Rosel and Elliot Schewel Receive Quillian Award
Rosel and Elliot Schewel were recently honored with The Quillian Award at The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation’s 40th Anniversary Celebration held at the James River Conference Center. The Quillian Award was established to honor Margaret and Bill Quillian who have exemplified philanthropy, endowment giving, and service to community during their lifetime. The Quillian Award is “for lifetime achievement, commitment, and dedication toward the betterment of our Central Virginia communities through the promotion of philanthropy and a keen appreciation for the power and longevity of endowment giving.”
In presenting the Quillian Award to the Schewels, Community Foundation Board Chair MaryJane Dolan stated, “This couple has touched countless lives in ways that they will never fully know. They are a duet in harmony orchestrating to leave the world a better place as they journey through. They have been community leaders in numerous cultural, educational, charitable, and political causes. They have given tirelessly of their time and resources for the betterment of educational institutions, human rights organizations, charitable agencies, and political causes.”
Rosel Schewel has served on numerous boards over the years including Amazement Square and the Holocaust Commission. With a friend, she founded the League of Women Voters in Lynchburg in 1951, founded the first Women’s Resource Center, and served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for many years providing guidance and encouragement to abandoned and mistreated youth. She has been active with the Girl Scouts since 1950.
Elliot Schewel served Virginia’s 6th District as Senator for over 20 years. While there, he created the Virginia Economic Development Corporation and authorized the state’s Employee Grievance Procedure. He was a leader in requiring tighter conflict of interest legislation, and he spent much of his time championing the rights of under-represented people. He served on Lynchburg’s City Council and on the boards of Randolph Macon Women’s College and Centra Foundation.
The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation was established in 1972 and exists to promote local philanthropy and to simplify the process of planned giving. The Community Foundation receives and manages permanent gifts for the benefit of the citizens of Lynchburg and the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell. Needs served are broad in scope including human services to children, youth, the needy and the elderly; education; health; the arts; the humanities; and economic development.
The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation currently has 204 special and unrestricted funds, with assets of $30 million. The Community Foundation currently makes grants of over $1.3 million annually in our community. It is one of approximately 700 such community foundations across the nation rendering a valuable service both to the regions they serve and also to donors interested in the present and future of their communities. Additional information concerning The Community Foundation is available at (434) 845-6500 or on the website at www.lynchburgfoundation.org.
October 30, 2012