GVCO Caring Hands Foundation Update
GVCO Caring Hands Foundation is a student-run community outreach program created for the purpose of raising funds for those persons, families, or organizations in our community who have suffered some catastrophic event or have experienced a hardship. GVCO Caring Hands is always looking for volunteers who are willing to donate their time to helping the community!
Many of you and/or your children have had a tremendous impact in 2020....Thank you very much! We are happy to share information about all of the good things GVCO Caring Hands Foundation has been able to do thanks to our student and adult volunteers making a difference in our community.

GVCO Caring Hands student membership more than tripled this year as volunteers signed up from GVMS and GVHS! We are pleased to provide the opportunity for students to give their time and talent serving others and helping those in our community that need it most. This increased level of commitment by the student volunteers has created a tremendous amount of community service hours.

Highlights from the 4th Quarter 2020:

·       Hugely successful Cradles to Crayons campaign - our 2nd Annual Donation Drive! GVCO families donated 58 bags of children clothes, toys, books, and school supplies that were sorted by the CH students and given to Cradles to Crayons Philadelphia.

·       Holiday gift wrapping for Seniors Centers in the area – 800 gifts were wrapped by CH volunteers and delivered to local senior centers this year! If we assume just a $5 retail price per gift, these donations would be worth $4,000! Beneficiaries include:
o  Surrey Services of Devon
o  Phoenixville Senior Center
o  Great Valley/Desmond Senior Luncheon

·       Fall Tent Sale over several weekends organized and staffed by CH student and adult volunteers. Brand new Christmas decorations and decor sold at fantastic discounts raised significant funds to support our community initiatives.

·       Good Neighbors Initiative - for distributing aid to the community
o  Surrey Services has identified 10 GVSD Senior Citizens who are currently suffering great economic hardship.  GVCO Caring Hands purchased $1,000 in Giant gift cards for distribution to these seniors through Surrey
o  Caring Hands Food Fund received a $1000 donation from GIANT (gift cards)

·        The Caring Hands Advisory Board has added two additional community members:
o  Kim Fredrick (longtime GVCO volunteer and active community volunteer)
o  Tara Edwards (formerly Shaw) - 2003 GVHS Graduate; teacher in Lower Merion school district; family lives in Great Valley.

Thanks to all who have helped us achieve so much during this difficult year!

Chris Morris
Caring Hands Advisory Board Chair

For more information, visit GVCO Caring Hands News/Updates
GVCO Community Programming
GVCO Caring Hands Foundation is happy to announce Chris Morris is joining the team and taking a leadership role in the organization. We look forward to his stewardship in moving the community programming forward.

Here's a little more detail about GVCO Caring Hands activities in 2020:

During the 2nd quarter this year, at the start of the pandemic, GVCO partnered with the community to support frontline responders at the local hospitals by donating 300 specialty headbands and raising $4700 for grocery gift cards for families in need in the district.
In October and November, the outpouring of community support continued as the pandemic persisted in taking a greater toll on those in need.

Partnering with an online gift retailer who donated hundreds of gifts, GVCO CH held a Tent Sale at the new GVCO Community Center site. During four weekends volunteers sold over $5000 worth of gifts.

Once again GVCO will be donating the monies raised to those in need within the district.
Our student led GVCO Caring Hands Foundation held its 2nd Annual Donation Drive through a partnership with Cradles to Crayons Philadelphia. Once again our Great Valley community “came through”!

There was a truckload of new and gently used clothes, shoes, diapers, coats, school supplies and more.

Everything donated by the community was sorted and bagged by 20 student volunteers and transported to the C2C warehouse in Wissahickon by adult volunteers.
Thanks to the online retailer donations, GVCO CH student volunteers wrapped 800!! holiday gifts that were delivered to area Seniors through our partners at Surrey Services, Phoenixville Senior Center and the Great Valley/Desmond Senior Luncheon.

GVCO Caring Hands delivered smiles for the holidays!
Just about all of the above was accomplished at the new GVCO Community Center site at 51 N. Bacton Hill Rd.

GVCO is excited as it allowed us to get an early “snapshot” of the potential our new home has and the powerful impact that it will have for the community and region.
GVCO Sports Programming
GV Crew
Great Valley Crew is getting ready for Spring Registrations! 

Great Valley Crew Club is a co-ed rowing team for grades 8-12. This is a learn-to-row program that is great for beginners - no previous experience or tryouts to join the team!

GV Crew has Fall and Spring seasons and competes in local and regional regattas. Practices start March 1st and end May 16, 2021. Look for Spring Registration to open on January 17!

Also, You're Invited! Check out the GV Crew Online Auction, Let the Good Times Row! Bidding begins Saturday, January 16 at 7pm and runs through Saturday, January 23 at 10pm.

Preview our great auction items and pre-register for bidding at: http://bidpal.net/gvcrewauction
 
GVBL Winter Rec League
On January 4th, the state of Pennsylvania eased it's coronavirus restrictions, allowing our GVBL winter basketball to resume play after a short hiatus since mid-December.

We appreciate everyone's patience this winter GVBL season! Obviously the 2020 pandemic has put all of our lives in turmoil. "Hats off" to our basketball community as parents and grandparents, coaches and most of all the players, have shown a great deal of fortitude with all that has been asked of them this season.

GVBL will continue to deal with the extraordinary circumstances and provide the best possible experience for the kids and families participating through the final months of this GVBL season.

Thank you all for your resilience and flexibility.

The GVBL Winter 2020-21 Schedule for the teams/divisions has been updated for the full regular season.

We ask that everyone, spectators, coaches AND players, continue to wear masks AT ALL TIMES while in the gym/facilities.

GVCO Project Update
If you have passed by the new GVCO Community Center site on Bacton Hill Rd, you have begun to see the transformation of the property.

We built a storage shed, began fencing in the property and opened the practice field in the back of the site. Our GVFL football and GV Cheer groups both held programming at the site this fall.

We have also held a number of community and fundraising events throughout the fall. And you may have seen a good bit of equipment being relocated as we begin to mobilize for future site work at the facility.
New GVCO Community Center
Watch the Walk Through Video for the Future GVCO Community Center
We need your help to finish what we've started! We will not get the necessary financing to complete the project without raising additional funds.

DONATE NOW to finalize the building of our brand new GVCO Community Center!

The time is NOW.... Together we can make it happen!

Check out the program pages:
GVCO Sponsor
The Chuck Barbera Team of REALTORS/ RE/MAX Partners with GVCO in “REALTORS Giving Back” Program
BUYING OR SELLING YOUR HOME?

For anyone who contacts the Chuck Barbera Team at RE/MAX Fine Homes and signs them to serve in the purchase or sale of their next home, GVCO will receive 10% of the real estate commission received!

Let's DO GOOD TOGETHER!!!  
Does your company match employee gifts? It's a great way to maximize your impact!

List of companies with corporate matching gift programs. Please check your company policy.
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