Dare to Dream grants awarded by Women’s Resource Center

In an emotional ceremony in Rockland March 23, the memory of Jean Barbour of Warren County, who died earlier this year, was fondly evoked during the presentation of a Dare to Dream grant in her name to Alexis Stiles, 19, to help her pursue her undergraduate degree at Old Dominion University after graduating this spring from Lord Fairfax Community College (LFCC).  She is currently a gymnastics coach and substitute teacher in Warren County schools.

The grant was for $1,000, similar to six other grants made “to empower women to change their world,” according to Lee Meyer, vice president of the Front Royal Women’s Resource Center (FRWRC) at the 17th annual Dare to Dream breakfast as Shenandoah Valley Golf Club.

Grant recipient Kacie Martin and daughter. Courtesy Photo

A seventh grant for $900 will help single mother Kacie Martin (see photo), a child and adolescent therapist at Northwestern Community Services, pay for “three essential continuing education courses in play therapy.”

Another named grant for $1,000 was the Elaine Bromfield Memorial Scholarship which went to Julie Carter, mother of two, who works full time while pursuing an associate degree in general studies with a long term goal to become a lawyer and advocate for troubled youth and economically-challenged families.

The grants have been presented annually by the FRWRC since 1999. They amount to $80,960 over the period and were awarded to 109 women to support their education, professional and personal enrichment. Meyer noted that five of this year’s seven awards went to single mothers “who do it all.”

Other awards were made to:

• Kristy Eggleston, a case coordinator at Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry in Front Royal while she seeks her bachelor’s degree in human services at Southern New Hampshire University. After being out of school for 21 years, she earned an associate degree at LFCC.
• Anya Megeath, who in 2012 had to close down her successful business (Farmhouse Cakes) to raise her family of three, received $1,000 towards new equipment needed to start up again and says she has orders for her cakes into next October.
• Kathryn Rairigh, a graduate of George Mason University, dreamed of owning her own landscaping business, which she now does, and the $1,000 will be used to purchase much-needed equipment. She currently works in customer service.
• Angela Schroeder is an LPN working part time to care for her three children, two of whom have special needs. She attends George Mason University next fall to earn a degree in therapeutic recreation. Her long term goal is to found a non-profit therapeutic campground for children, families, veterans and others “in need of connection with the environment and community.” The grant will help with tuition expenses.
• Rhiannon Tanner also received $1,000 to help with tuition expenses. She works at Winchester Eye Surgery Center and plans to advance her career by obtaining surgical technician certification. She is currently taking courses at LFCC.