Join Us For Give Local 757!
The Give Local 757 Initiative is a program created by the Peninsula Community Foundation to spark and grow local philanthropy. Every year, the second Tuesday in May serves as the region's 24 hour giving day called Give Local 757. Since its inception, the giving day...
REF Helps Family Make It Home To India After Daughter Was Placed In Palliative Care
When an 11 year old girl was placed in palliative care, her family decided to move home to India to be surrounded by the rest of their family. However, flying would place additional strain on the young girl’s condition and there was a possibility she would not survive...
REF Helps Sentara Hospital Employee Battling Severe Gastrointestinal Disease
A Sentara Leigh Hospital Medical Worker suddenly fell ill and began suffering debilitating symptoms due to a chronic gastrointestinal disease. She desperately needed a visit to a GI specialist in order to obtain medicine to get the symptoms under control. However, the...
REF Helps Portsmouth Mother Through COVID-19 After Family Tragedy
A Portsmouth mother was forced to stop working as a dental assistant when the COVID-19 pandemic began. After losing her 8-year-old son in a drowning accident, she was fearful of placing her other two children in childcare during the pandemic and remained home for an...
Celebrate Your Birthday With Us!
The power of social media is amazing! We've raised thousands of dollars through birthday fundraisers on Facebook the past year. It's something that is so simple, but deeply impactful. If you have a birthday coming up and you're interested in "donating your birthday"...
Support The River Ellis Foundation Through AmazonSmile
Now you can support REF just by shopping on Amazon! Once you designate The River Ellis Foundation as your charitable organization, AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases straight to our organization. It's SO simple! All you need to do is click here to get...
REF Helps Newport News Mother While Daughter Undergoes Brain Surgery
A Newport News mother stayed at her daughter’s bedside when she was admitted to CHKD with a fungal brain infection. Fortunately, her daughter’s condition improved drastically after undergoing brain surgery. As a mental health counselor, the mother was not compensated...
REF Helps Newport News Mother Cover Rent After Losing Employment Due To COVID-19
After leaving an abusive marriage, a Newport News mother was working 3 jobs to support her 2 teenaged daughters and herself. Due to COVID-19, she lost all 3 of these jobs in a very short time period. The mother was able to find new employment, but needed assistance...
REF Makes Urgent Payment To Funeral Home So Family Can Hold Service For 2-Year-Old Boy
A 2-year-old boy from Franklin passed away suddenly due to Congestive Heart Failure. The day of the funeral, the family was notified that they would be unable to hold the scheduled memorial service for him unless a payment was made to the funeral home beforehand. The...
REF Installs Ramp In Norfolk Family Home
A 17 year old boy suffered from two cardiac arrests that resulted in a severe physical disability. He was stabilized during his hospitalization at CHKD, but the family was required to install a ramp at their Norfolk home in order for him to be discharged from the...
WTKR 3 Coast Live Interview
Check out our Coast Live interview as part of the One Hour Cares Competition! https://www.wtkr.com/coast-live/a-local-nonprofit-helping-those-facing-unexpected-hardships-on-coast-live?fbclid=IwAR3Int-hicrgjxKI1Vl4ugJ5hLNzVfgu-yN60wM96WJ5OgdJfo4Kem2FcmI Remember to...
Virginia Beach Mother’s Car Totaled While Driving To First Day Of Work; REF Helps Obtain A New Vehicle
A mother’s car was totaled while driving to her first day of work at a preschool. Her three-year-old daughter was also in the car and was attending preschool for her very first time. Both sustained only minor injuries, but without transportation the mother would no...











