Warren County “dreamers” step forward for “dare to dream” awards

FRONT ROYAL – Nine Warren County women who “dared to dream” saw their wishes come true at a breakfast meeting of the Front Royal Women’s Resource Center (FRWRC) last week (March 28) when $7,500 in cash awards were given.

For the past 19 years, some $825,000 in grant money has been awarded by the FRWRC to support local women seeking to improve their education along with personal and professional enrichment.

Said Joyce Wimmer, FRWRC president: “We are thankful to the many people in Warren County who support these grants every year and who understand that by providing women with opportunities to ‘dream’ and pursue their goals we are making Warren County a better place to live for everyone.” The awards coincided with Women’s History Month.

The top $1,500 Elaine Bromfield Memorial Scholarship went to Renee McDaniel Flowers who has returned to college to earn a master’s degree in mental health counseling following a 21-year career in the mental health field.

Other awardees out of 27 applicants were: Dian DiPasquale, co-owner, Front Royal Premier Copiers, $500 for QuickBooks training; Kate Fristoe, artist, $750 toward a T-shirt design program and printing business; Megan Nicole Grove, $1,000 toward her nurse training costs; Michelle Hamer, owner, Wildfire Yoga Studio, $500 toward equipment costs; Rhiannon Linfield, owner, Misty Mountain Pet Sitting, $750 towards business expenses; Maggie O’Brien, awarded $500 towards development of her vermicomposting “worm farm”; and Brittany Welch, $1,000 toward nurse training costs.

A Rotary Club of Front Royal Award of $1,000 was given to Kimberly Hancock, owner, Kismet Designs, towards business expenses.

Town Mayor Hollis Tharpe and Councilwoman Latasha Thompson were among the invited guests.  Two former “Dream” grant recipients, Janet Brome (2000) and Julie Carter (2017 Elaine Bromfield Scholarship), spoke at the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club event.

Five “gold” business partners, Beth Medved Waller (“What Matters”), Franzi Lee Photography, Weatherly Morgan (“WillowKeep Graphics”), Jen Avery (“Jenspiration”) and Therese Brown (“Downtown Catering”), were honored, and a special thanks went out to JoEllen McNeal (“Dare to Dream Endowment”) and Rebecca Vaughan, Max and Bella Black (“Foundation Trustee”) and the Rotary Club of Front Royal.