Five Make it Happen Grants Announced

Funds mark end of first year of inaugural program

March 6, 2015 — Fauquier Health Foundation announced today that it has awarded the final Make it Happen grants for the inaugural program. Recipients of the grants are:

Fauquier County 4-H: $9996

Fauquier County 4-H will use the grant to launch a free Summer Natural Resources Education program to children ages 5 – 19. In their grant application, Fauquier County 4-H explained that the new summer education program will use natural resources to encourage outdoor activities and help combat cumulative learning loss during the summer. The program, which covers wildlife habitat education, vegetable gardening, entomology, and fishing, will be offered to children in Culpeper, Fauquier and Rappahannock Counties at no charge.

“We are very excited about the new Fauquier County 4-H summer learning program,” stated Christy Connolly president and CEO of Fauquier Health Foundation. “We applaud their fun and unique approach to summer learning, and that it’s open to children at no charge.”

P.B. Smith Elementary School: $8500

P.B. Smith Elementary School for the purchase of a number of technological devices to enhance the school’s physical education program. The addition of technology will help to teach students about the benefits of exercise and healthy eating.

In their grant application, P.B. Smith Elementary School listed a number of technology upgrades that could be useful to the physical education program. The list included tablets, heart rate monitors, an interactive whiteboard and a wireless access point for the school’s gym. When the upgrades are complete, students will be able to track their fitness goals, monitor their heart rate, view samples of exercises and more. A Microsoft XBOX Kinect will also be incorporated into the program, to increase excitement about cardio workouts. P.B. Smith Elementary is scheduled to begin incorporating technology into the physical education program this month.

“We are delighted to offer a grant to P.B. Smith Elementary School,” stated Christy Connolly president and CEO of Fauquier Health Foundation. “The incorporation of technology is a great way to help instructors promote the value of healthy eating and exercise.”

Culpeper County Parks and Recreation Department: $8486

The Culpeper County Parks and Recreation Department will use their Make it Happen grant to convert the multi-purpose field at Spilman Park into a seeded Bermuda grass Sports Turf game field. In their grant application, the Culpeper County Parks and Recreation Department explained that the current state of the multi-purpose field at Spilman Park is not ideal for safe sports play. The conversion to Bermuda grass at Spilman Park will make the field more user friendly for families, sports leagues and home school physical education classes. The Spilman Park multi-purpose field conversion is expected to be complete in May 2015.

“We are so happy to be able to provide a grant to the Culpeper County Parks and Recreation Department,” stated Christy Connolly president and CEO of Fauquier Health Foundation. “Spilman Park is valuable community resource that will be enjoyed for years to come.”

Culpeper Comets/Culpeper Soccer Association: $8450

The Culpeper Comets and the Culpeper Soccer Association will use the grant to purchase two light towers to use during evening practices. Adding the lights will be a benefit to the approximately 1,000 travel and rec players in the league.

“We are very happy to be able to provide a grant to the Culpeper Comets and the Culpeper Soccer Association,” stated Christy Connolly president and CEO of Fauquier Health Foundation. “Their soccer programs provide such a valuable service for many of the youth in our community.”

Fauquier Community Child Care: $2030

FCCC will use their grant money to offer cooking classes during its Let’s Get Movin’ summer camp program. The classes will teach valuable cooking skills and promote healthy eating habits.

In their grant application, Fauquier Community Child Care explained how a recent field trip to the Bistro at Fauquier Hospital helped in the development of the Aspiring Chefs program. During the field trip, teen campers took a tour of the hospital’s garden and watched as Executive Chef James Wedderburn prepared a healthy entree. The campers were inspired by the Chef’s demonstration and excited to try to make the dish at home. FCCC’s new Aspiring Chefs program will give Teen Camp participants an opportunity to learn from local guest chefs. Each class will include a demonstration and nutritious tasting.

“We are pleased that Fauquier Community Child Care has developed the Aspiring Chefs program,” stated Christy Connolly president and CEO of Fauquier Health Foundation. “This interactive approach to teaching children the benefits of healthy eating is an asset to our community.”   The Aspiring Chefs program is scheduled to launch in June 2015.