Michelle Eberly, program officer with the Foundation for Roanoke Valley, recently presented a check for $1,820 to Herman L. Horn art teacher Ginny Patrick and Principal Peggy Stovall to be used in the art program at the school.
According to Eberly, the Foundation for Roanoke Valley is the region’s Community Foundation and has been helping individuals, families, nonprofit organizations and others establish permanent charitable legacies since 1988. She coordinates many of the grant programs and scholarships and works closely with donors, nonprofit organizations, and students.
The Foundation administers over 325 named endowment funds with total assets exceeding $65 million and works to connect philanthropic resources with important community needs, awarding more than $3.5 million annually.
The Foundation serves the cities of Roanoke, Salem, Lexington and Martinsville, the counties of Roanoke, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Henry, and Alleghany, and other surrounding areas.
The Melva P. Jones Fund for Music and Art is one of the component funds of the Foundation which provides annual support for music and art programs and organizations with a preference for those which benefit the citizens of Vinton.
Earlier this year, Eberly contacted Patrick and asked if she was working on a project that needed extra funding as “a little extra had become available and presented an opportunity for programs in Vinton schools.”
At the time, Patrick’s art classes were focused on a unit of study about Australia and its wildlife, including its famous Great Barrier Reef. Students were working with Artist in Residence Shellie Bruner on mural painting. Bruner created a colorful mural of the Great Barrier Reef on the glass window of the art room at HLH during several days in April
Patrick created a “wish list” for the Foundation grant funds, including purchasing eight-foot display rails to showcase student work in the halls.
“We currently use tape on the walls, but with the cement/cinderblock walls, the art work only stays on the walls for a couple of days before rolling off, therefore, having display rails installed on the walls will eliminate the need of tape,” said Patrick. “It’s more aesthetic, too.”
“We have already purchased and received our clay order that we bought with the funds,” said Patrick. “The students were able to create the fish from the Great Barrier Reef to tie into our Australian unit. We were also able to purchase a Professional Development packet through the Art of Education and the National Arts Education Association. It was such a blessing to be able to receive these funds through the Melva P. Jones Art fund/grant.”
Each year Patrick has introduced her art students at Herman L. Horn to the variety of careers an artist could have. She invites local artists to her classroom to show the students what his or her career is and involves. Bruner was the guest artist in 2018.
