Community Partners

The Lyric Theatre

The Lyric Theatre opened in 1930 in downtown Blacksburg, Virginia and holds the distinction of being just the third theatre in the entire state of Virginia to be specifically designed for sound pictures. The theatre has a long history of offering high-quality movies, music, theatre productions, and community programming for Blacksburg and the New River Valley regions. Since 1995, the theatre has been operated by The Lyric Council, Inc, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, with the mission of enhancing community participation in the arts and culture by maintaining and preserving the historic Lyric Theatre building while sustaining state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure, providing a diversity of arts programming to the community, establishing and promoting The Lyric Theatre as a regional arts destination, and partnering with community organizations. The Lyric Theatre has been an important community for decades and looks forward to providing valuable artistic and entertainment offerings to the New River Valley for decades to come.

Skip Slocum & Associates has been an avid supporter of The Lyric Theatre for years through "Live at The Lyric" sponsorships which allow the theatre to bring in world-class musicians and entertainers to the Blacksburg community. They also regularly sponsor community appreciation events and pay for advertisements during the pre-movie slide shows. Since 2019, Skip has served on the Lyric Council as a board member and has helped guide the theatre through the pandemic and beyond. Skip Slocum & Associates' commitment to the arts and culture of the Blacksburg area are evident in the profound amount of generosity they have shown, both through financial giving and hours of service. Everyone at The Lyric is immensely appreciative for all that Skip Slocum & Associates give to the theatre and the community at large!

Seth Davis, Executive Director

Blacksburg Farmers Market

Established in the mid-1980's with only a handful of farmers in a parking lot on S. Main Street, the Blacksburg Farmers Market has grown to become one of the New River Valley's most popular destinations throughout the year. Located in the heart of downtown, patrons and visitors enjoy a full array of fresh, local food, gift items, and much more provided by farmers and vendors who are located within a 50-mile radius of the market. From April - November, local musicians grace the public stage to bring an air of fun and entertainment to the market, and everyone who visits loves the positive vibe and energy.

Skip Slocum & Associates has been a long-time supporter and sponsor of the market. They believe in the mission and goals set forth by the Friends of the Farmer's Market - the non-profit organization that manages the market. Skip also serves on our Board of Directors and is dedicated to ensuring the market thrives. Without the support of community-minded individuals like Skip and Peg, fulfilling our mission to support local farmers would be much more challenging. Thank you, Skip Slocum & Associates, for your continued support!

Deborah Edwards, Director

Blacksburg High School Track & XC

The Blacksburg High School Cross Country and Track teams have a long history of success in Virginia and on the national scale. The women's cross-country team has attended the state cross country meet 43 years in a row, and is the only team in Virginia that has attended every Virginia state meet. The men's cross-country team now has 11 state championship victories, more than any other team in Virginia. The Men's and Women's track teams, both Indoor and Outdoor, are always in contention to be the best teams in the state. Most recently, the Men's track team won the Indoor State Championship in 2023.

Over the years, the team has won many state titles, and had numerous All-Americans and college commits. Much of this has been made possible by the generosity of Skip Slocum & Associates. Their dedication to the team has allowed Blacksburg High School opportunities to compete with the best, something we might not have been able to do otherwise. Not only have they helped our team financially, but Skip can also be found volunteering at BHS home meets! Skip Slocum & Associates care for the sport can perhaps best be seen in their annual scholarship given to a graduating senior who best exemplifies what it means to be a BHS Track/XC Bruin. These contributions to the team inspire the Blacksburg Track and XC programs to strive to be better and we are so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to work together!

Stephen Howard, Head Coach

Christiansburg Institute

Christiansburg Institute (CI, Inc.) is a grassroots 501c3 cultural heritage nonprofit dedicated to community education, intergenerational empowerment, and responsible stewardship of African American history and culture in Southwest Virginia. Consistent support by generous backers like Skip Slocum and Peg Warren has been instrumental, helping us promote and raise awareness about the 100-year history of the first secondary school in the region to educate formerly enslaved people - the Christiansburg Industrial Institute (CII). A big thank you to Skip and Peg for empowering us to fully live our nonprofit mission and for reinvesting in the preservation of Black history.

Chris Sanchez, Executive Director

New River Land Trust

The New River Land Trust works to conserve farmland, forests, open spaces, and historic places in the New River region of Southwest Virginia. We work with landowners to conserve or restore their land, and with partners on large conservation and public access projects such as Brush Mountain Park.

We are grateful to Skip Slocum & Associates for their continuous support of the Land Trust since 2017. As a top event sponsor, they have played a crucial role in making our events a success, particularly the highly anticipated Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, which is a significant fundraiser for the Land Trust. We appreciate their dedication to our cause and look forward to continuing our partnership with them in the future.

John Eustis, Executive Director

Downtown Blacksburg, Inc

Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. strives to make the downtown district a flourishing place to live, work, and play in the Town of Blacksburg. With over 150 businesses ranging from unique retail and dining, to lodging, arts and culture, government, and non-profits, downtown provides services and entertainment options for locals and visitors alike. Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. advocates for its members acting as a liaison to the local town council, chamber of commerce, and Virginia Tech and supports its mission through annual signature events like Summer Solstice Fest and Steppin' Out®. The success of these events is due in part, to working with sponsors to provide free, family activities and educational opportunities, live performances by community groups, hospitality for our musicians, and additional event support.

Skip Slocum & Associates has supported Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. for many years by volunteering, Skip serving as a member of the board of directors, and providing financial support for Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. events. Skip Slocum & Associates participates in sponsorships at various levels, ensuring Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. continues to grow and enrich downtown Blacksburg.

Tracie Hughes, Director

Poverty Creek Trails Coalition

The Poverty Creek Trails Coalition is a 501(c)(3) that was started when a small group of local outdoor enthusiasts saw a growing need for trail maintenance and construction in our local community. With their vision at top of mind, the small group banded together and began maintaining the neglected and eroded trails in the Pandapas Pond Trail System. Over the past 11 years, the The Poverty Creek Trails Coalition has continued to make its mark in the local community through the continuation of successful projects and partnerships with the USFS, New River Valley Bicycle Association, New River Land Trust, the Town of Blacksburg, and more. Today, these dedicated volunteers still pick up shovels, rally volunteers, and work with local organizations to carry out our mission; create, maintain and improve multi-use trails in the NRV through coordinated volunteer efforts.

Skip Slocum & Associates has generously supported The Poverty Creek Trails Coalition for years. Skip himself has performed quite a bit of volunteer trail work! Skip Slocum & Associates has contributed significant monetary support and was recently the title sponsor for our 2023 trail party and fundraiser. Their support was critical in the early days of The Poverty Creek Trails Coalition when we were just starting out and we continue to appreciate their generosity and support!

JP Gannon, President