For more than 70 years, the Tidewater Foundation has been an important part of charitable life in the Northern Neck. Founded in 1955 and based in Irvington, the organization has been committed to the promotion of cultural enrichment opportunities and education.
The foundation is closely connected to the Holly Ball, one of the Northern Neck’s oldest holiday traditions, reported committee member Whitney Lowery. This ball, dating from 1895, became the fundraising arm of the foundation in the mid 1950s and gave the organization something more than a fundraising event. It created a mechanism through which a longstanding local tradition could produce tangible benefits for the community, as 100% of the proceeds from the Holly Ball are distributed locally.
The ball, a formal event held each December presenting young women from and with ties to the Northern Neck and surrounding areas, may be the most visible expression of the foundation, but the ultimate purpose is charitable giving, said Lowery. The young people and community who participate in the event are part of a tradition that connects celebration with service and social custom with community responsibility……
