Northern Virginia organizations received nearly 18 percent of the state’s $36.7 million worth of grants.
The grants, given to nonstate agencies, were included in Virginia’s $72 billion, two-year budget. Arts, health and other groups based in Northern Virginia received nearly $6.5 million.
The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Arts topped Northern Virginia allocations with a $1.25 million grant. Another sizable grant of $600,000 was given to Birmingham Green, an adult managed care facility in Manassas that is owned by the counties of Northern Virginia.
Six military museums, including the national museums of the Marines and U.S. Army, received a total of $2.5 million. Arlington’s Doorways for Women and Families, a shelter for abused families, was allotted $137,500. The Chantilly Youth Association, which runs little league programs, received $7,500. SERVE homeless shelter in Prince William was given $20,000.
Commenting on his work to give funding to the Wolf Trap foundation, Del. Vince Callahan, D-McLean, said, “It does not pay for the opera singers … It is for kids in need and instructing them in the arts.”
The funding is matched with private donations to run teaching training and classes for early childhood education programs from infants to 5-year-olds, said Mimi Flaherty, senior director of education for the foundation. The classes are held throughout the state and in the Vienna amphitheater.
“Even though Wolf Trap is based in Northern Virginia, we are both a local resource, [and] also a national resource,” said Flaherty of the National Park Service site.
The Birmingham Green grant was sponsored by the late Del. Harry Parrish, R-Manassas, but Callahan “carried the ball” after the delegate died.
The $600,000 state funding will match $2.5 million from Northern Virginia localities and additional monies from the federal government for a $13-million, 92-unit apartment building at the assisted living facility, said Tom Dodson, a Birmingham Green spokesman. The current facility was built in 1927.
“Hopefully, it will shorten the waiting list held by the localities to essentially serve folks who have essentially run out of resources,” Dodson said.
