Since 1998, the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation has awarded $13,446,745 to more than 90 nonprofits serving Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, York County, and Gloucester County; as well as to Mary Immaculate Hospital and the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters to continue their ministries.
Freekind exists to prevent human trafficking in our communities and support local survivors on their journey to freedom. We do this through awareness presentations, specialized training, education for middle and high school students, and direct services to survivors. Uniquely, we offer a jail-based class to identify victims cycling in and out of the system and offer them a pathway out of abuse.
“The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation has helped sustain our Offramps program, enabling us to serve over 200 unique survivors each year. In addition, we have had access to the valuable pro bono assistance through Catchafire. We have also benefitted from the Entrepreneurial Thinking Cohorts, giving us the tools to pursue strategies that make us less dependent on grants.”
Edmarc hosted an unforgettable experience for families at Camp M.A.G.I.C. (My Active Grieving Instills Courage), thanks in part to funding from the Foundation. Camp M.A.G.I.C. is a place of solace where families come together to find a soft landing from the burden of grief. Our goal is to remind them they’re not alone in their journey. As one mom said, “Edmarc created a home for our family’s grief through holding this weekend.”
“The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation has helped Edmarc in so many ways—a grant for our expansion, educational opportunities, and Camp M.A.G.I.C.. We have also benefitted from Catchafire, accomplishing projects beyond what our own resources would allow.”
which will soon be expanded,
thanks in part to the Foundation.
Funding from the Foundation will help St. Mary’ Home open two new group homes to support individuals who can no longer be served on our main campus. These group homes will serve between eight and ten medically fragile individuals who are exceedingly difficult to place in suitable facilities that meet both their medical and social needs based on a variety of health conditions, their ages, and desires for community interaction, nearly doubling our capacity to support adults with disabilities.
“St. Mary’s Home is beyond grateful for the support we have received from the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation. These funds will help us expand our services in two new group homes, supporting some of our community’s most fragile, but incredibly deserving young people. We could not do this work without partners like BFSF.”
With the help of funding from the Foundation, Rural Housing Partnership helped make a home more accessible for an elderly 80-year-old man who suffers from heart and mobility issues.
“Funding from the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation made it possible for Rural Housing Partnership to purchase a new Volunteer Work Trailer to provide low income 60+ homeowners with home repairs so they can live sustainably and safely in their homes.”
The Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic serves uninsured and Medicaid patients in Gloucester, Mathews, and surrounding areas. The Foundation recently provided partial funding for key staff positions at the Clinic.
“The ongoing education funds have helped us with professional development and capacity-building. Last year, I took an online course in disaster preparation for non-profits and was able to create a business continuity plan in the event we are unable to operate in our facility due to some disaster. We appreciate all the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation does to help strengthen the nonprofit community!”
Care Net Peninsula serves women facing unplanned pregnancies on the Peninsula. Funding from the Foundation enabled them to open a brand new facility in Newport News.
“Care Net Peninsula has been blessed to partner with the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation on several programs over the years. The Foundation was a generous partner in helping build our new facility so we can serve even more local women in crisis.”
The Foundation provided funding to Virginia Living Museum to help sustain their science education, animal welfare, and conservation programs.
“We are very grateful for support from the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation that enabled us to expand our education programs.”
ECHO Family Care Partners works to care for isolated families to bring stability and connection and to eliminate the need for foster care interventions.
“The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation has been a gift to us in multiple ways. We received a grant in Spring 2024 to aid with operational expenses…This was a great support to us and allowed us to make improvements to our website and database, add other technology resources, physical equipment, and rent much needed storage space. “We’re grateful to Sister David Ann and the entire Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation for this generous gift.”
Communities In Schools of Hampton Roads is a nonprofit
organization committed to offering holistic support for students,
encompassing both academic and non-academic needs.
“We are grateful for the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation’s generous $15,000 contribution toward our students’ Basic Needs. This support provides critical assistance with food, rent, and clothing, helping not only our students but their entire families overcome daily challenges. Together, we are breaking barriers so every child can stay focused on learning and success.
Last year, the Foundation provided funding to THRIVE Peninsula for their capital campaign to raise funds for The Market, the Peninsula’s first free grocery store. This grant was a result of THRIVE’s participation in the Entrepreneurial Thinking Cohorts, offered by the Foundation, in partnership with NetworkPeninsula.
“The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation has invested in THRIVE for several years in various ways. THRIVE utilizes a Catchafire which has connected us to skilled volunteers including website builders and graphic designers to enhance our marketing efforts. Last year, the Foundation provided that allowed us move and add controllable streams of revenue. In previous years, the Foundation has provided funds for rent assistance for families in crisis, and provided a grant to enhance our tech capacity.”
SAME (So All May Eat) received funding from the Foundation to further their work loving neighbor as self in downtown Hampton. The Foundation supplied funds for a refrigerator and a dishwasher, both integral to being able to serve a hot meal each Monday to 100 to 140 guests.
“Without the emergency funds we received from the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation, we would have had to shut down our hot meal program for an extended period while we sourced the funding for a new refrigerator. The Foundation enables small organizations like SAME to continue our work as we walk with our neighbors who are facing food insecurity.”
VersAbility Resources received funding from the Foundation for Able Acres, a program dedicated to fostering independence and inclusion for adults with intellectual disabilities.
“Support from the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation enabled the program to expand access to community activities, assistive technology, and skill-building opportunities that empower participants to navigate daily life with confidence. The impact of this funding has been profound, fostering a sense of belonging and self-sufficiency among individuals who benefit from meaningful engagement in their communities.”
Serve the City Peninsula connects people on the Peninsula to meaningful opportunities to serve. Funding from the Foundation enabled them to purchase a volunteer management and donor management system to improve their efficiency.
“CNU students often comment about how easy it is to sign up to serve with Serve the City Peninsula because of Helper Helper, our new volunteer management system that was funded by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation. The Helper Helper app make is a great tool to easily connect with STCP.”
Coastal Homeschool Academy offers an individualized program for students in grades 1-12. Their goal is to help students love learning and to thrive in a nurturing environment.
“We are grateful to the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation for their ongoing education grant which has allowed us to provide our staff with quality professional development opportunities. We have attended seminars and purchased subscriptions to educational sites that continually help us grow.”
Soundscapes instills transformative life skills in youth, primarily from underserved communities, in our region through intensive music study and frequent ensemble performances.
“The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation demonstrates its commitment to our community’s youth by investing in organizations like Soundscapes. In 2023, their generous support helped Soundscapes revitalize the Peninsula Youth Orchestra (PYO) after a hiatus during the pandemic.
The Newport News Green Foundation is dedicated to the creation and preservation of green space throughout the city of Newport News.
“The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation’s generous support helped fund the maintenance of the Sarfan Food Forest, a 5.02-acre green space in the Southeast community of Newport News. By addressing the critical need for green space maintenance and supporting forward-thinking initiatives like the Sarfan Food Forest, both Foundations continue to make strides toward creating a healthier, more vibrant community.”
