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Success Stories

Everybody has a story. Scrolling through the stories on this page, you may read about Nevadans now gone, who cared about your future. You may read about current fundholders and learn what inspires their generosity. There are posts that tell the story of game-changing grants. All of the stories reflect a person's caring about community, connection, and action.

Community Foundation Honored as EDAWN's Community Partner of the Year 2021

October 28, 2021

At the 2021 EDAWN Existing Industry Awards, the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada was honored as "Community Partner of the Year" --...

Meggin McIntosh Knows Donor Advised Funds Enhance Giving

May 16, 2021

It was not always easy for me, and I knew early on after I paid off my student loans that I wanted to be able to give back. I like to give a boost to women who do not give up – to let them know that somebody sees them and cares.

Reno Youth Network is now Managed by Eddy House

April 08, 2021

As of April 2021,  the Community Foundation's Youth Network Initiative (YOU'N-I) concluded, and the Eddy House has taken over RenoYouthNetwork.com (RYN) administration,...

Mary Bisoni Leaves Legacy to Eureka Nevada

December 03, 2020

Mary Bisoni talked with me about life in the historic mining town of Eureka in 2014 at the time she included the Community Foundation in her estate plans.

Gere Clark's Donor Advised Fund Simplifies Her Giving

September 04, 2020

Gere Clark was referred to the Community Foundation by her financial advisor, John Dooley. Read how her Donor Advised Fund enriches her life.

Stewardship of a Legacy

January 23, 2020

Rodger “Andy” Anderson made a bequest in 2006 in honor of his wife, Dora De Anderson, who died as a young woman....

GIAR Scholarship - Honoring Initiative, Celebrating Promise

January 22, 2020

The GIAR scholarship was established by Jim and Gail Pfrommer to honor their grandmothers. It helps first-generation women from immigrant parents pursue...

Lasting Change Doesn't Happen Overnight

November 06, 2019

Community Foundation Trustee and Fundholder, Lilli Trinchero, an advocate for the elimination of bullying has made real change in Washoe County. Her...

Anonymous Bequest Helps Rural Rescue Kennel

November 01, 2019

Thanks to an anonymous bequest designated to help our region's homeless pets, a rescue kennel in Yerington, Nevada was able to expand...

Family's Gift Supports Workforce Housing

December 27, 2018

The Gorelick Family's Donor Advised Fund Opens Doors Allison Gorelick sought out the Community Foundation as she and a fellow real estate developer...

Kopfhammer Legacy Fund Completes Life Story

November 01, 2018

Surviving a childhood that rivals a movie script, Betty Kopfhammer grew into a person of spirit and drive whose later years were...

Keith and Sunny Mentzer - Gift of Property Creates Scholarship

October 03, 2018

Apply for the Foster Children Education Scholarship Keith and Sunny were a type prevalent in midcentury northern Nevada.  Frugal, hardworking, with roots...

Update on Community Foundation Philanthropy in Africa

June 29, 2018

Our Community, and Our World Continued The last time I wrote a column was in May, just before my wife and I headed...

Smile!

March 23, 2018

All scholarships are an act of faith. Donors believe their investment and encouragement will improve the life of a Nevada student and...

Tod Sherman Found Answers in the Caregiver Support Initiative

February 15, 2018

"There was nothing out there that tells us what's available or where to go. I felt that I was blazing my own...

Jet Trails are the Inspiration Behind the Community Foundation

February 02, 2018

According to Community Foundation Founder, Jim Webster, the Community Foundation was being organized in the winter of 1997 when a he got...

Celebrate Diversity Fund - Collaborating for Change

February 02, 2018

Teamwork Helped Win Federal Grant For School District It is a dream of mine to help people feel safe and accepted for just...

Desert Rat Jack Bobbitt Left Estate to Help Lovelock’s Children.  

February 02, 2018

Seven years of Jack Montrose Bobbitt fund grants are adding up to make a big difference for the children in the small...

Read With Me Preschool Scholarship Offers Full Year of Tuition

February 02, 2018

The Community Foundation of Western Nevada offers this unique opportunity for very young children. Parents and legal guardians are eligible to apply...

Ethical Will Communicates Your Values

February 02, 2018

Download your Ethical Will Guide The "you", you leave behind. An ethical will is a way to gather your thoughts on your most valuable...

The Truckee River Fund Protects our Water Source

February 02, 2018

Since the first grant in January 2006 more than $11 million in grants has flowed through the Truckee River Fund to take care...

Gift of Rare Violin is Reno Teacher's Legacy

February 02, 2018

"I will pass on an instrument of beauty to our community." Daughter contributes her mother’s 18th-century Testore violin, and money for its upkeep, to the...

Community Foundation's First Impact Investment is Affordable Housing in Reno

February 02, 2018

Impact investing has been gaining traction nationwide as community foundation's leverage more impact from charitable dollars by looking for mission-related investments. A...

Teacher's Chance Meeting in Airport Bar Results in Life Changing Scholarships

February 02, 2018

"We  can only live the stories  we have been told." Carolyn Heilbrun The Serendipity Scholarship got its name from a chance encounter. 12 years ago, in...

Soroptimist International of Truckee Meadows Fund Supports Women's Education in Thulipokhari, Nepal

February 02, 2018

Stepping off the beaten path While most of the grants from the Community Foundation stay within our community, this is the story of...

The Sky's the Limit. Philanthropy Supports the Perlan Project to the Edge of Space.

February 02, 2018

Imagine an engineless aircraft reaching the edge of space. A wonderful aspect of philanthropy is that it can be a singularly personal reflection...

High School Giving Circle a Hallmark of the Community Foundation

February 02, 2018

High School Giving Circle began as an experiment and is now a hallmark of the Community Foundation Where would you grant $10,000 to...

Chief Master Sergeant Gerald L. Larson Nevada Air National Guard Scholarship

December 20, 2017

Complete Eligibility Quiz The Chief Master Sergeant Gerald L. Larson Nevada Air National Guard Scholarship provides support for active enlisted members of...

Dickson Realty Spotlight on Community Foundation of Western Nevada with Chris Askin

May 04, 2017

Dickson Realty Spotlight on Community Foundation of Western Nevada with Chris Askin from Dickson Realty on Vimeo. Dickson Realty partnered with This is...

Connecting Teddy Bears with Police and Sheriffs Department

January 25, 2017

In the days before Christmas, former a Community Foundation staff member answered a phone call from a woman who collects Teddy Bears....

I Miss Elizabeth Mollath

November 10, 2016

I miss Elizabeth Mollath. She was one of the finest people I have known. I met Elizabeth because she was our Landlady...

Earning Trust - Honoring a Legacy

March 24, 2016

The Community Foundation received an estate distribution from a client of  Reno Attorney, Gordon Muir. The client included the  Community Foundation as...

Dangberg Home Ranch Endowment

February 18, 2016

The Dangberg family were living on the ranch home as Nevada became a state. Through a new endowment fund with the Community...

Young and Living on the Reno Streets "This is Homelessness"

April 20, 2015

"By the end of the second day a father and young son crossed the street so they wouldn't pass me on the...

Supporting Safe Schools for 10 years

February 26, 2014

For Immediate Release February 24, 2014 Community Foundation of Western Nevada Supporting Safe Schools for 10 years. From: Community Foundation of Western Nevada Contact: Chris Askin,...

Langson Family Fund Dental Grant

December 05, 2013

One Family's Concern Brought Bright Smiles to 75 Small Faces The young adults of the Langson family from Carson City were given an...