Special Spotlight of Green Grant Awards!
Because 2020 was a year that brought the national spotlight to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we decided to create a special focus of our Green Grants this year to add five additional grant awards specifically to diverse groups and underserved populations. This will raise our grant award commitment to 35 grants in 30 days! Each Wednesday we will announce two organizations on the same day that are doing great things for this important segment of our population.
Today we recognize Pretty Purposed, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to empowering girls, ages 9-14, through mentorship and activities that promote healthy physical, social, and emotional development. Pretty Purposed, in Petersburg, will receive a grant award of $1000 for its Community Beautification project. 
Pretty Purposed will enhance the community space at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, located in the heart of Petersburg, because the church provides in-kind space to the nonprofit. Grant funds will be used to purchase hanging plants, soil, raised garden beds, supplies to build a bench, and start-up costs for a Little Free Library. This project will provide beautification for the community, and will foster gardening skills, provide healthy food, and build leadership skills for program participants.
Pretty Purposed is dedicated to being a safe space where girls can grow and glow. We look forward to seeing their Community Beautification project come to life!
Today we also recognize The Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail, a 501(c)3 nonprofit group of volunteers who aim to protect the 16-mile Dahlgren Railroad Heritage just south of the Potomac River in Virginia’s Northern Neck.
There are areas on the Dahlgren Trail that need raised bridges or boardwalks to ensure safe and equitable access for those with limited mobility. Funds from the Green Grant will be used to build a raised boardwalk in a chronically muddy and sometimes impassable section of the trail. This area is located at approximately mile 1.9, which is one of the most commonly visited and used sections of the Dahlgren Trail, near the trailhead.
The mission at Keep Virginia Beautiful is to engage and unite Virginians to improve the natural and scenic environment. Since 2011, Keep Virginia Beautiful has provided $254,500 for 320 different environmental programs and projects all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity of their partnership with Altria, as well as additional support from Coca-Cola, WestRock and Keep America Beautiful.
