SVBF Makes Progress in Fundraising Effort

Matching donations for $50K grant led by contribution from R.J. Turner

For immediate release—June 5, 2007
Contact:  Howard J. Kittell/SVBF Executive Director (540-740-4545)

NEW MARKET, Va. —The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation is well on its way to raising the matching funds for a grant it received last year.  So far it has raised $37,600 towards a goal of $50,000. 

In late 2006, the organization received a $50,000 grant from the Agua Fund, based in Washington, for its work to preserve, interpret, and promote the Shenandoah Valley ’s Civil War history.  The grant carries with it a requirement that the Foundation raise a one-to-one matching amount in unrestricted gifts from individuals, organizations, and corporations.

The lead donation in the campaign to raise the matching funds was made by R.J. Turner, President of Turner Real Estate, LLC.

Turner commented, “As a commercial real estate broker, I know how important communities are. When we sell a property in a particular community, Turner Real Estate gives back a portion of the net commission to organizations that serve the community in which the property is located. The donation to the Battlefields Foundation in the amount of $5,000 is based on the Foundation’s good works.”

Battlefields Foundation Chairman Dr. Irvin Hess said, “We are grateful to R.J. Turner for his lead gift in the campaign to raise the required match to the Agua grant. R.J.’s contribution has been a catalyst for other contributions. It also illustrates his efforts to balance preservation of culturally important land with appropriate new development. Private funds such as these give the Battlefields Foundation the flexibility it needs to leverage public funds and accomplish its goals.”

Foundation Executive Director Howard J. Kittell said, “We are deeply grateful to the Agua Fund for its continued support of the Battlefields Foundation. It is particularly gratifying to know that the Fund sees the Battlefields Foundation playing a meaningful role in protecting the Shenandoah Valley ’s natural and cultural landscape. This grant and matching gifts such as R.J.’s enable to the Foundation to fulfill congressional mandates for the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District.”

The Agua Fund is a family foundation based in Washington, DC .  Its environmental grants focus on the watershed of the Shenandoah River in Virginia and in southwest  Florida , supporting land trusts, watershed groups, and advocacy for resource protection.

NEW MARKET, Va. —The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation is well on its way to raising the matching funds for a grant it received last year.So far it has raised $37,600 towards a goal of $50,000.In late 2006, the organization received a $50,000 grant from the Agua Fund, based in Washington, for its work to preserve, interpret, and promote the Shenandoah Valley ’s Civil War history.The grant carries with it a requirement that the Foundation raise a one-to-one matching amount in unrestricted gifts from individuals, organizations, and corporations.The lead donation in the campaign to raise the matching funds was made by R.J. Turner, President of Turner Real Estate, LLC.Turner commented, “As a commercial real estate broker, I know how important communities are. When we sell a property in a particular community, Turner Real Estate gives back a portion of the net commission to organizations that serve the community in which the property is located. The donation to the Battlefields Foundation in the amount of $5,000 is based on the Foundation’s good works.”Battlefields Foundation Chairman Dr. Irvin Hess said, “We are grateful to R.J. Turner for his lead gift in the campaign to raise the required match to the Agua grant. R.J.’s contribution has been a catalyst for other contributions. It also illustrates his efforts to balance preservation of culturally important land with appropriate new development. Private funds such as these give the Battlefields Foundation the flexibility it needs to leverage public funds and accomplish its goals.”Foundation Executive Director Howard J. Kittell said, “We are deeply grateful to the Agua Fund for its continued support of the Battlefields Foundation. It is particularly gratifying to know that the Fund sees the Battlefields Foundation playing a meaningful role in protecting the Shenandoah Valley ’s natural and cultural landscape. This grant and matching gifts such as R.J.’s enable to the Foundation to fulfill congressional mandates for the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District.”The Agua Fund is a family foundation based in Washington, DC .Its environmental grants focus on the watershed of the Shenandoah River in Virginia and in southwest  Florida , supporting land trusts, watershed groups, and advocacy for resource protection.

 

(Note: Click the link at the end of this release to download a print-resolution photo of SVBF Executive Director Howard Kittell, R. J. Turner, and SVBF Chairman Irvin Hess. Photo credit: SVBF.)

--------------------------------

As authorized by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation serves as the non-profit manager of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District, partnering with local, regional, and national organizations and governments to preserve the Valley’s battlefields and interpret and promote the region’s Civil War story.

Created by Congress in 1996, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District encompasses Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Highland, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren counties in Virginia and the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Winchester .  The legislation authorizes federal funding for the protection of ten battlefields in the District: Second Winchester, Third Winchester, Second Kernstown, Cedar Creek, Fisher’s Hill, Tom’s Brook, New Market, Cross Keys, Port Republic , and McDowell.

--------------------------------

ON THE WEB:

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation and
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District:
www.ShenandoahAtWar.org

National Park Service 1992 study of the Shenandoah Valley ’s Civil War battlefields:
http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/shenandoah/svs0-1.html

Agua Fund
www.aguafund.org

NEW MARKET, Va. —The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation is well on its way to raising the matching funds for a grant it received last year.So far it has raised $37,600 towards a goal of $50,000.In late 2006, the organization received a $50,000 grant from the Agua Fund, based in Washington, for its work to preserve, interpret, and promote the Shenandoah Valley ’s Civil War history.The grant carries with it a requirement that the Foundation raise a one-to-one matching amount in unrestricted gifts from individuals, organizations, and corporations.The lead donation in the campaign to raise the matching funds was made by R.J. Turner, President of Turner Real Estate, LLC.Turner commented, “As a commercial real estate broker, I know how important communities are. When we sell a property in a particular community, Turner Real Estate gives back a portion of the net commission to organizations that serve the community in which the property is located. The donation to the Battlefields Foundation in the amount of $5,000 is based on the Foundation’s good works.”Battlefields Foundation Chairman Dr. Irvin Hess said, “We are grateful to R.J. Turner for his lead gift in the campaign to raise the required match to the Agua grant. R.J.’s contribution has been a catalyst for other contributions. It also illustrates his efforts to balance preservation of culturally important land with appropriate new development. Private funds such as these give the Battlefields Foundation the flexibility it needs to leverage public funds and accomplish its goals.”Foundation Executive Director Howard J. Kittell said, “We are deeply grateful to the Agua Fund for its continued support of the Battlefields Foundation. It is particularly gratifying to know that the Fund sees the Battlefields Foundation playing a meaningful role in protecting the Shenandoah Valley ’s natural and cultural landscape. This grant and matching gifts such as R.J.’s enable to the Foundation to fulfill congressional mandates for the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District.”The Agua Fund is a family foundation based in Washington, DC .Its environmental grants focus on the watershed of the Shenandoah River in Virginia and in southwest  Florida , supporting land trusts, watershed groups, and advocacy for resource protection.

 

NEW MARKET, Va. —The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation is well on its way to raising the matching funds for a grant it received last year.So far it has raised $37,600 towards a goal of $50,000.In late 2006, the organization received a $50,000 grant from the Agua Fund, based in Washington, for its work to preserve, interpret, and promote the Shenandoah Valley ’s Civil War history.The grant carries with it a requirement that the Foundation raise a one-to-one matching amount in unrestricted gifts from individuals, organizations, and corporations.The lead donation in the campaign to raise the matching funds was made by R.J. Turner, President of Turner Real Estate, LLC.Turner commented, “As a commercial real estate broker, I know how important communities are. When we sell a property in a particular community, Turner Real Estate gives back a portion of the net commission to organizations that serve the community in which the property is located. The donation to the Battlefields Foundation in the amount of $5,000 is based on the Foundation’s good works.”Battlefields Foundation Chairman Dr. Irvin Hess said, “We are grateful to R.J. Turner for his lead gift in the campaign to raise the required match to the Agua grant. R.J.’s contribution has been a catalyst for other contributions. It also illustrates his efforts to balance preservation of culturally important land with appropriate new development. Private funds such as these give the Battlefields Foundation the flexibility it needs to leverage public funds and accomplish its goals.”Foundation Executive Director Howard J. Kittell said, “We are deeply grateful to the Agua Fund for its continued support of the Battlefields Foundation. It is particularly gratifying to know that the Fund sees the Battlefields Foundation playing a meaningful role in protecting the Shenandoah Valley ’s natural and cultural landscape. This grant and matching gifts such as R.J.’s enable to the Foundation to fulfill congressional mandates for the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District.”The Agua Fund is a family foundation based in Washington, DC .Its environmental grants focus on the watershed of the Shenandoah River in Virginia and in southwest  Florida , supporting land trusts, watershed groups, and advocacy for resource protection.

 

###

Download the supporting file for this release