"CHAIN OF CHECKS" AWARDS $40,000 IN GRANTS ON THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY!

The Chain of Checks charitable fund sponsored by the Community Foundation of the Northern Shenandoah Valley is proud to announce that $40,000 in grants have been awarded to eight local non-profits. $8,000 grants were awarded to:

• Seniors First – Home Delivered Meals is a lifeline for homebound older adults, empowering them to live independently with dignity. Dedicated volunteers deliver 5 nutritious meals weekly and provide vital safety checks and social interaction for isolated seniors.


• Love to NIC, LLC provides 50 high quality meals (chosen by the guests) each month to local individuals experiencing homelessness. In addition to the meal, new shoes, socks, t-shirts, rain gear and other basic necessities are provided with the aim of restoring strength and dignity.


• Sinclair Health Clinic in Winchester provides comprehensive medical care to 2,800 uninsured and underinsured individuals annually. The grant funds will support the replacement and enhancement of outdated equipment including diagnostic tools, pharmacy equipment and point-of-care testing devices, ensuring every patient receives the high-quality care they deserve.


• Concern Hotline, Inc. has been providing 24-hour suicide prevention and compassionate listening to the Northern Shenandoah Valley since 1968 with over 3,000 calls in 2024. The grant will help Concern Hotline continue to comfort, calm and assist those in need with empathetic support via trained volunteers.

Due to the outpouring of community love through donations, Chain of Checks was able to provide 4 additional $2,000 grants to: NW Works, Families Reaching Out Group, Highland Food Pantry and the Blue Ridge Housing Network.

Applications for the grants were submitted online through the Community Foundation NSV and then reviewed by the Foundation’s community-conscious selection committee. The $40,000 campaign dollars were accumulated from a variety of sources:

• Chain of Checks corporate sponsors, Bill & Lois Reynolds, White House Foods (the Gum family) and Bank of Clarke (Stephens City Branch)


• Half the proceeds from opening night of Frederick County Parks and Rec’s “Winter Wonderland”


• Christmas movie fundraisers hosted by Alamo Drafthouse Cinema & the Nerangis family


• Canisters (change boxes to change lives) at 24 businesses including 14 Handy Mart/Dunkin’ Donuts locations, Solenberger’s Hardware, and Rotz Pharmacy


• Clarke County Community Band’s Berryville and Winchester Christmas concerts


• Beautiful on-line and mailed-in donations from individuals and businesses.

Barry Lee, founder of the Chain of Checks said: "What a way to celebrate our campaign’s 40th anniversary! Our original goal was to provide four $5,000 grants but the money kept coming in, so we were able to share this community’s big heart by expanding our original grants, plus adding four more!"

Applications for the 2026 Chain of Checks campaign will open through the Community Foundation of Northern Shenandoah Valley website in late spring at www.cfnsv.org

For more information contact Nancy Croft Baker, Executive Director of the Community Foundation (email: director@CFNSV.org) and the Chain of Checks website, www.chainofchecks.com

About Chain of Checks

The Chain of Checks campaign to support local non-profits was founded by Barry Lee in 1986. In 2013 the Community Foundation of Northern Shenandoah Valley became the campaign’s fiscal agent and helped create an endowment that will serve community charities forever.

*Community Foundation of Northern Shenandoah Valley: 540-869-6776, Nancy Croft Baker, Executive Director

*Chain of Checks: Barry Lee, 540-409-6929 (email-BreakfastWithBarryLee@gmail.com)

Donations may be made safely online at www.chainofchecks.com or by mail with checks made out to ‘Chain of Checks’ and mailed to Community Foundation NSV, P.O. Box 2391, Winchester, VA 22604

This donation link will take you to the Community Foundation of the Northern Shenandoah Valley
website who will process your donation.

Your donation is tax deductible

2025 CHAIN OF CHECKS
PHOTO GALLERY

2025 Corporate Sponsors, Bill and Lois Reynolds

2025 Corporate Sponsor - White House Foods / The Gum Family

2025 Corporate Sponsors, Bank of Clarke - Stephens City

Since 2002, the Frederick County Parks and Recreation Department has kindly shared 1/2 of the opening night proceeds from ‘Walking In A Winter Wonderland’. This year, $3,412 of community love was presented to the campaign.

The Solenberger’s Home and Hardware family and customers came through once again for the Chain of Checks with a collection of $1,200!

The Clarke County Community Band hosted three Christmas concerts for the Chain of Checks, and delivered $1,404 to the campaign!