FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Jamee Rodgers, PhD., CEO, The Community Foundation
Phone: 540-373-9292 x120
The Amazon Rappahannock Region Community Fund (Amazon Fund) Continues to Create Opportunity for Local Youth and Outdoor Access
The power of community giving often shines brightest through the lives it changes. In the winter of 2025, high school students participating in the Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) program discussed ways to fund two projects they saw as meaningful to our community. While YIP typically grants one $10,000 award, participants were eager to advocate for additional fund in support of projects that would directly benefit youth in Planning District 16. Thanks to additional contributions through the Amazon Fund, two local organizations—Girls on the Run Piedmont and Friends of the Rappahannock—are expanding opportunities for young people across our region in meaningful and lasting ways.
These investments reflect the Amazon Fund’s continued commitment to strengthening communities through programs that promote confidence, inclusion, health, and access.
Building Confidence One Step at a Time
At Girls on the Run Piedmont, support from the Amazon Fund is helping remove financial barriers so more girls can participate in a program designed to strengthen confidence, resilience, and self-worth.
This season’s Hello, Superstar curriculum encourages girls to embrace who they are, use their voice, and believe they can do hard things.
For one participant, called Ava, the journey began quietly. She spent her first few practices standing on the sidelines, unsure if she belonged. With patient encouragement from her coach and the support of her team, Ava slowly began to step forward—joining conversations, participating in runs, and setting a goal to complete one lap without stopping.
Now, just weeks later, she is preparing to cross the starting line of her first 5K.
Her story is a reminder that confidence is not always loud or immediate. Often, it is built little by little—in safe spaces, through caring mentorship, and in the moments when a child chooses to try again.
Because of this support, more girls like Ava can discover their strength long before they ever reach a finish line.
Expanding Access to Nature for Every Child
At Friends of the Rappahannock, a $10,000 gift from the Amazon Fund is helping make outdoor education more accessible for students with mobility challenges.
The organization is currently exploring the purchase of an all-terrain wheelchair designed to safely navigate natural surfaces such as mulch, rocks, and tree roots—terrain that traditional wheelchairs often cannot manage.
Each year, FOR welcomes more than 8,000 students to its nature preserve in Fredericksburg for hands-on environmental learning experiences along the Rappahannock River. This new equipment would help ensure that all students, regardless of mobility limitations, can fully participate in those experiences.
FOR educators say the need is clear. They have seen firsthand the challenges faced by students and paraprofessionals attempting to navigate trails with standard wheelchairs. This investment moves them closer to a future where no child is left on the sidelines of outdoor learning.
Investing in a Stronger Future
Whether helping a young girl find her confidence or ensuring every student can explore the outdoors, these additional Amazon Fund contributions are creating real impact where it matters most.
The Community Foundation is proud to help steward partnerships that turn generosity into opportunity—and to celebrate the organizations doing transformative work every day across our region.
Learn more about the Amazon Rappahannock Region Community Fund at https://www.cfrrr.org/apply/amazon-rappahannock-region-community-fund/
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About The Community Foundation
The Community Foundation is a tax-exempt public charity dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the more than 407,000 residents of Planning District 16, including the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford. We partner with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations united by a shared purpose—strengthening our region through thoughtful, impactful philanthropy.
Since inception, the Community Foundation has invested more than $24.8 million in grants and scholarships to support the people, programs, and initiatives that define and uplift our community. Today, we steward 226 named charitable funds established by donors to address a wide range of causes—from education and workforce development to human services, the arts, and community vitality.
Beyond grantmaking, the Foundation serves as a trusted philanthropic leader and resource. We have provided more than 8,000 hours of education and training for local nonprofits, equipping organizations with the knowledge, tools, and connections needed to maximize their impact and build long-term sustainability.
With more than $60 million in net assets under management, the Community Foundation maintains a strong financial foundation and a long-term commitment to responsible stewardship. Our strength ensures that the charitable legacies entrusted to us continue to serve this region—today and for generations to come.
For more information, please call (540) 373-9292, email info@cfrrr.org or visit www.cfrrr.org.