Blog

  • Warren Coalition Now Accepting Submissions for Annual Video Contest

    Warren County youth ages 11-14 are invited to participate in the Warren Coalition’s Health Video Contest, running now through March 1st. To participate, youth need to create a 15-second or 30-second video promoting one of the following four healthy habits:

    • Getting Quality Sleep
    • Eating Healthy
    • Exercising Regularly
    • Drinking Water

    Participants can submit their original video to warrencoalition.org/health-video-contest between now and March 1st. Winners from EACH category will receive a $125 gift card! Only residents of Warren County are eligible for this competition. All local students may participate, whether they are homeschooled or enrolled in public or private school. Music should be omitted from the video unless it is royalty-free music. By submitting a video, a contestant gives Warren Coalition to use the video in online or broadcast commercials to help promote healthy choices among youth.

    This event is sponsored by the Warren Coalition, made possible by Project WAHOO (Working to Achieve Healthy Opportunities and Outcomes), funded by Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth. For questions or more information, contact Celeste Brooks at celeste@warrencoalition.org.

    Warren Coalition is a nonprofit agency established in 1994 to help fill the gaps in health care and substance abuse awareness to the community. The Coalition began under the guidance of Warren Memorial Hospital as an outreach project, but it has since grown and was incorporated in 2001.  The office is currently located in the Warren County Community Center.  Their mission is to make Warren County a safe, healthy, and drug free community through many programs and in collaboration with 15+ member agencies.

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  • Warren Coalition Thanks Community for Support

    The Warren Coalition set an ambitious goal for its 30th Anniversary: to raise $30,000 in 30 days, in honor of their 30 years of service. For a nonprofit experienced in fundraising, this might not seem like a challenge. But the Coalition, which is primarily funded by federal grants, had never embarked on such an endeavor before. Plus, it came on the heels of obtaining sponsors for Celebrate Kids Day and the pitch burst fundraiser, neither of which factored into that $30,000 goal. Several other local nonprofits also had significant, one-time fundraising campaigns going on.

    Nevertheless, the courageous staff at the Coalition took on the goal with enthusiasm and endless optimism, along with the assistance of Coalition member Holly Goode and community member Lisa Parker. Though there were many challenges—such as two hurricanes that significantly impacted the US, and illnesses that kept the staff from engaging in person-to-person fundraising as much as they had planned—there were moments of high hope as well, particularly when an anonymous donor stepped in to offer a $20,000 matching gift and Valley Health Warren Memorial Hospital came through with a $5,000 Difference Maker gift. Altogether, the community successfully met the challenge of raising $30,000 in 30 days!

    “We appreciate every person who made a gift, whatever the size,” said Executive Director Christa Shifflett. “Through our programs, we touch the lives of nearly every person in Warren County. The support we received during our 30 for 30 campaign is reflective of that.”

    The Coalition would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their support of the 30 for 30 campaign. An asterisk (*) indicates Foundational Sponsors and Supporters–those who made a 30 for 30 gift or commitment prior to the kick-off on September 29th:

    Sponsors:

    Difference Maker ($5,000)
    Valley Health Warren Memorial Hospital*

    Superstars ($1,434.30-$3,042.99)
    American Woodmark Foundation*
    Marlow Motors*
    Ramsey Hardware
    Christa Shifflett
    Skyline Insurance Agency*
    State Farm Insurance, Ellen Aders & Bill Powers*

    Influencers ($634.30-$1,433.29)
    Bret Hrbek, Edward Jones
    George McIntyre, The Apple House
    Jean’s Jewelers*
    Joyce Jenkins-Wimmer
    Lightbulb Marketing*
    Dr. Jeffrey Rodman, Here-4-You Counseling
    David Silek

    Businesses/Organizations
    American Legion Giles B. Cook Post 53
    Auto Care Clinic, LLC
    No Doubt Accounting*

    Individuals
    Anonymous
    Bennett’s Chapel UMC Praise Team
    Meredith Bloomfield
    Celeste Brooks*
    Mary Carnahan
    Kathleen & Nick Crettier
    Nick Croft
    Melissa DeDomenico-Payne
    Thomas Englert
    Lauren Foltz
    James Funkhouser
    Holly Goode
    Denise Hackney
    Avery Harper
    Valerie Hayes
    Roy Jones
    Dan Lenz
    Karen McIntyre
    Tonia Meyer*
    Marc Nelson
    Ryan Oates
    Tom Pfeifer
    Heather Rollins
    Kay Schroyer*
    David Silek
    Michelle Smeltzer
    Susan Smith
    Tara Smith
    Ken Thurman*
    Bea Wilfong
    Jill Williams
    Glenn Wood

    “Thank you to all of our sponsors and supporters for helping us to continue our work in Warren County, to partner for a more resilient, drug-free community,” Shiflett said.

    Warren Coalition, celebrating 30 years of service to Warren County, is a nonprofit agency established in 1994 to help fill the gaps in health care and substance abuse awareness to the community. The Coalition began under the guidance of Warren Memorial Hospital as an outreach project, but it has since grown and was incorporated in 2001.  The office is currently located in the Warren County Community Center.  Their mission is to make Warren County a safe, healthy, and drug free community through many programs and in collaboration with 15+ member agencies.

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  • Warren Coalition Thanks Celebrate Kids Day Supporters

    The 11th annual Celebrate Kids Day was another soaking wet event, but once again the spirit of fun pervaded the entire grounds of the Health & Human Services Complex, from the 15th Street Gym to the Diversified Minds Conference Room.

    At set-up time on Sunday September 29th, weather forecasts indicated only occasional drizzle throughout most of the day, with one passing heavy rain, and so organizers made the decision to leave the inflatables outside, along with some other activities. That forecast turned out woefully inaccurate, as a steady rain fell almost the entire day.
    Despite that, more than 300 children poured through the gates with their parents! The Coalition is incredibly thankful for the 80+ staff members and volunteers on-hand to manage the huge crowd.

    Thank you to the CKD sponsors who made this year’s event possible:
    • Warren County Parks & Recreation
    • City National Bank (Petting Zoo Sponsor)
    • Front Royal Dental Care
    • Rotary Club of the Northern Shenandoah Valley
    • Rotary Club of Warren County

    During the event, Warren Coalition once again held the pitch burst fundraiser, which goes to support the various programs of the Coalition. They wish to express their appreciation to those who raised funds to sit in the pitch burst this year: Chris Ballenger, Bret Bement, William Huck, Crystal Cline, George McIntyre, Kahle Magalis, Kristen Pence, Lori Cockrell, Cheryl Cullers, and Jen Avery. The group raised a total of $5,765, which was doubled thanks to a generous anonymous donor.

    Thank you to Misti Walters and Jen Avery for taking many photos throughout the day!

    Warren Coalition, celebrating 30 years of service to Warren County, is a nonprofit agency established in 1994 to help fill the gaps in health care and substance abuse awareness to the community. The Coalition began under the guidance of Warren Memorial Hospital as an outreach project, but it has since grown and was incorporated in 2001. The office is currently located in the Warren County Community Center. Their mission is to make Warren County a safe, healthy, and drug free community through many programs and in collaboration with 15+ member agencies.

  • Warren Coalition’s Celebrate Kids Day September 29th

    FRONT ROYAL, VA—Warren Coalition’s popular event “Celebrate Kids Day” has broken attendance records each of the last two years, and the staff anticipates that this year will continue that trend! This year’s festivities will again be held from 1 pm to 4 pm on Sunday, September 29th, at the Health & Human Services Complex at 465 W 15th Street. The cost for a bracelet that provides unlimited access to all activities is $1 per child (no cost for parents). Participation in one of the Book or Cake Walks is an additional $1 per participant. 

    Celebrate Kids Day is an annual, much-anticipated event, drawing in more than 200 children of various ages each year. It includes inflatable rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, and face painting, among other games provided by Coalition staff and volunteers. Children can paint a small pumpkin (included in the price of the bracelet) while supplies last. In addition, there will be various games and activities provided by organizations from across Warren County. Nearly 20 agencies and businesses have signed up to participate so far.

    Thank you to our 2024 Celebrate Kids Day sponsors!

    Warren County Parks & Recreation
    Front Royal Dental Care
    City National Bank
    Rotary Club of Warren County
    Rotary Club of the Northern Shenandoah Valley

    In conjunction with the event, the Coalition hosts a fundraiser featuring the Pitch Burst, a machine similar to a dunking booth, except that it drops a water-laden balloon on top of the “volunteer.” Community members have been challenged to raise $500 each to earn the “honor” of sitting in the Pitch Burst on the 24th. To see who has accepted this challenge, and/or make a gift to ensure that they get to sit in the “cold” seat, visit https://warrencoalition.org/ckd-pitchburst

    For more information, email wc@warrencoalition.org.

  • 2024 Pitch Burst Competition Begins

    2024 Pitch Burst Competition Begins

    An amazing group of local people have stepped up to raise funds for the Coalition by participating in this year’s Pitch Burst competition! Each person has agreed to raise at least $500 to earn the “honor” of having an 11-inch balloon full of water popped over their head during Celebrate Kids Day on September 29th. Some have set personal goals that are higher, and a few have their eyes set on earning the champion fundraiser title for this year! To see where each of the participants stands, click the button below.

    Pitch Burst competition

    Or click on a name below to go directly to their page and donate towards that person’s goal! Online donations will close on Sunday, September 29th, and only cash or checks received by the 29th will count towards that person’s goal.

    All donations go to support the various programs of the Warren Coalition.

    Jen Avery

    Chris Ballenger

    Bret Bement 

    Crystal Cline 

    Lori Cockrell

    Cheryl Cullers 

    William Huck

    Kahle Magalis 

    George McIntyre 

    Kristen Pence