CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Cav Futures Foundation is the nonprofit arm of the Official NIL Collective of the Virginia Athletics Department Cav Futures.   While the conversation around collegiate athletics has primarily been about player compensation, the Cav Futures Foundation has also emphasized partnering UVA student athletes with local area nonprofits to enhance their student experience.  Cav Futures Foundation Executive Director Lo Davis has stated that his organization wants the athletes they work with to have an opportunity to utilize their platforms to serve the community, which embodies the overall values of the University.   In an effort to fulfill that mission, for the second straight year, the Cav Futures Foundation has invested heavily into the community and this year the total dollar amount was over $200,000 going to local nonprofits.  The full announcement from Cav Futures Foundation is below:

*Cav Futures Foundation Announces 20 Grant Recipients for Local Nonprofit Initiatives*

Charlottesville, VA – May 7, 2025 – Cav Futures Foundation is thrilled to announce the recipients
for its second year of it’s one-of-a-kind grant program, Champions of the Community, resulting
in the selection of 20 local nonprofit organizations to receive funding for their impactful
initiatives in the Charlottesville community. City of Promise, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Big
Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge, Sexual Assault Resource Agency, Loaves & Fishes
Food Pantry, The Salvation Army of Charlottesville, Charlottesville High School, Cultivate
Charlottesville, Hospice of the Piedmont, Start A Spark of Central VA, Central Little League, HER
Sports, Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, Music Resource Center, Bridge Ministry, The BUCK
Squad, Make-A-Wish of Greater Virginia, 100 Black Men of Central Virginia, Bennett’s Village,
and The Yellow Door Foundation make up the grant recipients for 2025.

Cav Futures Foundation is proud to partner with this diverse group of nonprofits dedicated to
addressing critical needs and driving positive change within our community. These selected
organizations exemplify innovation, dedication, and a deep commitment to improving the lives
of our fellow residents. Seven more grants were awarded in Year 2 of the program, with the
amount given back to the community totaling more than $200,000.
“We could not be more excited for how the second year of Champions of the Community
went,” said Lo Davis, Executive Director of Cav Futures Foundation. “There were nearly double
the applicants from year one, and Cav Futures Foundation is thrilled to be able to support such
a diverse group of organizations providing necessary support to the Charlottesville community.”
Of the 20 recipients, 14 are first time grant awardees through the Champions of the Community
program. The organizations receiving grants in 2025 support Charlottesville in everything from
food security to mentorship to mental health resources and more.

Grant applications received a thorough examination by the UVA Student-Athlete Leadership
Academy team, made up of 20 athletes across 12 sports. The Leadership Academy students
spent months receiving education about the grant making and awarding process.
“Evaluating Champions of the Community grant recipients really opened my eyes,” third year
football player Will Bettridge said of his experience in the program. “It was amazing to see so
many people helping and volunteering to make the community a better place. Working with
my peers and choosing recipients was such an honor and really helped me feel like I was
making a difference.”

“This program is a unique way for student athletes to leverage their NIL (Name, Image and
Likeness) to support their local community,” Davis said. “We are grateful to the Weinberg Family
Foundation for their continued collaboration and support that allows CavFutures Foundation
and UVA to make such an impact.”
For more information about CavFutures Foundation and its grant program, please visit
www.cavscare.org.