Saturday's Joyful Noise Holiday Bazaar Helps Educate Minorities

What started in the background as a small scholarship-awarding operation – the Verle and Eleanor Hammond Foundation – has increased its visibility and found its way into the educational lives of dozens of children in Loudoun County and beyond. Established in 2002 by husband and wife team, Verle and Eleanor Hammond, the foundation provides scholarships, mentoring and a soon-to-be leadership program to minority students, allowing them to receive a little help along the way as they pursue higher education.

“We feel strongly that it’s a worthwhile investment to go to college,” said the Hammonds’ daughter and Executive Director of the Foundation, Veronne Williams.

Descendants from a line of educators, the Hammonds saw a need that they wanted to fill. Their grandchildren, who attend school in Loudoun County, were the conduits for making financial needs of other Loudoun County students visible to them.

“They saw the need first hand,” said Williams.

That’s when the family decided to do something.

“My family has always been involved in giving back,” said Williams. “It’s instilled in me—it’s in my bones and it feels good to give back.”

Since 2003, the Hammond Foundation has given 46 scholarships worth $2,500 each to high school seniors attending college. It has sponsored reading programs at Loudoun County elementary schools and is a strong supporter of the “Reading is Fundamental” program. The foundation has also begun a mentoring program, with plans to “take that program to the next level,” according to Williams. The organization also hopes to expand to other counties in Northern Virginia.

“My father is a visionary,” said Williams.” “He’s even joked about wanting to someday rival the Ford Foundation.”

To do that, the Hammond Foundation needs to increase its asset base to reach out to more children, provide more mentoring programs and establish a leadership conference that will improve the lives of the children they are assisting.

One of the fundraising tactics that they are employing is an event that can be enjoyed by the entire community this weekend. The “Joyful Noise Holiday Bazaar and Bakeshop” will feature upscale crafters and vendors, an old-fashioned bake sale, cupcake decorating, holiday decorating demonstrations, a silent auction, hot food and holiday music. All proceeds benefit the foundation’s college scholarship program. 

“Our family came up with this concept because we love to shop and we wanted to do something fun and different. In celebration of our own entrepreneurial spirit, we wanted to also support local crafters and entrepreneurs,” said Williams.

The event also gives the Hammond Foundation the opportunity to connect with the community in which it serves. It’s one of the ways that the Hammonds are making their Foundation more visible.

“I know that we are doing the right kind of work,” said Williams. “When we attend the awards ceremonies at the end of the school year and see the beaming faces of the kids that earned scholarships and we talk to the parents who tell us that the scholarship ‘Came at the right time,’ we know that we are doing the right thing.”

The runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, from at Dominion High School, 21326 Augusta Drive, in Sterling. Admission to is free.

More information about the Hammond Foundation can be found here.