ABOUT US
ABOUT US
Operating in Montgomery County, MD, the PVAC Fund, Inc. was created in 1986 as a 501c (3)
organization to serve the educational and economic development needs of socially and
economically disadvantaged persons. With a special emphasis on the needs of women, the Fund
also works to encourage volunteerism and collaboration with public and private agencies within
the community that also assist socially and disadvantaged women.
Since its inception, the Fund has provided support for and jointly collaborated with community
organizations on community projects including senior health and wellness seminars, HIV and
AIDS training for teens and seniors, and economic development workshops. The Fund has also
provided support for after-school and evening mentoring programs where girls from at-risk
families are exposed to educational workshops in financial literacy, community service, and
educational advancement.
A signature project of the Fund is its college scholarship program for academically astute and economically challenged youth in Montgomery County, awarding scholarships annually. More than $200,000 has been awarded since the inauguration of the program. The Fund has also awarded scholarships to single heads-of households for technical training in their chosen fields and awarded nearly $100,000 to benefit students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Young Entrepreneurs.
PVAC Fund was incorporated in the State of Maryland on September 24, 1986 to operate exclusively for charitable and educational purposes including:
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Supporting community service initiatives of the Potomac Valley Alumnae Chapter.
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Implementing programs designed to encourage educational achievement among socially and economically disadvantaged youth, and single heads-of-households.
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Designing and initiating projects that provide management, technical and other assistance to small business concerns owned by socially and economically disadvantaged women.
Established by charter members of the Potomac Valley Alumnae Chapter, the Fund is a separate independent organization that has its own board and financial structure. The Fund and the Chapter collaborate at times on fundraising and community projects that address their common goals.
Since 1986, the Fund has created opportunities to improve lives through seminars on financial literacy; youth mentoring initiatives; the Scholars program that has awarded more than $300,000 to high school graduates and single heads-of-households; and the receipt of grants to implement programs on substance abuse awareness, economic development, and physical and mental health. A special scholarship initiative is its Named Scholarship Program to which contributors donate a minimum of $5000 in honor of a loved one. Each year the contributors select one of the scholars for special recognition with an additional scholarship award. The PVAC Fund also supports community and national organizations including the Manna Food Bank, the Scotland Community, Game Changer, Easter Seals, The Alzheimer’s Association, the March of Dimes, St. Jude’s Hospital and the NIH Children’s Center.