Champions in Action Award Winners
February 28, 2025
There are now 30 Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)-funded community collaboratives across Virginia. Each collaborative drives policy, systems, and environmental changes that support at least one of the Action Plan for a Healthy Virginia’s eight healthy behaviors. To coincide with the re-release of the Action Plan, Prevention Connections has established the first ever Champions in Action Award, which provides flexible funding to collaboratives that are aligned with the Action Plan.
Prevention Connections
Prevention Connections (PC) was established in 2003 as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit to expand the efforts of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY). Its purpose is to support tobacco and nicotine use prevention, substance use prevention, and obesity prevention across Virginia.
The winners
Take a look at the videos below to learn how each of our award winners are supporting youth health in alignment with the Action Plan for a Healthy Virginia.
Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries
Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries (SAEM) serves to strengthen the community by working together with area churches, local service agencies, businesses, and individuals to provide food, clothing and educational resources to those in need. Organized in 1997, SAEM is a gathering of lay people and pastors from Salem, western Roanoke County and local service agencies collaborating in the name of Christ to serve people in our community.
Email Contact: saemvainfo@gmail.com
Light of Hope Alliance
The Light of Hope Alliance (LOHA) is committed to provide healthy and safe activities for children, to reduce or eliminate poverty, illiteracy, illness, homelessness, and their causes principally in the Greater Prince William County area and to promote the civil, social, economic, and educational well-being of their community.
The Don Bosco Center program provides an integrated program of academic support and reinforcement and character development. It incorporates healthy, safe and supervised recreational activities during the week. Other activities include family-based gatherings or outings that enrich parental involvement and personal formation.
Email Contact: frramon@lightofhopealliance.org
Local Environmental Agriculture Project (LEAP), Healthy Roanoke Valley, and Roanoke Foodshed Network
LEAP is a nonprofit centered in Roanoke, VA, that supports farmers and fresh, local food for all. LEAP nurtures our food community.
Email Contacts: mo@leapforlocalfood.org
Open Door
Helping Overcome Poverty’s Existence, Inc. (HOPE) was established 30 years ago to fulfill the challenge of its name – to reduce the conditions contributing to poverty in Southwest Virginia. Despite its rich history and track record, the brand was not well recognized, uniquely distinguished, or clearly associated with the organization’s mission, vision, values, and program services. Many stakeholders still referred to the organization by the name of its multi-tenant building on the corner of Lee Highway and Main Street, the HOPE Ministry Center.
In 2018 the Open Door Café, LLC. launched as a wholly owned subsidiary of H.O.P.E, Inc. The Open Door brand has become easily recognized and associated with the organization’s mission to end hunger, bringing people from all backgrounds together through an open door.
In 2023 the organization unified its social impact brands under a new master brand identity – Open Door Community! The new name is short, simple, and familiar. It states clearly that we are one organization, housing complimentary social impact brands under a single identity. The new name and brand honors and preserves the organization’s legacy of HOPE while moving away from the flat sounding, alphabet soup, acronym style brand name.
Email Contact: jlewis@ouropendoor.org
Central Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth
The mission of the Office on Youth is to promote collaborative efforts among youth and family service agencies to encourage positive youth development in our community.
Email Contacts:
garonsc@ci.waynesboro.va.us
deshongeg@ci.waynesboro.va.us newmang@ci.waynesboro.va.us
Arlington Foundation for Families and Youth
The Arlington Foundation for Families and Youth is a charitable and educational organization that funds community initiatives to address the needs of Arlington children, youth and families with a focus on wellness, school success, family stability and positive relationships.
Email Contact: hcatarlington@gmail.com
Orange County Office on Youth
The Orange County Office on Youth has been in existence since 1987, serving the youth of Orange County. Our focus is to enhance the quality of life for our youth and families by effectively addressing youth concerns, assessing needs for services, increasing community collaboration, and assisting in establishing and/or offering programs for positive youth development.
The Office on Youth is administered by the Orange County Administrator and Board of Supervisors. In addition, the office works with the Orange Youth Commission, an appointed eleven (11) member advisory board, to address the needs of the youth within our community.
A number of programs are offered each year, including, but not limited to, the Virginia Children’s Services Act, four (4) school age child care programs, and Michael’s Gift. Please browse our site for more information on individual programs.
Email Contact: rchapman@orangecountyva.gov
Moving Forward
Thanks to the award recipients and their work we can further the reach of the goals of the Action Plan. Follow us and each organization on social media to stay up-to-date on all the amazing work they are doing!
Interested in learning more about the Action Plan? Register to get the new version once its released.