. 21, 2021 at 1:57 PM EDT
LAKE MONITCELLO, Va. (WVIR) - A very special playground is coming to Lafayette Park, all thanks to a fundraiser started by the Lake Monticello Community Foundation.
“We understand that even within walking distance of this park there are five families with special needs children, so we know that there’s a need for it in the community,” Lake Monticello Community Foundation President Nancy Parsons said.
Add to that, another hundred or so families in similar situations also living at the lake, and the need becomes obvious.
“Just the idea of being able to play along with their peers in a safe environment in their own neighborhood is amazing, and the fact that Lake Monticello invites people in to use the amenities, it makes it for our whole community,” Fluvanna County Public Schools Special Education Director Jennifer Valentine said.
Roughly $22,000 of the $100,000 needed has already been raised. There’s a lot to pay for: “That means fencing it, it means pouring a surface on which wheelchairs can navigate, it means adding equipment that are specialized for special needs, including an inclusive whirl on which a wheelchair can sit. So we’re very very excited about it,” Parsons said.
The goal is to break ground on the playground by the spring of 2022.
Copyright 2021 WVIR. All rights reserved.
Mill Creek Orthodontics donates to all-inclusive playground
October 18th, 7:42 PM EDTBy Macy Moors
FLUVANNA COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- On Monday, the Lake Monticello Community Foundation received a big donation toward creating an all-inclusive playground.
The goal of the playground is to make sure all kids with all abilities can play together.
The Fluvanna County Public Schools division has at least 130 students at Lake Monticello with special needs.
This will also benefit parents and guardians with mobility issues.
Dr. Markus Niepraschk’s donation has doubled what the foundation had already raised.
"I'm hoping that others in the community will follow suit and help make this project a success," he said.
The foundation will kick off its $100,000 fund drive this Thursday at 9 a.m. at Lake Monticello Lafayette Park. It is looking to start renovating the playground next spring.
Yard Sale Raises $4,000 for All-Inclusive Playground at Lake Monticello
In an informal start for the fund drive to build an all-inclusive playground at Lake Monticello, a yard sale on Vine Ridge Drive raised $4,000 Saturday, four times its goal, for the Lake Monticello Community Foundation, organizers said.
"It just fills my heart to see how the community turned out to support this event to help fund the new playground," said Foundation President Nancy Parsons. "Who ever heard of a yard sale raising $4,000? Some people got nice stuff for a dollar or two, and some contributed $100 for a couple of dishes. You have to love that."
Yard sale donations ranged from a quarter to $550, Parsons said. Sale items ranged from china to outboard motors to art work and many antiques. None of the items were priced; donations were voluntary.
Several antique vendors from the Old American Barn in Gordonsville and A&W Antiques in Keswick donated antiques and collectibles and brought tables and helped set up the event. Other items were donated -- some anonymously -- by various members of the Lake Monticello community.
“Many, many thanks to all the people who donated some real 'treasures' to help boost the sale,” said Parsons, adding that volunteers spent hours on their feet helping people find those treasures. “It's a Community Foundation, and this was a real community effort."
The Foundation is working to raise $100,000 for the all-inclusive playground, an expansion and improvement of the existing playground at Lafayette Park. The improvements will include an asphalt sidewalk around the playground, a new accessible surface and two additional pieces of ADA-compliant playground equipment. The goal is to make the playground accessible to children of all abilities, as well as to parents and grandparents with mobility issues, Parsons explained.
"I think the fundraising for the Lafayette playground is off to a smashing start," Parsons said. The official launch of the fundraising campaign will be later this year, and work on the playground upgrade is to start next spring.
Foundation-Organized Car Show Raises Nearly $2,000
At the 3rd Annual Lake Monticello Car Show at Effort Church Saturday there were 75 classic cars with nearly half of them taking home trophies, but three local nonprofits were the big winners.
More than $1,200 was raised for the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). $500 was raised for Lake Monticello Fire & Rescue and the event's organizer, the Lake Monticello Community Foundation, raised $200 through a 50-50 Raffle.
Laker Bob Weikert took home $204 from that 50-50 raffle too.
Foundation Pool Pass Grants Make a Splash with 40 Lakers
Laker Christy, who lost two long-term jobs during the pandemic and had her granddaughter move in with her, will be able to teach that three-year-old to swim in the shallow end of the Lake Monticello pool this summer because a Lake Monticello Community Foundation grant paid for pool passes for them.
Another Laker, Margaret, said she “wanted to cry” when she learned she would get a pass that would allow the breast cancer survivor to get exercise “without driving into town to a physical therapist.” She also thinks going to the pool will be great exercise for her special needs son.
Laker Emily, a harried ICU nurse, will be able to take “a refreshing break” at the Lake pool with her two kids this summer, also due to a Foundation pool pass grant.
Laker Macha’s one-year-old son had heart surgery last year, and the bills kind of piled up, she said. “So affording the pool right now just wasn’t within our means.” But because of the Foundation grant she’s looking forward to “getting some sense of normality back.”
They were among 40 people who couldn’t have afforded pool passes this year, but now have them because of grants from the Lake Monticello Community Foundation.
“These are people who are able to use the pool that otherwise wouldn’t have been able,” said Foundation President Nancy Parsons. “And it’s extra pool revenue for LMOA. Win-win.”
The Foundation received a total of 17 applications for pool pass grants, and was able to grant 11, for a total of about $2,500. In three cases, it made the most sense to give $350 full-family passes. Others got one or two individual passes, since children under five don’t need passes. A few who weren’t expected to use the pool as much got punch cards for a limited number of visits.
“The grants committee worked hard to figure out the most efficient way to allocate the money we had,” Parsons said. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to make grants to all applicants because of limited funds.”
The grants were made possible by two yard sale fundraisers and a large donation specifically for the project.
The applicants are “the sweetest people,” Parsons said. “I really hope we can do this every year, and maybe expand it next year.”"
My kids love the pool,” Emily said. “It means so much to me and my kids, and knowing that there are community members that want people to enjoy themselves at the pool. It’s heartwarming.”
Christy said her granddaughter loves the water, but was struggling to learn to swim in the Lake. She “absolutely loves” the pool, Christy said, “but the last thing on our budget was getting a pool pass when you’re struggling to keep food on the table and a roof over your head.”
“I know I’m not alone,” Christy said. “But it’s just a blessing that there are people who may be struggling themselves but they take time to help people. It just brings so much sunshine to people.”
Margaret said she has lived at the Lake almost four years but has only been able to afford to go to the pool twice. “I love to go there for exercise,” she said, “and just for the joy of enjoying the beauty of it. I love this neighborhood, and this is another opportunity to meet people and get to know the neighbors and get actively involved in this beautiful community.”
“This is just amazing,” Macha said. She said she had no idea the Foundation exists, but “I think it’s really cool that people within this community would make this happen.”
Lake Foundation Re-Elects Officers, Board Members, Discusses Projects
The Lake Monticello Community Foundation re-elected its slate of officers, at its annual meeting March 10, and re-elected three directors whose term had expired. The annual meeting was the first since the Foundation’s founding a year ago.
The re-elected Foundation officers are: Nancy Parsons, president; Anita Boles, vice president; Mike Warner, treasurer; and Maureen Smith, secretary. All were re-elected unanimously.
Re-elected to the Foundation board of directors were Anita Boles, Carrol Kinsey and Scott Mein. The board also approved a plan for staggered terms, with roughly a third of the board’s members having terms that end each year to assure continuity. Boles, Kinsey and Mein were selected by a drawing to be the first to have their terms end. All were re-elected to the board unanimously.
Also at the meeting, the board discussed an upcoming document shredding event, scheduled for April 24 at the Lake Monticello Fire Department, as well as progress working with the Lake Monticello Owners' Association toward creating an inclusive playground at the Lake and other future projects.
Lake Monticello Community Foundation Announces Contest Winners
Let's hear a big cheer for the winners of the Lake Monticello Community Foundation holiday decorations contest!
Sixth grader Jayla Curry won first place in the Wreath Contest.
Seventh grader Emma Sample won second place for the Wreath Contest.
And Harper Lucas, age 7, won first place in the 2020 Deck the Halls Holiday Contest.
All were presented trophies Dec. 30 by the Christmas Elf (Craig Conboy).
Published by Mike Feazel · December 16, 2020 ·
Lake Monticello Community Foundation Makes First Donation
The new Lake Monticello Community Foundation launched its charitable activities with a $500 donation to Lake Monticello Fire & Rescue. The check was presented by Foundation President Nancy Parsons to Fire Chief Richard Constantino. “We have decided to make Fire and Rescue one of the Foundation’s priorities,” Parsons said. “What they do for the community is priceless, and they benefit every single person at Lake Monticello.” Constantino said such donations are especially important in this pandemic year, when traditional fire and rescue fundraisers such as bingo and the golf tournament had to be put on hold. “I would estimate that we are facing more than $100,000 less income this year due to the coronavirus,” he said. “We have to make up that deficit, and donations like this are our life blood.” The Lake Monticello Community Foundation anticipates additional donations to other organizations over the coming months. Additional information is available at www.lmvfr.org and the Lake Monticello Community Foundation Facebook page.
Lake Monticello cancels holiday parade
December 1st, 10:17 PM EST
Updated: December 1st, 10:18 PM ESTBy News Staff
The Associated Press
FLUVANNA COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- A holiday parade will not be taking place in Fluvanna County this weekend, citing the increase in COVID-19 cases in the county.
According to a release, the Lake Monticello Emergency Management Team voted Tuesday morning to cancel the Lake Holiday Parade that was supposed to take place this Saturday.
General Manager Steve Hurwitz says the organization sought advice from the executive branch of Virginia’s government concerning canceling the vehicle parade.
“We are sad that we cannot offer this to our community,” said Lake Monticello Fire Chief Richie Constantino. “Once a Governor’s opinion was sought, our hands were tied. We are forced to cancel the photos too.”
The parade had been organized by the Lake Monticello Community Foundation.
The foundation has also sponsored a Memory Tree in front of the Pub, where people can remember their loved ones with a special light for a suggested donation of $10.
This tree will be lit through Jan. 2 and the names of those memorialized on it will be posted and shared. Donations and names can be sent to Lake Monticello Community Foundation, 265 Turkeysag Trail STE 102, Box #143, Palmyra, VA 22963-2654.
Residents of the Lake Monticello community can also participate in Wreath and Door Decorating contests until Dec. 19.
The wreath contest is open to all students in first through 12th grades who live in the Lake Monticello community.
Students can create a wreath, take a picture of themselves with it, and send that picture to lakecommunityfoundation@gmail.com. Images should include the maker’s name and address. Submitted images will be posted on the foundation’s Facebook page.
Trophies and medals will be delivered to the winners of the contest.
The Entryway Decoration Contest is open to community residents of all ages, who are invited to create a holiday door or entryway and sent a picture of it with the creator to the same email listed above. Submissions should include an address so that prizes can be delivered.
Nov. 23, 2020
New Lake Monticello Foundation Planning Holiday Events
The newly-formed Lake Monticello Community Foundation is organizing a Lake holiday parade with an opportunity for kids to meet Santa, a “Memory Tree,” and wreath-making contest for Lake kids and door decorating contest for all ages this holiday season.
The parade will kick off at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, from the Ashlawn Clubhouse and circle Jefferson Drive. It will feature the Lake Monticello Fire Department, Fluvanna County Sheriff Eric Hess and other fire and rescue vehicles, classic cars, sponsored vehicles and decorated family cars. And, of course, Santa.
Socially-distanced photos with Santa will follow at the Lake Monticello Fire and Rescue station from 2-4 PM. Free photos will be taken in front of a firetruck with Santa safely on the firetruck. Families will be asked to wait in their vehicles until it’s their turn for a photo. Donations to Lake Monticello Fire & Rescue will be appreciated.
Lakers can remember their loved ones with a special light on the Memory Tree, a large holiday tree, with each blue light a memory of friends and family. Names of those memorialized will be posted and shared. The Foundation is suggesting a $10 donation for each light. Names of those to be memorialized should be submitted to: Lake Monticello Community Foundation, 265 Turkeysag Trail, Ste. 102, Box #143, Palmyra, VA 22963-2654.
The Deck the Halls children’s wreath-making competition beginning Dec. 5 will feature Lakers in grades 1-12 making and displaying the wreaths. Pictures of them and their wreaths should be submitted to LakeCommunityFoundation@gmail.com. By emailing the photo, you’re giving the Foundation permission to share it on its Facebook page. Please include your address in the email. Santa’s elf will deliver trophies and medals to the winners. Donations also are suggested along with entries.
The Door or Entryway Decoration Contest is open to Lake residents of all ages, with submissions the same as for the wreath contest.
“We just want to bring some fun holiday events to the Lake community,” said Foundation President Nancy Parsons. “But we also hope to raise some contributions that we can use to help finance a variety of projects intended to improve life at the Lake.”
Oct. 30, 2020
Non-Profit Formed to Make Lake Monticello Better
The newly-formed Lake Monticello Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, fully approved by the State of Virginia and expecting final IRS approval this year, making all contributions fully tax deductible.
“There have been efforts before to raise money to benefit the Lake, but this is the first time that a way has been found to make them tax deductible,” said Treasurer Mike Warner. The Foundation already has collected several thousand dollars, mainly through contributions of founding board members, plus some outside contributions, notably from Chandler & Co. tree service.
The Lake Monticello Community Foundation was created by a group of people who realized that, due to financial limits and other reasons, Lake management will never be able to meet all the desires of the wider Lake community. They believe an independent group might, by raising money and providing volunteer effort, be a way to supplement, not replace, the services that the Lake Monticello Owners Association provides – thus making the Lake an even better place to live.
All Foundation activities will be coordinated with the Lake Monticello Owners Association and meet all of its requirements, Parsons said. The activities of the Foundation and its coordination with the Lake Monticello Owners will be governed by a memorandum of understanding now being worked out with LMOA.
The Foundation is still making decisions on how the money raised will be used. Some possibilities include such things as helping make some Lake playgrounds more handicapped-accessible, working toward building a gazebo for events like weddings or a pavilion for group events like family reunions, grants to organizations that serve the Lake community, and financing community events such as family movie nights.
Further information is available on the Lake Monticello Community Foundation Facebook page and, soon, on its new website. Those interested in volunteering or contributing, or having ideas about Foundation projects, should contact lakecommunityfoundation@gmail.com or LMCF, 265 Turkeysag Trail Suite 102, Box 143, Palmyra, VA 22963-2654.