FCi Federal CEO Sharon Virts Part of Loudoun County Giving Campaign

Ashburn, VA – Ten agencies supporting the shelter, health, hunger and education needs in Loudoun County, Va., received grants totaling $113,000 in April 2015 due to the philanthropic work of 100WomenStrong.

FCi Federal Founder and CEO Sharon Virts is part of this organization representing a group of women who strategically invest in organizations and programs that enrich the lives of Loudoun County citizens. Giving has topped the $860,000 mark in just six years. This year’s grants target organizations that provide support to area residents through reading, after school, child advocacy, comprehensive dental care, food delivery and other programs.

A Loudoun County native, Virts said the group is thrilled to be closing in on the $1 million mark in giving within the next few years and is dedicated to finding programs that are sustainable, scalable and target real need in Loudoun County.

“In our six years of giving, we have been consistently impressed by the countless hours of work so many organizations put toward creating innovative solutions that not only help, but also try to solve the real problems that face Loudoun County residents,” Virts said. “Despite their efforts, there is still great need in our county in many areas, including education, hunger and medical care.”

Virts’ company, FCi Federal, is headquartered Loudoun County, where approximately 50 of the company’s more than 1,500 employees are located. A part of the metropolitan Washington DC area, Loudoun County is among the wealthiest counties in the United States, yet there is still a significant population of families suffering from hunger, homelessness, and lack of basic healthcare.

The grants were announced April 22. Groups receiving grants for 2015 are:

All Ages Read Together ($13,000) for its Family Reading Program in collaboration with Loudoun Literacy to increase literacy skills of entire families by providing an early childhood program while adults are in ESL classes.

Dulles South Food Pantry ($1,500) for continuing its mission as an all-volunteer, multi-faith emergency food pantry that provides nutritious food, personal supplies and promotes self-sufficiency to those in need in the Dulles South and surrounding area regardless of income, faith or other criteria.

Healthworks ($20,000) for comprehensive dental care to 440 low-income children ages 0 - 18 who don't have insurance or Medicaid. An estimated 2,000 children in Loudoun fall in this target population.

Home Aid NoVA/Women Giving Back ($10,000) for Home Aid to build a conveyer rack for new Women Giving Back facility, which serves homeless women and children.

Inmed ($10,000) for its after school program for at-risk kids, particularly those who qualify for McKinney-Vento services. The grant will be used to purchase tables, chairs, bookshelves, white boards, educational materials, volunteer incentives, etc.

Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter ($25,000) for a new staff person and part-time victim advocate and support specialist for its Child Advocacy Center, Victim Advocacy and Education Program.

Liberty’s Promise ($2,500) for an after school Civics and internship program, based at Parkview High School, aimed at helping immigrant youth succeed in the United States.

Loudoun Therapeutic Riding Foundation ($8,400) for its Reins to Independence pilot program of therapeutic horsemanship for secondary students in self-contained autism classes. Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers ($15,000) to expand its delivery of food and services to frail, elderly and ill individuals throughout the county.

SCAN of Northern Virginia ($7,700) for its Immigrant Family Reunification program at Park View High School for immigrant families who have been living in different countries and now are reunited and to present its "Stewards of Children" program to train parents to recognize signs of sexual abuse.

About 100WomenStrong

100WomenStrong is a group of women who make an annual donation that will help create a lasting charitable endeavor to support non-profit organizations in Loudoun County. The group is a donor-advised fund of Piedmont Community Foundation (PCF). For more information about 100WomenStrong, contact Kara Vaughan at [email protected].

The event announcing the 2015 recipients was covered by the Loudoun Times-Mirror. Find it here: http://www.loudountimes.com/news/article/100womenstrong_awards_113k_in_grants_to_local_nonprofits543#.VT0W7K6HKnI.facebook