The GHRoW Foundation

Supporting Private Christian Education.

Mission

The GHRoW Foundation was established in 1991 to support private Christian education and has since become a leading source of scholarship funds to Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) students.

The scholarships awarded by the foundation are designed to attract exceptional students, retain outstanding students with financial needs and support and reward campus leadership.

The GHRoW Foundation board and supporters endeavor to directly fund scholarships and establish endowments to assure funding of scholarships in perpetuity to support the Christian educational mission of SVA.

History

On August 8, 1991, four graduates from Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) sat talking. They were still young, fresh out of college; some were starting families, others their careers, and all of them their lives. In between hands of Rook and bites of pizza, they reflected on their alma mater’s impact on their lives. Were it not for SVA, one of them said, he’d still be pumping gas on Long Island; now he was in graduate school. These four had met at SVA, learned together, grown together, and been changed together. SVA had changed them for the best, and each could see God’s hand tracing his life to and through this school. And this was the very thing they were discussing: they had gained so much; how could they give back?

Each of them credits another with the idea, but one of them first said it: a scholarship. There was no excuse of lack of funds, inexperience in non-profits, or being too young (though all were true); each of them gave what they could: $10 each, $40 total. They handed their $10 to Scott, the accountant of the group, and they continued to give that way for three years. No scholarships yet, only saving. They didn’t know it yet, but Byron Greenberg, Scott Handel, David Reile, and Tony Williams were embarking on a journey.

The GHRoW board (the name created from the first letter of each founder’s last name) awarded its first Merit Scholarship in 1994 to Sarah Axmaker. Over the years scholarships have been fine tuned to benefit SVA students. Today the Merit Scholarship helps with financial needs and encourages academics, a strong work ethic, community service and philanthropy. Following the death of co-founder Scott Handel, GHRoW created the R. Scott Handel Leadership Scholarship that is awarded to an outstanding leader, just like Scott.

The number of GHRoW supporters grows every year. The board has increased and today it also includes former GHRoW scholars. Like the Founders, the GHRoW Scholars want to give back.  Ways to give have grown from giving Scott a $10 bill to vehicle donations, employer matching, and estate planned gifts. This journey has helped over 150 students with over $800, 000 in donations for students ($600,000 in scholarship awards and $200,000 endowed for scholarships). That is a testament to the truth that Adventist education and its eternal impact are worthy of investment. Thank you for investing in eternity.

David, Tony, Byron and Scott (1990)

Byron, Tony, Scott and David (Mar 2008)

The GHRoW Board

Tony Williams

President

GHRoW co-founder; SVA Class of 1982; Columbia, MD.

David Reile

Vice-President

GHRoW co-founder; SVA Class of 1982; Ooltewah, TN.

Mark Griffin

Treasurer

SVA Class of 1982; Silver Spring, MD.

Lauron Henkel

Secretary

SVA Class of 1993; Silver Spring, MD.

Sarah Coulter

SVA Class of 1997; Burleston, TX.

Dorenda Dodge

Honorary SVA Class of 2014; New Market, VA.

Byron Greenberg

GHRoW co-founder; SVA Class of 1982; Disputanta, VA.

Allison Handel

SVA Class of 2012; Baltimore, MD.

Kimberly Handel

SVA Class of 1983; Franklin, TN.

Kevin Larios

SVA Class of 2009, Herndon, VA.

Donna Mashburn

SVA Class of 1974; Mount Jackson, VA.

Polly Roberts

SVA Class of 1983; Wheaton, MD.

Dwight Seek

SVA Class of 1982; Trenton, GA.

Barbara Suddarth

Honorary SVA Class of 2022; Ooltewah, TN.

Honorary Board Members

Paul Ware

SVA Class of 1983; GHRoW Board (1997-2011).

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