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6/29/2026 Donor Spotlight: "Christmas in July" - Honoring the Peninsula's history of giving spirits for the Children's Holiday FundRead Now
season of celebration, and giving. The Children’s Holiday Fund was created to respond to these realities by providing timely, local support to nonprofit partners who serve children and families when they need it most. This fund is rooted in a simple belief: Every child deserves to feel cared for, supported, and seen—especially during the holidays.
and financial leaders across the community. Each sponsor connection has helped broker new resources and new relationships, which means new hope and possibilities for our neighbors in need. And joining our sponsors are donors from across this community - gifts of all sizes, from new friends and from those who have been loyal to the Fund for years. "When I give to the families through the Holiday Fund, I feel like I'm giving Peninsula children an opportunity to dream again. Could there be a more precious gift this holiday season?" - Children's Holiday Fund Donor One new and exciting connection began in 2025 with the Ferguson Center for the Performing Arts at CNU… Each season at the Ferguson includes The Family Series as part of its performance lineup. This special set of productions is not only family friendly; it intentionally presents some of the most popular, fun, entertaining, and educational shows and performers on the current landscape of children and family favorites. As community sponsor for the Children's Holiday Fund, the Ferguson Center is donating one dollar from the sale of every Family Series ticket to the Children’s Holiday Fund! And the Foundation, in return, is able to connect the Ferguson Center with our many nonprofit partners who might benefit from the Ferguson Center's Arts for All program - through which nonprofits and the people they serve can receive tickets to Ferguson performances at no cost. The new partnership with the Ferguson Center stands on the shoulders of all the sponsors who have been, and continue to be, the beautiful wind in the sails of the Children's Holiday Fund. Our sponsors and donors are the heroes stepping into that real-life space where holiday joy also meets absolute need. Giving a child a gift is a wonderful thing. Inviting a child to dream again changes a life. This "Christmas in July," in the heat of summer, we pause and are grateful for your partnership and generosity. Dreams come true because of you.
6/26/2026 FEATURE ARTICLE: Breaking Records & Transforming Lives-The collective Success of Give Local 757!Read Now How community generosity, powerful partnerships, and nonprofit leadership raised over $1.66M for Hampton Roads. This year, the heart of Hampton Roads shone brighter than ever before during the 13th annual Give Local 757 giving day. In an era where the world's challenges can feel overwhelming, Hampton Roads responded beautifully to our call to action. Our community looked at what was right in front of us—our neighbors and local organizations—and we showed up. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of residents, businesses, and advocates, we didn't just meet our goals—we expanded them, setting historic milestones that build long-term, sustainable capacity for local organizations. Together, our community raised a record-breaking $1,666,297 through an astonishing 17,175 donations! “When you gave local this year, you invested directly in the infrastructure of your own community, supporting the family three doors down, the student in the local classroom, and the shelter in your own ZIP code.” — Tammy Flynn, Director of Give Local 757
nonprofits raised a modest but impressive $140,000. Fast forward to 2026. In only 13 years, Give Local 757 has grown into an absolute force for good in local philanthropy. With this year’s record-breaking numbers officially included, our community has raised a grand total of $15,719,513 for hundreds of local causes since the initiative's inception Bridging the Waterways: A Regional Triumph Hampton Roads is a region of extraordinary bridges and waterways built to connect us, but too often, we let the water separate us. Give Local 757 serves as our annual, intentional bridge and tunnel—a unifying service story that brings both sides of the water together. While the Peninsula Community Foundation proudly anchors this initiative, it is a true cross-regional triumph made possible by our loyal partners at the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, which has supported this unifying day for all 13 years.
The Power of PR: Spotlighting PRSA Hampton Roads Our success this year wouldn't have been possible without getting the word out far and wide, and for that, we are deeply grateful to the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Hampton Roads Chapter. Coordinated by Dr. Steffon Campbell, the PRSA Hampton Roads Public Service team of communication leaders—alongside Hampton University (HU) and Old Dominion University (ODU) PRSSA faculty and students—stepped up to provide crucial pro bono public relations work. They ensured that our local nonprofits stayed front and center in the hearts and minds of Hampton Roads residents, generating a marvelous new wave of support for the giving day. “This year’s results reflect the continued power of partnership between donors, nonprofits, and the wider community who keep the story moving. We were grateful to stand alongside Peninsula Community Foundation to help raise visibility and drive momentum for Give Local 757.” The Power of Being Present: Stories from Businesses of the Heart Our regional nonprofits are true businesses of the heart. They are the moral center of what makes Hampton Roads great, but they are also vital economic engines that provide jobs, manage complex logistics, and deliver essential services. The local impact is best described by the nonprofits themselves:
“Give Local 757 has become a spring tradition for us, not just as a fundraiser, but as a community movement. Year after year, it gives us an opportunity to invite people into the THRIVE story in a bigger way. Volunteers, donors, ambassadors, board members, friends…everyone starts sharing with their own circles, and that ripple effect continues to grow.” — Caroline Dutle, Director of Community Giving, Thrive Peninsula By bridging our iconic waterways and locking arms to address the needs right in front of us, Hampton Roads has written an unforgettable chapter of collective generosity. Ultimately, this year stands as definitive proof that the true impact of Give Local 757 isn't measured solely in dollars raised—it's measured in the lives changed when a community chooses to show up for each other.
6/26/2026 PArtnership perspective: Sculpting the Future- Newport News Public Art Foundation’s Vision for Art and CommunityRead Now
connect with the Peninsula Community Foundation and learn more about our Agency Funds: a promising next-step option with greater yields that could help NNPAF continue to grow and serve the community. “We’re so incredibly pleased,” said Beth Moore, retired CPA and treasurer for NNPAF. “The returns in just the last two months have been incredible!” The Newport News Public Art Foundation is truly focused on the people that make up Hampton Roads. When asked what she would say to our whole community if given the chance, Executive Director Becca Sidman chose to take a posture of curiosity and collaboration: “What do you want to see more of?” she wonders. It was clear that she, along with her whole team and board, are considerate of the community in every decision they make.
positively human things we can do. It is good stuff. Mom always said, never underestimate the power of a thank you. She’s right.
Grateful - so that runs deeper. It too can happen in a moment, but for me grateful is that utter soul-encompassing, love-wrapped, emotion-overflowing sense of blessing that can emerge at some of life’s most joyful times, and most crushing ones too. And shows up as part of everyday miracles. I offer that bit of back story so that when you see “Grateful” as the theme for our summer newsletter - you have a little context.
But you know what? First - they were grateful. For the chance to help. For the chance to step up - to be quiet everyday heroes. They didn’t ask why - they just said yes. They were really, truly grateful. So - I am too. We are too. When you focus on grateful, there really is just not a lot of room for anything else. Peninsula - we are grateful. 757 - we are grateful. Friends and neighbors - we are grateful. Grateful indeed. Adelia Behind every successful student is a dedicated teacher with a vision. Through our Scholarships and Educator Grants program, we are proud to provide the direct funding teachers need to turn innovative ideas into life-changing classroom realities. This month, we are focusing our spotlight on two extraordinary recipients of Langley Federal Credit Union's teacher grants which cover Langley's entire service footprint, stretching from Hampton Roads and Richmond into North Carolina. While these projects target two entirely different sides of the educational ecosystem—one anchoring core academic literacy and the other fueling physical wellness and social inclusion—both are absolutely critical to building a complete, healthy, and successful student experience.
engage enthusiastic local business partnerships, and they proved that literacy flourishes when reading is a fun community experience. As shown in the graphic above, this creative approach achieved incredible results:
 PEPI leaders make a positive impact in their community through teamwork, fun activities and acts of kindness. The PEPI leaders shown here as they gathered to support amazing Wake County Public School System elementary athletes. The Physical Pillar: Leading with Inclusion at Heritage High School in Wake County, NC Education extends far beyond textbooks; developing leadership, empathy, and physical health is just as essential to a student's growth. At Wake County’s Heritage High School in North Carolina, Jenifer Shepstead (Coach Shep) utilized her Langley Teacher Grant to champion this side of the student experience through the Physical Education Peer Education program—officially abbreviated as PEPI to emphasize the peer instruction at the heart of the course. The PEPI program is a popular year-long elective course for upperclassmen that trains students in leadership, lesson planning, and child development. Students in the PEPI program gain hands-on experience and build community connections through two primary avenues: Physical Education Peer Education program--officially abbreviated as PEPI to emphasize the peer instruction at the heart of the course. The PEPI program is a popular year-long elective course for upperclassmen that trains students in leadership, lesson planning, and child development Students in the PEPI program gain hands-on experience and build community connections through two primary avenues:
"Thanks to your grant, we were able to purchase supplies for these activities, support our annual Special Olympics event, and provide materials for inclusive holiday crafts and celebrations. Your support has made a meaningful impact on our students and the communities we serve." — Jenifer Shepstead, M.Ed., Heritage High School These distinct yet equally vital classroom projects are made possible through targeted, specialized funds designed to support K-12 educators right where they are:
How Your Generosity Opens Doors and Bridges Generations on the Peninsula In our last issue, we offered a high-level view of the Peninsula Community Foundation’s scholarship funds—the total dollars invested, the number of grants awarded, and the sheer volume of educational support provided with the twenty-three scholarship funds and educator grants housed at the Foundation. In this issue, we are doing something different. We are checking our homework. When a donor establishes a scholarship fund, they are making a promise to the future. They are hoping that the financial relief will clear a path for a young person to discover their potential, excel without the crushing weight of student debt, and ultimately go out to make a meaningful difference in the world. So we followed up with a few of our scholars to ask a simple question: Are the scholarships doing what we hoped? The answer is a resounding, inspiring yes. Recipients are clear that they don’t just receive funding, they understand they become a permanent part of the donors’ stories - and of Peninsula's legacy of “paying it forward.” Look at what these investments have built:
University with honors and went on to earn her MBA from Regent University School of Business and Leadership . Breaking boundaries early, she became the very first paid intern at Sentara Healthcare. Today, at just 25 years old, she is already driving impact from their corporate office as a finance consultant. Her mother, Charlene Johnson, is a Greater Peninsula Impact 100 member and serves on the board of Healthy Families Partnership. Charlene shared with us that her family is incredibly grateful for how these opportunities intertwined to set Raegan up for success right here at home.
assigned by the NATO Centre of Excellence, traveling to Romania to present cross-cultural engagement research in person. She wrote an honors thesis on integrating Afghan refugees into the U.S. using language-teaching strategies, which was promptly published in an online academic journal. Madison recently graduated completely debt-free. Her next stop? She just received a prestigious Fulbright Grant (the most widely recognized and prestigious international exchange program) to serve as an English Teaching Assistant in Senegal. "The financial assistance made all of this possible," Madison told us. "Now I am well set up to pursue opportunities in Senegal and beyond!"
courses. "Mentoring these students significantly impacted my perspective on my own academics and reinforced the importance of encouragement in education," Cannon shared. As he prepares for medical school, he left our donors with a message: "Thank you again for planting a seed in my educational growth to do great things for the world around us." Our homework is done, and the results are clear: your generosity is doing exactly what it was meant to do. Every scholarship recipient carries a piece of the Peninsula's legacy with them wherever they go, and your generosity is transforming local potential into global progress. Thank you for planting the seeds that allow our community’s brightest minds to grow, lead, and change the world.
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