January/February 2016 Chamber Magazine FINAL

The Fredericksburg REALTORS ® Foundation
Awards $3,000 Grant to Empowerhouse
The Fredericksburg REALTORS® Foundation recently
presented a $3,000 grant to Empowerhouse, a local
organization providing assistance to victims of domestic
violence. The grant money will go towards Empowerhouse’s
housing assistance program.
The Foundation raises funds at FAAR events to help support
housing non-profits throughout the Fredericksburg region.
The Foundation has
granted out over
$16,000 so far this year.
The Foundation was
established in 1990 and
is made up of nine
volunteer Governors.
From left: Foundation Governor Donna Schmidt, Empowerhouse
Executive Director Kathy Anderson, Foundation President Mary Beth
Rich, Foundation Governor Mark Geslock, Foundation Governor
Natalie Holt
The Doctor Yum Project has received
a $30,000 Mary Washington Hospital
Community Benefit Fund grant.
Started by pediatrician Nimali
Fernando, the nonprofit
organization is dedicated to
educating locals about the link
between food and health. A press release announced the
grant Wednesday and said the funds will help support the
development of a “Healthy Eating and Living” website tool
to help combat obesity in the Fredericksburg area.
The tool is designed to aide physicians in making nutrition
part of their treatment plan while helping families overcome
barriers to cooking by providing information and instruction.
UMW ranked 20 th of
most tech advanced
colleges
The University of Mary Washington has been ranked 20th
on the list of the “50 Most Technologically Advanced Small
Colleges” by The Best Colleges Online 2015, according to a
university press release.
In addition, the College Affordability Guide has recognized
UMW as “Virginia’s most affordable college” and rated 13 of
its academic programs as the most affordable degrees in the
country.
The Best Colleges Online considered technology awards,
progressive science and technology degrees offered and
advanced campus technology offerings in its list. UMW was
the only Virginia school on the list and was recognized for its
Hurley Convergence Center.
The College Affordability Guide considers cost for average
and low-income students and program credit flexibility,
among other metrics. Academic programs recognized
include biology, chemistry, computer science, economics,
English, fine arts, foreign language, history, math, MBA
programs, psychology and sociology.
New Veterans Services office
opens in Spotsylvania
The Virginia Department of Veterans
Services opened its first benefits
office in Spotsylvania County on
Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony headlined by Gov.
Terry McAuliffe. The office is off U.S. 1 on Spotsylvania
Avenue in one of the former Capital One office buildings.
The office has two veteran services representatives, a veteran
services administrator and a regional manager on staff to
assist veterans and their family members in filing claims for
federal benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The state Department of Veterans Services’ new benefits office
in Fredericksburg will serve as a link between area veterans,
their families and the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.
The local office at 10300 Spotsylvania Ave., Suite 290, is open
for walk-ins from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday–Friday. Assistance
or information about pensions require an appointment, which
can be made by calling 540/376-7298.
Ron Rosner donates $100,000
to grants for literacy programs
Two Spotsylvania County elementary
schools received a major boost for
literacy from Ron Rosner at a School
Board meeting Monday.
Rosner, owner of the Rosner Automotive
Group, and his wife, Nancy, presented Ron Rosner
a $100,000 startup grant to the School
Board to help create the division’s Literacy Partnership Program.
The program, which will launch at Brock Road and
Wilderness elementary schools, is “designed for students
who find reading and writing difficult.”
U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman,
R-1st District, plans to run
for governor in 2017
The Westmoreland County Republican,
who represents much of the
Fredericksburg area in Congress, said he
will stand first for re-election next year.
Rob Wittman
Wittman said that race, and helping a
Republican win the White House, will be
his “sole focus.” But he also acknowledged a need to prepare
for the governor’s race, particularly as long-time Republican
fundraiser Ed Gillespie’s own gubernatorial campaign gathers
momentum.
“It’s a balancing act, and we want to make sure we get the
balance right,” Wittman said.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 Fredericksburg Regional Business 23