The Board of Directors of the Piedmont Community Foundation (PCF) is pleased to announce the selection of the 2008 Competitive Community Grant Awards.

The Waterford Foundation has been selected to receive the $800 grant from the Peter M. Howard Memorial Fund. The purpose of the grant is to assist with funding for signage to serve as a gateway into the 144 acre historic Phillips Farm within the National Historic Landmark District of Waterford, Virginia.

Nancy Doane, Executive Director of the Waterford Foundation, Inc. said, "It is with great pleasure we received the news of being a grant recipient of Piedmont Community Foundation. The Phillips Farm is an incredible asset for all of the members of the greater Loudoun community to enjoy. Being able to greet visitors as well as inform them of the property's ground rules in an attractive way will enhance the experience for both the visitors as well as the Waterford Foundation."

This is our second grant from the Peter M. Howard Memorial Fund. The fund was created as a memorial endowment by the Howard family in June of 2005 and restricted for use in preservation of historic properties and open space.

Dodona Manor, The George C. Marshall International Center, has been selected to receive the $800 grant from the Piedmont Community Foundation General Fund following a unanimous vote by the PCF directors. The grant will fund historic Dodona Manor in improving the health of its natural environment. The property of the manor house including historic trees, lawn and grounds was described as "in desperate need of maintenance and attention," in the grant application. Recognizing that Dodona Manor is a cornerstone for community activities, the PCF is pleased to assist in breathing vitality into one of Leesburg's most cherished green spaces.

The Community Music School of the Piedmont (CMSP) has been selected to receive a $1000 grant for student scholarships to expand access to music education and performance opportunities to those who might not otherwise have afforded them. The grant amount available from the Children and Families area of the PCF Community Fund endowment was $600 this year, however, the PCF directors added another $400 from their unrestricted fund in order to provide the entire $1,000 amount of the grant project.

Steve DeLong, PCF Grant Committee Chair, said, "the directors voted to extend the extra support because of their belief in the value of distinguished quality music education being accessible to youth in the community."

The CMSP is recognized by the Virginia Commission for the Arts as a valued arts organization in the community and the state for providing a high level of artistic quality, providing access to the arts and having responsible management.