Brave Virginians will frolic in a frigid Atlantic Ocean this Saturday for a heart-warming cause. The 17th annual Polar Plunge splashes off in Virginia Beach with a goal of raising $1 million for Special Olympics Virginia. Last year’s bone-chilling event raised $915,000. “Nothing in Special Olympics Virginia, other than the spirit of our athletes, is as unique as the Polar Plunge,“ said Rick Jeffrey, the organization’s president.

The MathScience Innovation Center recently announced that Altria Group Inc. has pledged $200,000 over two years to help bring nanoscience—the study of extremely small objects such as atoms and molecules—into more area classrooms. The funding will support the 21st Century Nanotechnology Fellows Program, which will provide training to help 18 area teachers introduce nanoscience concepts into the curriculum for middle and high school students.

Raised by a single mother, Pastor Michael Jones of Village of Faith Ministries knows how women heading households struggle. For nine women, he’s reduced some of their burdens. “We give these single mothers something a lot of Americans don’t have, that is a car without a car note,“ Jones said. “For these ladies to get a vehicle that runs and is in good condition and they don’t have to have a car note, its awesome.“

Raised by a single mother, Pastor Michael Jones of Village of Faith Ministries knows how women heading households struggle. For nine women, he’s reduced some of their burdens.

A partnership between Mondial Assistance and WWBT-12 spotlighted three local women in a “World of Good” television campaign. Mondial Assistance, an international travel insurance and assistance provider with U.S. operations based in Henrico County, purchased air time on WWBT-12 and produced spots featuring the women whose efforts improve the lives of others.

Connor’s Heroes Foundation last week donated $60,510 to the VCU Massey Cancer Center. The Jamie Hess Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Research Fund and the Pediatric Cancer Research Endowment Fund will split the contribution. Connor’s Heroes established the endowment fund last year. Steve and Lisa Goodwin founded Connor’s Heroes in 2006 after their son, Connor, now 7, completed treatment for leukemia.

Still searching for that perfect gift? Look no further than http://www.redefine-christmas.org, where you can make donations in honor of your family and friends. Giving to others in need is a timeless, profound gift. Another plus? No wrapping is involved. - Robin Farmer

As the holidays approach, some volunteers who want to donate their time are unsure where to go. Hands

Southern States Cooperative, based in Henrico County, has raised $250,000 for the National 4-H Council through its 2008 Clovers All Over program. Adopted in 2007, the program celebrates National 4-H week. Green paper clovers, the symbol of 4-H, decorated Southern States retail locations Oct. 5-19. For a minimum $1 donation, customers displayed their name on a clover in support of their local 4-H group.

Low-income residents struggling to pay their heating bills have until tomorrow to apply for the state’s Fuel Assistance program.

An elementary school in a small Texas fishing village, battered by Hurricane Ike two months ago, is getting help from a Texas native who now lives in Henrico County. When Cindy McNamara learned of the children’s needs from her niece, a second-grade schoolteacher in the village of San Leon, she decided to act. “I had no idea what I was getting into, but I just knew I had to do something,“ said McNamara, who grew up in La Marque, not far from San Leon.

The deadline is fast approaching for area nonprofit organizations to apply for free marketing services. CreateAthon onCampus at Virginia Commonwealth University matches students and their professional mentors with selected nonprofits to work on creative projects such as logos, letterheads, outdoor boards and Web graphics. Friday is the deadline to apply for “the opportunity to work with a team of talented and dedicated students,“ said Peyton Rowe, who created and directs the program.

A story on Page A4 in last Sunday’s paper about a plastic surgeon who reconstructs the faces of children around the world struck a chord with readers. Dr. Geoff Williams of Boise, Idaho, lives modestly in his parents’ home so he can pay for mission trips to operate on patients. In 2005, the 53-year-old created the International Children’s Surgical Foundation to raise money to enable him to keep working after his savings ran out.

At least 300,000 low-income Virginians can get a free cell phone with free service for a year. Last month Virginia became the third state to have the phones distributed through TracFone Wireless Inc.‘s SafeLink Wireless Program. The SafeLink Wireless service will provide 68 minutes of air time each month for a year. The Federal Communications Commission recently authorized TracFone to provide SafeLink, the company’s version of the federally subsidized program Lifeline, which helps low-income families get affordable phone service.

The Cameron Foundation awarded grants totaling $3,085,331 to 30 nonprofits throughout the Tri-Cities and Southside Virginia last month. Virginia’s Gateway Region, a regional economic development organization, received the largest award. A $1 million, three-year grant will boost economic development efforts in the cities of Petersburg, Colonial Heights and Hopewell, as well as the counties of Dinwiddie, Prince George, Sussex, and the southern portion of Chesterfield.