Front Royal Women’s Resource Center Opens 2027 Dare to Dream Grant Applications

Warren County women looking to continue their education, build a business, or pursue a goal that could change their lives will soon have an opportunity to receive financial help.

The Front Royal Women’s Resource Center will open applications Oct. 15 for its 2027 Dare to Dream Enrichment Grants, continuing a program that has helped local women pursue educational, professional, and personal goals for more than two decades.

Applications will be accepted through Dec. 30.

Dare to Dream grants provide up to $1,000, paid directly to the school or vendor associated with the recipient’s project. Women age 18 and older who live or work in Warren County may apply.

For the upcoming grant cycle, the Women’s Resource Center is also partnering with the Warren Memorial Hospital Foundation and Warren Memorial Hospital Auxiliary to provide grants for women interested in healthcare.

That partnership will provide up to $1,000 in grants to up to five recipients pursuing education or training in healthcare or related fields, including non-traditional healthcare roles.

Applicants will use the same Dare to Dream application.

More Than $160,000 Awarded

The Front Royal Women’s Resource Center has spent more than two decades creating opportunities for women in Warren County.

During that time, the organization says it has awarded more than $160,000 in grants and scholarships to 210 Warren County women and girls. The money has supported education, as well as professional and personal enrichment opportunities.

The organization also provides networking opportunities and recognizes women leaders in the community.

JoEllen McNeal founded the Dare to Dream program in 1999 with the idea that relatively small amounts of financial assistance can help women take meaningful steps toward larger goals.

Those goals can take many forms.

Past applicants have sought assistance to continue their education, start or expand businesses, purchase computers or equipment, or develop services benefiting the community.

The program considers each proposed project’s merits, the applicant’s research and work toward her goal, and financial need.

After reviewing applications, the program selects finalists for interviews. The organization then chooses and recognizes grant recipients during its annual Dare to Dream event in March.

Small Grants Can Make A Big Difference

Stories from previous recipients show how a $1,000 grant can help turn an idea into something tangible.

Past recipient Brooke Frey received $1,000 to attend a phlebotomy program at what was then Lord Fairfax Community College.

Frey, who was raising a young son while balancing work and school, said pursuing medical training had been financially difficult.

“One thousand dollars might not seem like a huge deal to everybody, but in my life, you know, I just know that I would not have been able to do this program without the Women’s Resource Center,” she said in a testimonial about the program.

Other grants have helped launch programs that went on to serve additional people in the community.

Marjorie Young received assistance for startup expenses for a therapeutic horsemanship program designed to work with children and adults with special needs.

The program uses horses and the barn environment to help people with cognitive, physical, and emotional disabilities.

Young said the grant provided important early support when the organization did not yet have horses.

“Without that seed, that start there, we may never have even gotten started,” she said.

Music therapist Allison Gillespie also received Dare to Dream assistance to purchase chimes for a music group serving teenagers and adults with intellectual disabilities.

She said the idea had been in her mind for years before the grant made it possible.

Gillespie said the support went beyond the money itself.

“Having somebody believe in you, it’s just really important,” she said.

Those experiences reflect the philosophy behind Dare to Dream — that helping someone overcome one financial obstacle can give her an opportunity to move forward with an education, career, business or community project.

“Every community is important. Every woman is important. Every person is important,” Gillespie said. “A lot of women have a lot of amazing ideas, very different ideas. Something like a thousand-dollar grant can help them achieve their dream, and I think that’s crucial.”

Applications Open Oct. 15

Applications for the 2027 Dare to Dream Enrichment Grant season will be accepted from Oct. 15 through Dec. 30.

Applicants must have a Gmail account or Google-supported email account to complete the online application.

Women interested in pursuing education or growing a business are encouraged to apply, as are eligible applicants seeking the new healthcare-related grants.

Additional information and the online application are available at frwrc.org through the Front Royal Women’s Resource Center.

The organization is located at 415 South St. in Front Royal and can also be reached by mail at P.O. Box 1748, Front Royal, VA 22630.