Celebrate, Elevate, and Serve: A Decade of Friendship and Community Service
Ten years ago, in 2014, the Greater Rappahannock (VA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated was chartered as the 277th chapter of the organization. Established in 1946, The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation and one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations. Its mission is to enrich, sustain, and ensure the cultural and economic survival of African Americans and other people of African descent. The organization comprises accomplished, dedicated women who are active in their communities. Members are leaders, role models, mentors, activists, and volunteers, making "Links" not just a symbol of friendship but also a chain of purposeful service.
The chartering of the Greater Rappahannock Chapter was a significant milestone, celebrated by the 31 founding members who aligned their philanthropy with the mission of The Links, Incorporated. As we fast forward to 2024, we reflect on a decade of accomplishments and service.
The chapter’s first signature program was Children Achieving Excellence through Early Literacy: Smart Start Link 2 Life. This initiative successfully targeted four-year-old children and their families, providing resources, workshops, and activities to promote kindergarten readiness through literacy, health, and well-being.
The current signature program, Linking Youth to Excellence (LYTE) – a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education initiative – has earned the chapter national recognition. The Links, Incorporated awarded the chapter the National Award for Outstanding Transformational Program in 2018 and 2021. Through this program, middle school girls participate in hands-on workshops that encourage innovative, design-based thinking to prepare for future career opportunities.
Over the past decade, the chapter has awarded over $85,000 in academic scholarships to deserving students pursuing higher education from the Greater Rappahannock area.
The chapter’s premier fundraising events, Hit the Links Golf Classic and the Greater Rappahannock Holiday Sparkle, have become community favorites, offering opportunities to expand outreach and service throughout the region.
In addition to these events, the chapter proudly partners with organizations such as the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign, Loisann's Hope House, the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, Fredericksburg Head Start, Stafford National Night Out, the Fredericksburg Chapter of the League of Women Voters (LWV), and the Boys & Girls Club of the Rappahannock Region, to name a few.
Over the last ten years, Greater Rappahannock Chapter members have collectively contributed more than 23,000 documented hours of community service. Whether reading to elementary students, participating in toy drives, volunteering at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) seminars, or serving meals at homeless shelters, we are united by a shared commitment to transform our community through service. The organization hopes to continue to “Celebrate, Elevate, and Serve” in the decades to come.
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At the time of publication, the Greater Rappahannock Chapter was in full planning mode for their 10th Anniversary Celebration “Rhapsody in White” Jazz Brunch on November 2 and featured live music by the Progeny Band. Stay tuned for more events and check out all this organization has to offer at grva.websitepro.hosting.