Community Foundation announces 2020 “Stars”

Mr. Gerald J.J. Smith – 2020 Community Star

The Community Foundation of the Northern Shenandoah Valley will recognize Mr. Gerald J.J. Smith and the late Ms. Fran Ricketts as their 2020 Community Stars at the Foundation’s annual awards dinner on January 9, 2020. The event will be held at the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club in Front Royal.

Mr. Smith, President of Valley Proteins Inc., will be feted for his philanthropic support across numerous nonprofit agencies across our region. During his career at Valley Proteins the company has grown to be the largest privately owned recycler of animal by-products and waste cooking oils operating in North America.

Fran Ricketts will receive posthumous recognition for her forty plus years of dedicated service to the community as President of Congregational-Community Action Project (C-CAP.) Ms. Ricketts passed away in July, 2019.

Ms. Fran Ricketts – 2020 Community Star

Established in 2001, the Community Foundation of the Northern Shenandoah Valley (CFNSV) is a tax-exempt public charity that strengthens the local community, including the city of Winchester and the counties of Clarke, Frederick and Warren, by enabling donors to create charitable funds that address a wide range of interests. Today, the CFNSV is comprised of 116 diverse funds with investments exceeding $5.9 million, and the CFNSV has returned more than $1.5 million to the community in grants, scholarships, and pass-through funds.