May was a month filled with celebration as the school year ended and seven seniors graduated from the Boys Home School! The students stayed active by volunteering in the community, enjoying minimester fun and finishing the soccer season. The summer will bring afternoon activities and the reemergence of Fun Fridays.
For the third year in a row, Boys Home of Virginia will be participating in a 24-hour online giving event called Give Local Alleghany Highlands on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. This event is sponsored by The Alleghany Foundation and MightyCause.
Give Local Alleghany Highlands is an opportunity for community members to support local non-profit organizations. Every participating organization has the chance to win additional monetary prizes for donations received on May 23. Any online donations to Boys Home of Virginia during the power hours of 10 a.m. – 11 a.m., 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., and 8 p.m. – 9 p.m. will help Boys Home become eligible to win a prize for the most money raised in that hour. There will also be a Golden Ticket prize drawing each hour from 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. on May 23 for any non-profit that receives donations during these hours.
This is a one-day, online giving event; however, any cash or check donations received May 9 – May 23 will be counted towards the grand total received. The minimum donation is $5.00, and there is no maximum donation limit. Please visit www.givelocalah.org to donate on behalf of Boys Home of Virginia or for more information about the Give Local Alleghany Highlands event. If you need additional information about Boys Home, feel free to contact Melinda Nichols at 540-965-7707 or visit www.boyshomeofva.org.
April was a fun-filled month on the Boys Home campus. The warmer weather brought more opportunities to enjoy being outside and exploring Boys Home’s 1,200 acres. The students are gearing up for their last month of school before enjoying downtime and summer camp programs. Spring is here and the staff and students are elated!
Covington Ruritan Club Vice President Gary Wayne Twitty and Boys Home Executive Director Chris Doyle (left/right)
The Covington Ruritan Club has contributed to the playground fund at Boys Home of Virginia. Boys Home’s current playground has been in place since its installation in 1958, and funds are being raised to purchase new equipment. Boys Home staff and students are grateful for the support of the Covington Ruritan Club.
Boys Home staff and students are pleased to welcome Ash Falireas as a houseparent. Ash’s hometown is Louisville, Kentucky. Currently, he is enrolled at the University of Kentucky and is completing his degree online with a major in business finance and a minor in biology. Ash has a passion for photography and has helped with pictures at All Saints Episcopal Camp for the past thirteen years. He was first introduced to Boys Home through Executive Director Doyle and fellow houseparent Carter Ramsay.
In addition to his duties as a houseparent, Ash served as the head coach for the 2022-2023 season of junior varsity basketball. He stated, “I am proud of how well the students played as a team. As the season progressed, each player played better basketball. The season was not about wins or losses for me. I simply wanted them to enjoy the game.” When asked about the lessons he has learned as a houseparent, Ash had an interesting response. “I have had to learn when to react and when to let small items go with the students. In addition, I have learned the value of time management.” On his days off Ash enjoys finding great food spots, gaming and traveling to nearby cities to explore. Ash helps to create a supportive environment for each student he encounters, helping them to develop into young men who positively impact those around them and the local community.
