About the Foundation

The Needs of Our City

All you have to do is pick up a newspaper, watch the news, or listen to the radio to see the challenges facing officers in public safety in our city. There is little doubt that our most promising asset is at risk.  The challenge is to provide both proactive and reactive solutions to all citizens and ensure that the underlying causes that lead to crime and the fear of crime are addressed. 

The City of Richmond and specifically the Richmond Police Department works diligently to address:

• Increasing idle time among school age children in the community;
• Public Safety issues related to the homeless and poverty rates of Richmond residents. The highest percentage of drop-outs in the state;
• Crimes that affect the high quality of life that Richmond citizens deserve; and
• Officer safety and wellness.

Additionally, the local economy continues to recover at a pace that is slower than anticipated. The slow recovery has affected all segments of our community and therefore the need to support the local law enforcement agency that a key piece of public safety responsibility.  The need for additional resources to support police initiatives far outpaces the economy’s growth rate and at that realization poses some challenges.
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Despite the challenges there is hope going forward. The Richmond Police Foundation continues to be a catalyst in identifying additional resources. Resources are still needed to assist in providing training opportunities for our officers, support for recruit classes and continuation of programs for high risk youth.

Our History

The Richmond Police Foundation, founded in 1997, has historically provided support to the community outreach efforts of the Richmond Police Department (RPD). Originally, the Foundation was founded to support the Project Exile initiative that addressed gun violence in the City of Richmond.

Over the past years the outreach efforts have evolved and now have primarily focused on youth and other specific projects identified by the RPD.

Projects supported include the Richmond Police Athletic/Activities League (PAL), the Chief of Police's Board of Youth Commissioners, the Homicide Support Group and the RVA League for Safer Streets.

​The Foundation continues to work closely with Police Chief and the Richmond Police Department to ensure that the Foundation's mission is met. The Foundation and RPD have placed community involvement projects that affect public safety as a top priority. Collaborating with individual, corporate and group community partners continues to be a focus.

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Volunteer Board of Directors

Heidi Abbott
Hunton Andrews Kurth

Robyn L McDougle
L Douglas Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs

Aaron Gomes
Chief Operating Officer, Peninsula Pacific Entertainment

Mark Fero
Office of Attorney General

Jerry Fox
Cherry Bekaert & Holland

Lisa Hicks-Thomas
​​Dominion Resources Services

Joseph C Hutchison
WestRock

David Lynn
Retired – President of Celebration Church Outreach Ministry

Donna Smith
City of Richmond – Social Services

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