A. Linwood Holton Elementary School

Eager Readers (MH Lunch Buddies volunteer time to encourage students)

McCandlish Holton supports Linwood Holton Elementary School, a Richmond city public school named in honor of our partner, A. Linwood Holton, former Governor of Virginia (1970-74). Gov. Holton is renowned for his legacy of leadership, support of public education, and inclusion and opportunity for all citizens. McCandlish Holton has funded specialized decodable books for beginning readers and a permanent photography exhibit at Holton School focusing on its children and the community. The firm also recruited a volunteer science teacher to staff its science lab (fully-equipped, but without funding for a permanent teacher). McCandlish Holton reading volunteers inaugurated a pilot Kindergarten Readers program, an enrichment program developed in conjunction with Virginia Commonwealth University's Office of Special Programs, and several staffers served as "lunch buddies" to encourage individual students.

Young People's Community Choir

Mrs. Royal Holiday Celebration (MH donates holiday gifts to YPCC. Mrs. Royal receives surprise gift.)

Ms. Avis Royal had no idea that a spontaneously gathered group of children who sang at "National Night Out" a few years ago would be the springboard for the Young People's Community Choir (YPCC) program. The YPCC become the primary after-school activity and safe haven for over 30 children living in at-risk neighborhoods. Ms. Royal was serving as mentor, surrogate parent and after-school caregiver to the children and supporting the activities with her personal funds. So McCandlish Holton employees partnered with Ms. Royal and the YPCC. McCandlish Holton helped to find a permanent meeting place for the group, organized back-to-school programs, tutoring and music lessons for the children, raised funds for music camp and helped with the process to obtain tax-exempt status for the choir.

Special Olympics

McCandlish Holton volunteers receive award A Winning Team (MH volunteers receive award)

McCandlish Holton Scholarship Program

You Lee Kim—2001 Scholarship Recipient, (left to right) You Lee Kim—2001-2005 Scholarship Recipient, Kenneth W. Thorson—former chairman of the MH Scholarship Committee and Walter Avery Miller—2000-2004 Scholarship Recipient.

For many years, McCandlish Holton, in conjunction with GRASP (the Greater Richmond Area Scholarship Program), has offered scholarships to high school seniors in the Richmond area. The scholarship committee has the difficult task of selecting one winner each year from a pool of very accomplished and talented Richmond area youth. The scholarship award is $4,000 per year for four years of college. Past winners have attended Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University, the College of William and Mary, and Stanford University.