Mary Virginia O’Bannon Fund Awards $20,000 to Rappahannock County Public Schools

The Northern Piedmont Community Foundation awarded Rappahannock County Public School a $20,000 grant to support its Behind-the-Wheel Driver's Education Program. The funding grant was offered through the foundation's Mary Virginia O'Bannon Fund. The fund was established in 2017 through a bequest from Mary Smith Virginia O'Bannon. RCPS will launch the Behind the Wheel training program, which is certified by the state of Virginia to test the skills of students between the age of 16 and 18 to issue a license. 

The funding grant will be used primarily to support outfitting the driving vehicle used in the Behind-the-Wheel Driver's Education Program. The funding grant allows RCPS to offer the behind-the-wheels training program, which is also currently offered in Fauquier, Culpeper, and Madison County high schools. While priority will be given to students of RCPS the school has also stated that they are also interested in offering the service to eligible youth in Rappahannock County who meet the eligibility criteria. Northern Piedmont Community Foundation Executive Director Jane Bowling-Wilson had this to say about the funding grant, "the fact that our students will not have to secure and pay for a company to come to Rappahannock County for Behind the Wheel is progress.   It will save parents money and give our students the training they need to drive safely, a win-win for all. "