Pocahontas Parkway provides $20,000 grant to DRIVE SMART Virginia to support victim advocacy programs
The toll road is celebrating its 20th anniversary by forming new partnerships and providing grants to several Greater Richmond nonprofit organizations
RICHMOND, VA — October 21, 2022 — To celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, Pocahontas Parkway is providing $60,000 in grants to several local nonprofit organizations over 2022.
This week, the toll road announced a $20,000 grant to DRIVE SMART Virginia, which will be used to support the organization’s victim advocacy programs.
“We’re proud to support the amazing work that DRIVE SMART Virginia does every day to improve driver safety and promote safe driving practices across the Commonwealth” said Pocahontas Parkway Director of Operations. “The work they do to support victims’ families is commendable and we are pleased to support their outreach efforts.”
Founded in 1995, DRIVE SMART Virginia is a non-profit organization charged with raising awareness and changing behavior in order to improve the safety of the roadways of the Commonwealth. The organization used part of the grant funding to sponsor its 3rd Annual Victim Families Retreat held on Oct. 1-2 in downtown Richmond. The remainder of the funds will be used to support other victim advocacy outreach efforts throughout the year.
“We commend Pocahontas Parkway for supporting programs like victim family outreach and the courageous work that these families do to save lives,” said Janet Brooking, Executive Director of DRIVE SMART Virginia. “We know that teens and adults alike are very impacted by hearing their stories of senseless loss, which leads to behavior change.”
In addition to this DRIVE SMART Virginia grant, Pocahontas Parkway also provided Feed More with a $20,000 grant to help support its Meals on Wheels programs in August and provided a $20,000 grant to Liberation Veteran Services earlier this month to help support their transportation program.
This year’s round of community grants follows a $20,000 grant in 2020 that Pocahontas Parkway provided to Communities In Schools of Richmond to assist with the organization’s emergency food assistance outreach in eastern Henrico Co. during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pocahontas Parkway, which is also known as Va. State Route 895 or Pocahontas 895, first opened to motorists in May 2002 and was the Virginia highway project financed under the Commonwealth’s Public-Private Transportation Act, which was passed in 1995.
About DRIVE SMART Virginia
DRIVE SMART Virginia is a non-profit organization charged with raising awareness and changing behavior in order to improve the safety of the roadways of the Commonwealth. We have endeavored to improve the lives of all Virginians through our public information and education initiatives. Founded in 1995, the organization is led by a diverse board representing safety advocates, the insurance industry and law enforcement. Learn more at drivesmartva.org