“The Hampton Roads Committee of 200+ Men Scholars Academy is a four-year mentoring program with a mission of helping African American young men graduate from high school with the necessary skills to be productive citizens, prepared for higher education, professional training, and/or the work world. The supportive generosity of the Blocker Foundation helps advance and sustain our efforts to expose African American male youth to mentally stimulating information, life-changing opportunities, and empowering experiences. The Hampton Roads Committee of 200+ Men appreciates the Blocker Foundation’s recognition and acknowledgment of the value of our vision and mission for the Hampton Roads community and society.”

“Skilled Trades is one of the most in-demand workforce areas in the country and especially in Virginia. More specifically, there is growing demand for Shipyard workers, road and infrastructure workers, logistics/warehousing employees, and numerous other skilled trades professionals.   

“THRIVE Peninsula is a faith-based coalition helping families through hardship. In 2023, the organization received over 107 calls for help per day. While serving 22,000 people in one year, the most in the organization’s history, we were unable to fulfill many requests due to space limitations and funding support. With the help of the Blocker Foundation, in 2023, THRIVE has purchased and moved into a larger facility that boasts of space to expand our programs. This has allowed us increase the number of volunteers and staff who do this work, which will ultimately allow us to serve more families in crisis.”

“United Way of the Virginia Peninsula is grateful for the support of The Blocker Foundation. Our partnership is a wonderful opportunity to combine our resources for our shared mission to expand efforts to convene and create collaborative solutions with community partners to keep people housed, to prevent further trauma of housing loss, and to provide ongoing supports that ensure sustainability and self-sufficiency. With the Blocker Foundation as a partner in this work, UWVP will continue to create systemic change in the landscape of housing stability, influencing change in the systems tenants and landlords are navigating to avoid evictions.”