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new river valley virginia

BUZZ celebrates 50th Episode! 900 506 Michael Hemphill

BUZZ celebrates 50th Episode!

As originally broadcast July 17, 2024, on Blue Ridge PBS …

Celebrate a milestone with us as we present our 50th episode of BUZZ on PBS!

Launched in 2020 at the start of the pandemic, BUZZ features the great work of mostly Southwest Virginia nonprofits, and the marketing professionals affiliated with the American Advertising Federation of Roanoke who donate their time and talent to help these life-giving organizations attract more people to their cause.

“I’ve always loved nonprofits because they literally do everything,” said BUZZ creator Michael Hemphill. “They help the hungry and homeless, they teach kids how to dance and sing, they shelter and care for animals, and provide therapies for people of all disabilities. But whether from lack of money, talent or time, nonprofits often don’t do a good job generating the ‘buzz’ they need to thrive. It has been an honor to highlight – and help – dozens of nonprofits through our show.”

This one-hour 50th episode of BUZZ features special moments from the show’s first five years including Healing Strides of Virginia, Southwest Virginia Ballet, Eastmont Community Foundation, Christiansburg Institute, Tudor House, The Least of These homeless ministry, the six-part “Art in Roanoke” series in partnership with the Roanoke Cultural Endowment, and Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley.

In December 2023 BUZZ expanded to Hemphill’s hometown of Birmingham, Ala., and featured Children of Slain Police Officers, Studio by the Tracks, Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, and Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank.

BUZZ is currently producing new episodes for Blue Ridge PBS and Alabama Public Television that will air later this year. More information at buzz4good.com.

Top 10 BUZZ of 2023 900 432 Michael Hemphill

Top 10 BUZZ of 2023

Thank you for buzzing with us this year!

We hope you enjoy this highlight reel of our Top 10 buzz-worthy moments of 2023 … and look forward to highlighting and helping even more nonprofits in 2024!

No. 10: The Y is more than a workout as we showed in our episode starring YMCA of Virginia’s Blue Ridge. See the stories of some at-risk teens served by “Rise 540.” Watch full episode. 

No. 9: Nonprofits literally do everything – from homeless shelters and children’s art programs to organizations like the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program that helps entrepreneurs design cutting-edge drugs and patent portable optical laser cutters. Watch full episode.

No. 8: The Roanoke City Public Schools arts program teaches kids how to dance, sing, paint, sculpt, play a stringed instrument, march in the band, produce digital music … and recycling and turtle-stacking? Watch full episode. 

 No. 7: How excited was the Community Foundation of the New River Valley when it soared past its goal for the 10th annual GiveLocalNRV? Watch full episode.

 No. 6: With its scenic waterfalls, hiking trails, gurgling streams and star-gazing skies, Alta Mons pulses with divinity for the thousands of people who retreat each year at the 800-acre eastern Montgomery County camp. But its human heart beats within one man: Jim Pearman. Watch full episode.

 No. 5: We buzzed at the chance to talk to Virginia Tech’s Liz Kitley, Kenny Brooks and Brent Pry for our episode starring The Hokie Way, which helps VT athletes use their Name, Image and Likeness to promote local nonprofits. One of those nonprofits is the Lifering Foundation, founded by Kelly Woolwine amidst incredible suffering. Watch full episode.

 No. 4: We’re fortunate to have Dan Mirolli in our hive as our cinematographer. His work really buzzes in our episode featuring The Least of These homeless ministry at night. Watch full episode. 

 No. 3: How proud is Norma Mondragon’s mother for the life she has built thanks to Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley? Watch full episode.

 No. 2: BUZZ creator Michael Hemphill returns to his hometown of Birmingham where he connects with old friends and his alma mater to produce episodes on four impactful nonprofits that began airing in December on Alabama Public Television.

 No. 1: In our most viewed video of 2023, musicians Bryan “Harvest Blaque” Hancock and J.P. Powell – joined by Roanoke Symphony maestro David Stewart Wiley, Opera Roanoke’s Brooke Tolley, Roanoke Cultural Endowment’s Shaleen Powell, and the Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir – provide the artistic beat for what makes Roanoke, Virginia, a great place for business. Watch full episode.

Putting the buzz in business 961 540 Michael Hemphill

Putting the buzz in business

As originally broadcast November 15, 2023, on Blue Ridge PBS …

Since 2017, RAMP – the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program – has been the buzz for nearly 50 entrepreneurs throughout western Virginia.

From high-tech engineers to white-coated scientists, RAMP has provided expertise instruction, 1:1 mentorship, non-equity funding, office space and a host of other resources to help startup companies accelerate their business.

On this episode of BUZZ – our 39th! – we’ll feature RAMP’s incredible work and provide it with some accelerating of its own with some cutting-edge marketing help from a familiar face to BUZZ, Carrie Cousins of LeadPoint Digital.

The Hokie Way kicks off Season 4 900 505 Michael Hemphill

The Hokie Way kicks off Season 4

As originally broadcast October 4, 2023, on Blue Ridge PBS …

Virginia Tech sports fans are understandably passionate about how its teams perform on the field and court. But for nonprofits throughout Virginia there’s as much enthusiasm for what the Hokies are doing outside of the games to further their missions in the community.

That’s due to another nonprofit in and of itself: The Hokie Way. The Hokie’s Way mission is to create opportunities for Virginia Tech student-athletes to leverage their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in support of charitable organizations.

On today’s episode of BUZZ, we will feature head football coach Brent Pry, women’s basketball coach Kenny Brooks, and two of our favorite Hokies: Liz Kitley and Sean Pedulla, in hopes we can help The Hokie Way score more buzz of its own.

Funding for this episode is generously provided by Partners in Financial Planning and EvolutionHR.

This BUZZ is personal 900 506 Michael Hemphill

This BUZZ is personal

As originally broadcast July 26, 2023, on Blue Ridge PBS …

Twenty years ago I was new to the nonprofit world working on my first project in my community of Shawsville, Virginia: revitalizing an abandoned nursing home into a community center. 

Our group of volunteers had little money and no experience, but one organization was willing to believe in us and award us our first grant: The Community Foundation of the New River Valley. 

What an honor it has been to produce our newest BUZZ featuring the Community Foundation’s work helping hundreds of nonprofits throughout Virginia’s New River Valley. Thank you 5Points Creative and Bruce C. Bryan for providing the buzz for the Foundation as it coordinated its 10 annual — and biggest ever — GiveLocalNRV!

About the episode:

Founded in 1994 with just $8, the Community Foundation of the New River Valley today claims more than 200 funds and $15 million in assets from which it awards each year $500,000+ in grants and scholarships. Hundreds of nonprofits — and thousands of individuals — have been helped by this vital organization.

One of the big events that it hosts each year for the region’s nonprofit community is Give Local NRV, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2023. Returning to BUZZ for its seventh episode, 5Points Creative gives a major marketing boost to the Community Foundation for this milestone occasion.