History and Objectives
Enhancing Life in Montgomery County
Since 1982, the Eastmont Community Foundation (which began as the Mountain Valley Charitable Foundation) vision has been to provide opportunities for eastern Montgomery County, Virginia, residents. On this page, you can read about the history of many of our facilities and programs, and learn about our objectives.
Meadowbrook Center
The Eastmont Community Foundation (known at the time as the Mountain Valley Charitable Foundation) had grown out of a scholarship program for the defunct Meadowbrook Nursing Home, which stood vacant in 2004–2005 after being closed.
The 40,000 square foot masonry building had been a major employer in the area until it closed. The building had begun to take on an abandoned appearance. StellarOne bank owned the facility and had attempted to sell it at auction. When the auction failed to raise the $150,000 reserve needed for a sale, the Eastmont Community Foundation began talking about the possibility of finding a suitable use for the building. It was agreed that ECF board members would contact StellarOne Bank regarding the possibility of donating the building to ECF for a tax deduction. A meeting was held with the bank president and other bank officials to make this solicitation. The bank declined the request but offered to sell the facility to ECF for $125,000. At the time, ECF felt it could not make such a major investment.
For many years, there had been a strong interest in having a branch library in the eastern Montgomery County area. The county was hesitant to commit the funds. A local resident, Mike Hawes, had previously worked with Jeff Johnson, Montgomery County administrator, and approached him about the possibility of locating the library branch in a portion of the nursing home which would result in a substantial saving for the county. Mr. Johnson agreed to consider the idea.
Joyce Graham and Charlotte Hawes were members of the ECF board along with Dr. George Smith, Dale Mull, George Smith III and Tom Dunkenberger Sr. Joyce Graham and Mike Hawes were partners in Tom’s Creek Investors, a real estate development company in Blacksburg. The two negotiated with StellarOne Bank to purchase the nursing home for $255,000. In turn, they would donate the facility to Montgomery County which would renovate a portion into a branch library and Tom’s Creek would receive a tax donation.
However, Montgomery County also stipulated that the local community must raise $310,000 for the library book collection. Because the eastern Montgomery County area is one of the more indigent sections of Montgomery County, there was some doubt that the funds could be raised. The community rallied together and raised the entire amount through both large and small donations. Montgomery County then renovated the 11,000 square foot portion of the building along U.S. Highway 460 into the Meadowbrook Public Library.
A $1 per year lease was arranged between ECF and Montgomery County for the remainder of the building. This is a 30-year lease with the option to renew the lease for two 10- year terms. Focus groups and facilitation meetings were held to get local input about possible uses for the remainder of the space. A fitness center and community meeting space were the most requested. Donations and grants were solicited for these purposes. A fitness center was added in the front area of the building facing Alleghany Springs Road. The former sizable nursing home dining room required minimal renovation and it became a community center with room for special events, dinners and meetings. The Roanoke Times renovated additional space into a recreation area. Former patient rooms were renovated and rented as offices to provide income for maintenance and repair of the Meadowbrook Center.
Waldron Fitness Center
In 2007, with a generous donation from the Waldron family of Shawsville and other grants and gifts totaling $425,000, the Waldron Family YMCA celebrated its opening with U.S. Sen. Mark Warner officiating. Because the Eastmont Community Foundation (known at the time as the Mountain Valley Charitable Foundation) had no experience running a wellness and fitness center, an arrangement was made for the YMCA of the Greater Roanoke Valley to operate the facility as a satellite branch. This continued for three years.
Since the population in eastern Montgomery County is not small and limited, member turnover at the new Y was essential. ECF preferred to be more member-centered, and after two years it approached the Virginia Tech YMCA about the possibility of taking over operations. The VT YMCA agreed, and took over in January 2010. As early as 2011 or 2012, staffing and financial issues began to affect the viability of this arrangement to manage the fitness center.
In the late fall of 2013 the Eastmont Community Foundation made the difficult decision to disaffiliate from the Virginia Tech YMCA. On Jan. 1, 2014, ECF took over operation of the fitness center. The Waldron family in Shawsville was again approached and it was agreed that the new name would be the Waldron Wellness Center.
Placing an emphasis on providing a better experience for the “W” members, instructors and staff made many program changes in the first year that ECF operated the fitness center. A regular maintenance schedule was established, and exercise machines were upgraded. A wellness and fitness manager was hired. A strong emphasis was placed on member retention, staff fitness, CPR certifications and cross training in new specialties. New classes were also introduced for members.
As the Waldron Wellness Center headed into 2015, it received a generous donation that allowed the purchase of additional equipment, made some repairs and renovations to the facility, and added funds to the W’s endowment fund to ensure future stability.
In 2018, members and volunteers painted the walls more vibrant colors, a second group-exercise room was added with new flooring and the spin-cycle room was relocated to the previous recreation area.
Eastmont Thrift Store
Concerned about abandoned and neglected buildings in eastern Montgomery County, the Eastmont Community Foundation (known at the time as the Mountain Valley Charitable Foundation), focused its attention on the Old Elliston Fire House, a local landmark that was built by its volunteer members in 1957, after the Elliston Volunteer Fire Department had moved to a new station.
From 2009–2011, a task force of local leaders worked with Montgomery County to acquire the building and secure zoning. After exploring several uses for the building, it was decided that a thrift store and a new home for the Shawsville Lay Ministerial Association’s Food Pantry known as “Dale’s Place.” Since its opening in 1999, the pantry, which is staffed solely by volunteers, had many temporary homes. Now the firehouse offers it the opportunity to serve more than 150 local families in an established location.
More than $200,000 was raised and in the spring of 2013, after the majority of the renovations were completed, the building was opened for use. Initially, the thrift store was run by the Virginia Tech YMCA under a contract with ECF. The VT YMCA had experience running its own thrift stores in Blacksburg and Radford. However, when the fitness center disaffiliated with the VT YMCA in the fall of 2013, it was decided that the affiliation for the thrift store would end as well. In spring 2014, ECF reopened the thrift store as the Eastmont Thrift Shop and hired local management.
The Old Elliston Fire House also provides renovated space for a thrift store operated by the Eastmont Community Foundation. This store meshes well with the needs of eastern Montgomery County and accepts and sells gently used clothing, furniture, working appliances and other saleable items. It also accepts clean, dry plastic and paper bags. The thrift store and the food pantry are located at 1870 Big Spring Drive in Elliston. All sales proceeds stay local, and support the foundation’s programs in the community.
Old Town Fields
In fall 2014, the Eastmont Community Foundation (known at the time as the Mountain Valley Charitable Foundation) learned that the Montgomery County Public Schools board passed a resolution which would transfer the athletic fields at the Shawsville Middle School to Montgomery County.
Considering the property a valuable community resource, ECF approached Montgomery County about leasing the property for a nominal amount. The property transferred from MCPS to Montgomery County and was entered into a five-year lease with ECF. ECF is responsible for the maintenance of the fields and the arrangement allows for Shawsville Middle School and Montgomery County Parks and Recreation to use the fields.
ECF reviewed sources of revenue to support the fields and possible uses of the property when not in use by athletic teams. In 2017, ECF began sponsoring outdoor concerts in the warmer months of the year. These concerts have continued each year — including during the 2020 pandemic when the field was marked off for physical distancing requirements and additional COVID mitigation strategies were added. The ECF concerts were some of the only concerts held in the area during 2020. A dance floor area was added in 2019, followed by a stage in 2020. These features greatly enhance the ability to attract quality bands and draw crowds.
Investing in the Community
In addition to operating the Meadowbrook Center and Old Elliston Firehouse, the Eastmont Community Foundation invests in the people of eastern Montgomery County through the donated funds it manages.
Each year, through the G.W and Dot King Scholarship Fund and the Lena Mac Gardner Sammons Scholarship Fund, the foundation awards scholarships to deserving graduating seniors at Eastern Montgomery High School. In 2015, it awarded six such $1,000 scholarships.
The foundation also awards annual grants. The Lorraine Ryan Educational Fund awards grants in support of education programs, projects and equipment that benefit school age children. The James E. Pearman Sr. Legacy Fund supports programs and projects at Camp Alta Mons, Project LINC and The Meadowbrook Center. The Karen Cronin Legacy Fund supports local gardening, artistic and beautification programs. Through these Funds in 2016, the foundation made available $4,784 to Eastern Montgomery County Elementary School for the purchase of eight iPads to be used by the students and teachers and $1,000 to the Meadowbrook Public Library for a bench in the reading garden in the Meadowbrook Courtyard.
Find Out More
The Eastmont Community Foundation, which has as its sole mission to enhance the quality of life in eastern Montgomery County, Virginia, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that meets the qualifications of IRS Code 50 (c)(3). Contributions are deductible for federal income tax purposes. Donations can be made to Eastmont Community Foundation, 267 Allegheny Spring Road, Office 1, Shawsville, VA 24162. Call 540-268-1623 for more information.