We could list a dazzling array of facts and figures here about our strong and continued asset growth and our many years of life-changing grant making, but those can be found elsewhere on this site. In this space, our purpose is to simply say we enable generous people like you to easily give back to the community you love. Whether that community is the Roanoke Valley, the Martinsville-Henry County area, the Alleghany Highlands or other parts of Western Virginia, we stand ready to serve you. You will discover that incorporating the community foundation option into your lifetime charitable giving and your estate plans will prove rewarding while being flexible and effective in its execution, tax-wise in its benefits, and permanent in carrying on your philanthropic legacy.
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The Foundation is honored to support the Virginia Museum of Natural History's Dino Festival, happening July 24–25!
Explore life-size dinosaurs, fossils, animatronics, hands-on activities, and more—plus it’s your last chance to experience the “Age of Dinosaurs” exhibit.
Fun for all ages and food trucks too! You won't want to miss it!Get ready to roar and explore your way through an unforgettable prehistoric adventure packed with jaw-dropping dinosaur fossils, towering life-size skeletons, and "oh-my!" models of some of the most legendary creatures ever to roam our planet!
Budding paleontologists of all ages can pick the brains of renowned dinosaur experts, enjoy dino-themed crafts and activities, come face-to-face with animatronic dinosaurs, and receive a last-chance opportunity to explore the soon-to-be-extinct special exhibit, "The Age of Dinosaurs"! When your hunger takes over after a day of exploring paleontological paradise, be sure to stop by the outdoor Dino Dining District for its impressive lineup of food options, ranging from Chick-fil-A to Ello Gelato!
The adventure takes place during Dino Festival 2026 at the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville on Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day! Keep scrolling to learn more!
[Conveniently located near the VA/NC border, the museum is an accessible and rewarding day trip destination for travelers from Roanoke, Lynchburg, and the New River Valley in Virginia, as well as the Triad, Triangle, and Charlotte in North Carolina — and all of the lovely points in between! Too far away for a day trip? Overnight it and enjoy the event both Friday and Saturday!]
LIFE-SIZE CAST SKELETONS, SKULLS & MODELS!
Dino Festival features an incredible array of dinosaur skeletons, skulls and models, including:
Tyrannosaurus rex
One of the most iconic dinosaurs of all time, T. rex was a large carnivorous dinosaur that lived in what is now western North America approximately 68 to 66 million years ago.
Triceratops
A large, plant-eating dinosaur distinguishable by its large frill and three horns that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, from approximately 68 to 66 million years ago
Stegosaurus
A large, plant-eating dinosaur distinguishable by two rows of bony plates on its back. It lived during the Late Jurassic period, from approximately 155 to 150 million years ago
Acrocanthosaurus
A massive, carnivorous theropod dinosaur that existed in what is now North America during the Early Cretaceous period, from approximately 125 million to 100 million years ago
Allosaurus
A large, carnivorous theropod dinosaur of the Late Jurassic period, from approximately 155 to 150 million years ago
Eoraptor
A deer-sized, carnivorous, theropod dinosaur that is one of the earliest known of the dinosaurs
Platecarpus Tympaniticus
A 17 foot long cast skeleton of a massive sea-going reptile that lived 81 to 84 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. This animal, a species of mosasaur, once swam in waters that covered what is now the central United States!
Dromaeosaurus (skull)
A medium-sized carnivorous dinosaur and a very close relative of the famous Velociraptor that lived in what is now the western United States and Alberta, Canada during the Late Cretaceous from approximately 77 to 74 million years ago
Albertosaurus (skull)
A genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaurs that lived in western North America during the Late Cretaceous Period, from approximately 70 million years ago
Edmontosaurus (skull)
A genus of duck-billed dinosaur that lived in western North America during the Cretaceous Period approximately 73 to 66 million years ago.
Dunkleosteus (skull)
An armored fish from a group of fish called placoderms that lived approximately 360 to 380 million years ago.
Tylosaurus (skull)
A gigantic, sea-going relative of lizards, Tylosaurus was one of the biggest ocean predators ever to live. With a skull almost six feet long, a body over forty feet, and a mouth full of pointed teeth, it could pretty much eat whatever it wanted, from fish to other giant lizards.
DINO FOSSILS GALORE!
This year's event will feature an incredible diversity of dinosaur bones and footprints of all sizes, ranging from humungous sauropods (long-necked dinosaurs) to meat-eating theropod dinosaurs, and even armored (yes, armored!) dinosaurs! Dino Festival will also feature the fossils of ancient animals that lived alongside dinosaurs, from ancient crocodiles to the gliding reptile, Tanytrachelos! Renowned paleontologists will even be on hand to tell the stories of these amazing specimens and how scientists unearth fossils and bring them back to museums to study and preserve!
ANIMATRONIC FUN!
Dino Festival features animatronic displays of two of the most beloved dinosaurs of all time, including:
Dilophosaurus
A genus of large, predatory dinosaurs, Dilophosaurus lived in the Early Jurassic approximately 201 to 183 million years ago. No, this animatronic does not spit poison (nor did its real-life counterpart) as depicted in the original Jurassic Park movie.
Herrerasaurus
One of the first big dinosaur predators that lived 230 million years ago in South America.
FESTIVITIES ABOUND!
Face painting, balloon animals, food trucks, and a wide-variety of dino-themed crafts and activities will take place both days of the event! Be sure to stop by the Museum Store to browse the special collection of dino-themed items for sale! Oh, and make certain you capture a memory of your adventure at the Dino Fest Photo Booth...at no extra charge!
EXPERIENCE 'THE AGE OF DINOSAURS'!
Closing for good immediately following Dino Festival, this special exhibit allows visitors to adventure into an age when dinosaurs ruled the earth! Experience an incredible diversity of dinosaur fossils, cast skeletons and skulls, as well as exciting animatronic dinosaur displays and interactive elements (fossil dig pit, anyone?), as you learn the fascinating story of dinosaurs and the role paleontologists play in providing our current understanding of these incredible animals!
DINO DINING DISTRICT!
Dino Festival will feature a wide variety of food and drink options. Vendors and food trucks scheduled to be on-site include:
* Bahama Sno-Shack
* Chick-fil-a
* D's Hot/Ice
* Ello Gelato
* Jen's Cakes with Personality
* Kona Ice
* MalloyDogz
* Palumbo's Hoagie House
* Smokin' Blaze BBQ
ADMISSION IS ONLY...
* $15/Ages 18-59
* $10/Ages 3-17, seniors 60+, and college students
* FREE for children under 3
* FREE for VMNH Members
* FREE for members of ASTC Passport participating institutions
* FREE for military families who present military ID
* FREE for EBT cardholders who present their EBT card & official photo ID
[Free admission for EBT cardholders is valid for the cardholder (from any state) and up to 5 immediate family members living within the same household as the cardholder. Free admission for military families (active or retired) requires military ID. Members of ASTC Passport participating institutions must provide their membership card to receive free admission. Groupons will be accepted. Friday attendees who wish to experience the festival again on Saturday may do so at no extra charge. Please note that while admission includes access to all exhibit galleries, many regular exhibit displays will not be accessible due to the special dinosaur awesomeness.]
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO...
* All listed offerings and information may be subject to change.
* This event takes place indoors and outdoors.
* Parking will be available off-site and free of charge.
* A parking map/directions will be listed prior to the event.
* Paying attendees on Friday will be allowed to experience the event again on Saturday at no additional charge.
DINO FESTIVAL IS SPONSORED BY...
* Atlantic Union Bank
* Bassett Furniture
* Brightspeed
* Carter Bank
* Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia
* Hooker Furnishings
* Renewal by Andersen of Roanoke
* Virginia is for Lovers
[Special thanks to The Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust for its continued, long-standing support of all museum festivals!]
FREE ADMISSION FOR EBT CARDHOLDERS MADE POSSIBLE BY...
* Hooker Furnishings
* Carter Bank
* Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia
FREE ADMISSION FOR MILITARY FAMILIES MADE POSSIBLE BY...
* Blue Star Families ... See MoreSee Less
Grace Network of Martinsville & Henry County has been serving the community for over 19 years, providing vital assistance with rent, utilities, and food to individuals and families in crisis.
The Foundation was proud to award a $14,200 Capacity Building grant to support the replacement of outdated technology. These upgrades are helping Grace Network operate more efficiently, strengthen connections, and continue delivering compassionate care to those who need it most.
To learn more visit: www.gracenetworkmhc.org/ ... See MoreSee Less
Happy Juneteenth!
Our offices will be closed today in recognition of Juneteenth, a national day of observation commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. We will resume normal business hours on Monday, June 22nd. ... See MoreSee Less
The Summer Grant Cycle is almost here!
We’re excited to offer three funding opportunities to support a variety of community needs and initiatives.
Applications open July 1, 2026! Learn more about this opportunity by clicking the link below:
www.cfwesternva.org/grant-opportunities/ ... See MoreSee Less
Proud to support Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County and the vital work they do every day. Their impact truly makes a difference! ... See MoreSee Less
We are grateful to the Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia for supporting our mission through a $2,300 grant from the Community Catalyst Funds.
This funding will help us upgrade our donor management software, allowing us to better organize donor relationships, strengthen fundraising efforts, and continue building support for survivors of brain injury across our service area.
Thank you for investing in our work and in the individuals and families we serve. 💙
#braininjuryawareness #communitysupport #NonprofitFunding #grateful #westernvirginia #BrainInjuryServices #CommunityFoundation #donormanagement #nonprofitwork ... See MoreSee Less
It was wonderful to see the community come together to celebrate the Presbyterian Community Center's grand opening of their new building. The Community Foundation was proud to support this meaningful project, and we are grateful for the dedication and impact PCC brings to our region.
Congratulations on the beautiful new space and the exciting new logo!
To learn more visit: www.pccse.org/ ... See MoreSee Less
Congratulations on receiving the Capacity Building Grant! Thank you for your commitment and the impactful work you continue to do in support of the community.Thank you Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia for the opportunity to upgrade our technology with the Capacity Building Grant. We are incredibly appreciative of the opportunity and thrilled to be chosen as a recipient! ... See MoreSee Less
Our offices will be closed from Tuesday, May 26th to Thursday, May 28th, for a staff retreat to focus on team building and planning for our upcoming initiatives. We will resume normal business hours on Friday, May 29th. ... See MoreSee Less
Today we honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.
In observance of Memorial Day, our offices are closed today. Please note that our team will also be away from Tuesday, May 26th through Thursday, May 28th for a staff retreat. We will resume normal business hours on Friday, May 29th. ... See MoreSee Less