Appointed and elected
Paul Muse, CEO of Newport News-based 1st Advantage Federal Credit Union, was reelected to a three-year term as treasurer of the Virginia Credit Union League’s board of directors.
Awards and honors
Lawson’s Market Heights Apartments in Norfolk was awarded the Home Builders Association of Virginia Multifamily Project of the Year Award. The property is a 164-unit income-restricted, 100% affordable low income housing tax credit community in Norfolk’s St. Paul’s district. Seventeen apartments are accessible 504-compliant units and 80 units are of universal design. All indoor and outdoor common spaces exceed accessibility standards. It’s the first property approved under Norfolk’s new resilience code mandating specific resilient measures applying to flooding, energy efficiency and building integrity. The site has been raised out of the flood plain and includes a new public sidewalk that improves safety for students walking to the neighboring middle school. A $100,000 grant from LISC Hampton Roads powered by Sentara Health will fund a food pantry, accessible fitness equipment and a resident telehealth booth for residents. The company also partnered with Hope House Foundation and Volunteers of America to provide permanent on-site supportive services for residents with disabilities.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Newport News was recognized by the Public Relations Society of America with three Anvil Awards. The lab’s Fall for Science Virtual Field Trip, created in response to COVID-19 restrictions, was awarded a Bronze Anvil Award in the website category. The full digital platform built to support the website and event was honored with a Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation in the digital platform category. The lab was awarded the Silver Anvil Award of Excellence for the virtual field trip in the events and observances category.
Fundraisers
The Langley for Families Foundation raised more than $535,000 in gross profits at its 9th Annual Charity Golf Classic in Williamsburg on May 16. Net proceeds from the event will be granted to area nonprofits in the areas of health care, housing and human services, and access to education.
Grants and donations
Access College Foundation awarded five $25,000 scholarships to exceptional local students. They include: Manor High School graduate Brooke Pearce, who won the Margaret M. “Peggy” and Conrad M. Hall Scholarship; Landstown High School graduate Aleah Johnson, who won the Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic Scholarship; Salem High School graduate Tatyana Calloway, who won the Robert M. Stanton Memorial Scholarship; Indian River High School graduate Jevae’ Copeland, who won the Joan P. and Macon F. Brock, Jr. Scholarship; and Lakeland High School graduate Alexis Perkins, who won the Anne B. Shumadine Scholarship.
Church of the Holy Family in Virginia Beach was awarded a $750 Green Grant in the recycling category to create a drop-off location for food scrap composting as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 13th Annual Green Grants Program. The church will become a weekly drop-off location for people to bring their food scraps to a composting bin, which will be picked up weekly by Natural Organic Process Enterprises for processing.
Lynnhaven River NOW was awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the litter prevention category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 13th Annual Green Grants Program. Funds provided by program will be used to purchase cleanup tools, such as wheelbarrows, litter grabbers, children’s litter grabbers and safety vests to replace broken equipment and provide additional equipment.
Coastal VA STEM Hub, a regional science, technology, engineering and math learning ecosystem, announced the grant awards for educators and nonprofits in the region to establish new STEM-focused initiatives, activities and programming. The competitive application process resulted in awarding grants to 20 organizations totaling nearly $450,000. Recipients include, among others, Newport News’ Brooks Crossing Innovation + Opportunity Center, Virginia Partnership for Out-of-School Time, Nauticus Foundation and Virginia Living Museum. Additionally, the hub was invited to join the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice, a global movement devoted to advancing STEM learning opportunities for all.
Opening
7 Brew, a drive-thru coffee stand franchise, announced the brand’s expansion to Newport News by dropping the stand from a crane on site at 5018 W. Mercury Blvd. As part of its mission to make an impact in the communities it serves, the company donated $2,000 to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Newport News.
