Kelley Mulcunry was just two years old when her parents opened the first Bundle of Joy in Henrico County in 1976. "I really did grow up around the business. I washed dishes after elementary school every day and worked in the classroom during high school," Kelley says. "After graduating from the University of Alabama, I joined the business as the director of the school in Glen Allen."

In 2018, Kelley and her husband, Andy, purchased the Bundle of Joy Child Development Centers business, which has now expanded to five locations that serve about 750 children throughout the Greater Richmond area in Glen Allen, Hanover, Lakeside, Manakin Sabot, and Mechanicsville.

Bundle of Joy offers accredited programs for children ranging from infants through Pre-K. They also have an after-school program and summer camps for school-age children. Children are taught through the High Reach Curriculum which includes a variety of hands-on lessons, purposeful play, and rotating learning centers that incorporate the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) concepts. For example, teachers develop math games to coordinate with a favorite children's book, have a water table set up to explore different materials that may sink or float, plan the dramatic play and block area as a grocery store, introduce natural materials to the art area that go along with the seasons, or set up a handheld juicer to make fresh lemonade.

Bundle of Joy has been selected four years in a row as the Best of Richmond by the Richmond Times-Dispatch."We believe Bundle of Joy is truly special. We have many long-term employees. Some who have been with us for as long as 25 years," Kelley says. "Many of them taught our children who are now in their 20's. Former students come back to work for us, and we have many former students who bring their children to Bundle of Joy."

Kelley relates how she recently received a text message from a parent whose child was a student at Bundle of Joy more than ten years ago. "It was amazing, and it showed me the connection we make with families. The parent said, 'You were there for me, you became part of my family, and you helped me be the mother that I am.' We really do become part of their family as we laugh and cry with them during joyous and sometimes sad events."

Bundle of Joy became a TowneBank member after Kelley and Andy saw Kevin Laing, executive vice president, on a TowneBank commercial. "We have known Kevin for years and decided to contact him at TowneBank," Kelley says. "We were not happy with our previous banking relationship. Kevin met with us and within 90 days, we had transferred everything over to TowneBank and closed a large commercial real estate loan at the same time."

For more information, visit BundleontheWeb.com.

Ben Ottinger and Will Pritchard started Centrex Technical Sales in 2000, leaving a larger company with the goal of creating a close-knit small business. The company focuses on providing technologically superior equipment coupled with expert sales support and service.

They started as a wholesale distributor, selling process piping components to their clients within the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food and beverage industries. Within just a few years, they expanded their business, adding a welder and the means to fabricate engineered equipment. Quickly, they grew into complete fabrication, with the ability to design and build for their many customers.

The premier provider of such products and services in the central Virginia region, Centrex works with numerous Fortune 500 companies, with a client list that includes Merck, Proctor & Gamble, Coca-Cola, MillerCoors and Sabra Hummus.

Much of Centrex's success can be attributed to their fantastic team that has grown to 38 employees, many with more than a decade of service. Employees at Centrex are self-motivated, working together to accomplish common goals. They are invited and encouraged to participate in the success of the company.

Ben and Will added John Cortright to the management team in recent years, and together they make Centrex a fun place to work, hosting Friday cookouts in good weather and an annual Christmas party for employees and business partners, including TowneBank senior vice president and commercial lender Shareema Williams.

While Centrex is relatively new to the TowneBank family, Ben has said that the transition to a new bank has been smooth, and everyone has been extremely helpful. He calls Shareema an "integral part of our business."

To learn more about Centrex, visit their website: GoCentrex.com.

The Jennifer White Team at TowneBank Mortgage in Richmond partnered with Communities in Schools of Richmond (CIS) to organize a Back-to-School Drive last summer. CIS provides early interventions and enrichment opportunities for students in Richmond and Henrico County Public Schools identified as having many families living below the poverty line. Community support to cover the cost of backpacks and school supplies means less worry for families struggling to make ends meet. Students who have supplies also are more likely to stay in school and keep up with their assignments.

The Jennifer White Team placed donation bins at Shaheen, Ruth, Martin and Fonville (SRMF) real estate offices located in the Richmond area. Donated supplies included backpacks, highlighters, pencils, notebooks, crayons, glue sticks and more. Several boxloads of donations were dropped off at the 5^th Annual Ultimate Backpack Drive, held at the Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center. The goal of the event each year is to collect enough backpacks and school supplies for 50,000 students across Central Virginia. Thank you to all who donated!

TowneBank Mortgage in Richmond offers a wide array of loan programs to provide you with the best possible fit for your needs. Our team is excited to work with you! Visit TowneBankMortgage.com.

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The fifth largest school system in the state, Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS) serves 64,000 students each year. Reflecting the continued growth of the region, CCPS estimates that the student population grows by 1% annually, equaling an additional 600 students. Oftentimes, resources and budgets are not immediately reflective of this increase and the schools' evolving needs. The Chesterfield Education Foundation (CEF), a non-profit organization, stands alongside the public school system to help bridge the gap, raising awareness, funds, and securing critical resources.

A grassroots effort, CEF was founded in 1989 to provide support to the students, families, teachers, and administration of CCPS. "We operate under the same premise today," says Tyren Frazier, executive director. "We help the community understand the great work that CCPS is doing daily, asking them to be the school system's cheerleaders and to get involved to help address needs that are not being met."

By partnering with individuals, businesses, and community groups, CEF helps support an equitable educational experience for all CCPS students. "Our school system is very diverse," says Tyren. "In fact, 40% of CCPS students come from homes that live in poverty. We want to help remove barriers to help every student have an exceptional learning experience."

Over the past 30 years, CEF has brought several hallmark programs to CCPS. The Innovation Grant program awards funding to teachers and administration to execute projects that will enrich and expand the learning experience of CCPS students. For the 2022-2023 academic year, CEF distributed $100,000 in grants, the largest amount in their history. Projects include the creation of an outdoor elementary classroom, a mural project that will partner students with local artists, and robots that will introduce students to coding, among several others.

Through their book vending machines, CEF help supports literacy at CCPS elementary schools. Students earn coins that can be used to select a book of their choice, allowing them the opportunity to build their own home library. More recently, CEF helped open the Chesterfield Early Learning Academy, the first early childhood education program in the school system. "We took a building that was slated for demolition and helped renovate and revitalize it," says Tyren. "Now, the building serves 400 students from low-income families, not only providing childcare but preparing the students for kindergarten."

The Chesterfield Recovery Academy serves high school students facing substance abuse and addiction issues. The pilot program is the first of its kind to be operated by a public school system and will support 25 students on their road to recovery, helping them get back on track academically and prepare for the workforce.

CEF relies heavily on partner businesses and organizations to facilitate these and many other projects. "Our goal at TowneBank is to be a true asset to the entire community," says Matt Clarke, president of TowneBank Chesterfield and vice president of development for the CEF board. "By partnering with CEF, we are able to support programs and initiatives that have an immediate and lasting impact on the children and families of Chesterfield."

"TowneBank has supported us financially, providing funding for initiatives like our bookmobile," says Tyren. "In addition, the team has helped facilitate connections to people and organizations that help us move our mission forward. The support is truly invaluable."

CEF is always looking for volunteers and community members who wish to get involved. To learn more, visit cefva.org.

TowneBank is a longtime supporter of Day of Caring, an annual event hosted by the United Way that connects volunteers with organizations in need of support. With the help of thousands of participants, organizations across the country can use funds and time typically allocated to tasks like cleaning, painting, organizing, and landscaping, in a more meaningful way.

In 2022, the Towne family once again partnered with the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg to pack and decorate literacy kits for children. Each kit includes school supplies, an age-appropriate book, and information for families to help students prepare for kindergarten. The kits are distributed to families throughout the year with hopes that students will be reading at grade-level by third grade. "The path to literacy starts with the right supplies," says Pam Carnahan, assistant vice president and regional portfolio administrator, who helps organize this annual effort. "Our team has a great time decorating the boxes knowing we are supporting a wonderful cause."

The Towne family in Chesterfield partnered with Tri-Cities Habitat for Humanity for their Day of Caring project. The team gathered at the Re-Store location on Commerce Road to organize shelves and furniture. Habitat for Humanity ReStores are nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers that sell new and gently used furniture, appliances, home accessories, building materials, and more at a fraction of the retail cost. Proceeds from ReStores are used to build homes and improve the local community. "We really enjoyed coming together as a team to support this cause," says Matt Clarke, president of TowneBank Chesterfield. "Habitat for Humanity does incredible work for this community, and it was great to spend time as a team to help make a difference."

Learn more about The United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg and Tri-Cities Habitat for Humanity at their websites, YourUnitedWay.org and Habitat.org.