In this special issue centered on Hope, you might notice something a little different when you open this edition of the Peninsula Perspective newsletter. For the very first time, we’re bringing our Service Check and Feature articles together into a single story.
Why the blend? Usually, our Service Check looks at the mechanics of how our foundation operates and the results from those efforts, while our Feature tells the in-depth stories of our community. But when it comes to the Children’s Holiday Fund, you simply can't separate the heart from the numbers. How we serve those who serve our neighbors is the story. By weaving these two perspectives together, we get a complete, beautiful picture of how strategy turns into living, breathing hope across the Peninsula.
Whenever we reflect on the impact of the Children’s Holiday Fund, we always hold ourselves to three simple, essential questions:
- Is this a meaningful way to lift up the heroes among us who serve our neighbors?
- Does it bring genuine, festive holiday joy and memories where it’s needed most?
- Are our local families and partner organizations feeling a positive impact?
The answer to all three? A resounding, heartwarming yes.
Rooted Right Here: A 100% Local Commitment
The Children’s Holiday Fund is one of two competitive grant opportunities supported by PCF (the other is Impact 100) each year. Because it’s competitive, every grant is awarded through a thoughtful, intentional review process designed to designate every single dollar where it can create the most good.
Even more important is our steadfast promise to keep giving entirely local. Every dollar awarded through this fund stays right here, directly benefiting families in the communities PCF is honored to serve across the Peninsula.
We don't try to reinvent the wheel during the holidays. Instead, we wrap our arms around the dedicated frontline nonprofits that walk alongside local families all 365 days of the year. These passionate teams know the true hearts, quiet struggles, and everyday hopes of our neighbors. By equipping them with holiday grants, we help them elevate their year-round care into moments of pure holiday magic—from festive events to warm winter coats, hearty holiday meals, and bright surprises under the tree.
Voices From Our Community
When we check in with our grant partners, their words remind us why this work matters so deeply year after year:
- EDMARC: “Making miracles like this happen is only possible because of generous community support. The Children's Holiday Fund grant allowed us to ease the burden and create magic for more families, a gift on which we could never put a price tag.”
- WAY OF HOPE: “Your commitment to community-focused initiatives directly impacted hundreds of families in Newport News.”
- FISH INC.: “Before the Children's Holiday Fund, our racks and shelves for teenagers' outerwear were almost empty. As soon as we heard about the funds, we ordered our first shipment of outerwear for the older children and teenagers.”
- HRCAP: “The Foundation's investment helped transform what could have been a difficult holiday season into one marked by stability, joy and community care.”
- THE FRIENDS OF FOSTER CARE: “Every child deserves the chance to feel special and valued... thanks to your generosity, the youth in Newport News foster care felt the holiday love.”
Hope in Motion
As Adelia offers in her opening message:
“Hope is not a strategy—it is fuel for the human spirit that leads good people to build strategies that shape actions that change lives.”
The Children’s Holiday Fund is that belief brought to life. It takes the quiet generosity of our donors, partners like Bruce Bronstein and the Ferguson Center for the Performing Arts, and the hands-on devotion of local nonprofits, weaving them into a warm safety net of care and joy.
Want to see what this hope looks like up close? Be sure to check out the grantee spotlight, which features three extraordinary local organizations whose programs are changing lives every day through the Children’s Holiday Fund.
Hope isn't just a sentiment—it's a commitment to showing up for our community when it matters most. Across our Peninsula, hope stays alive because neighbors choose to care for one another. Through the Children’s Holiday Fund, we don’t just deliver grants; we fuel the human spirit, build lasting partnerships, and make sure our neighbors know they are never alone during this most meaningful time of year.
Together, we are keeping hope bright, local, and overflowing. With $500,000 awarded to local nonprofits to date, the Children’s Holiday Fund continues to turn community generosity into unforgettable moments of holiday joy. Thank you to our dedicated donors, partners, and local nonprofits for making this work possible. When we invest locally, hope prospers everywhere.