Friends of the Blue Ridge

Friends of the Blue Ridge FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge is a non-profit, volunteer and membership organization dedicated to protect
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FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

We are thrilled to announce the lineups for our "Fishburn Sessions" and "Glencoe Sessions" for Fall 2026!In partnership ...
07/31/2026

We are thrilled to announce the lineups for our "Fishburn Sessions" and "Glencoe Sessions" for Fall 2026!

In partnership with Friends of Mountain View and PLAY Roanoke we present The Fishburn Sessions the first Thursdays of September-December at the historic Fishburn Mansion.

The first Fridays we head to Radford for The Glencoe Sessions at the historic Glencoe Mansion, Museum & Gallery.

Each concert is $15 ... or for Glencoe alone you can buy the full season for $50. Link in Comments 👇

🎸 Sept. 3 (Fishburn) and 4 (Glencoe): Cole Ritter

🎤 Oct. 1 (Fishburn) and 2 (Glencoe): Ashlee Watkins & Andrew Small

🎻 Nov. 5 (Fishburn) Addie Levy Trio and 6 (Glencoe): Addie Levy's Gravel Road reunion

🎵 Dec. 3 (Fishburn) and 4 (Glencoe): Justin Golden

FRIENDS is a 2026 AARP Community Challenge Grantee!We are thrilled to announce we're among the 750 groups nationwide sel...
07/16/2026

FRIENDS is a 2026 AARP Community Challenge Grantee!

We are thrilled to announce we're among the 750 groups nationwide selected to receive a 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant from AARP Livable Communities. The $2,500 award, which we were required to match, will fund five new bicycle racks in the city of Roanoke to make the community more bike-friendly for adults age 50 and older.

Stay tuned to where and when the racks will be installed. Meanwhile we thank all of you who purchased our Virginia specialty license plate that helped fund our match!

07/07/2026

Meet Friends of the Blue Ridge 2026 Scholarship recipient Liam Skelton!

A native of and graduate of Liam will attend and pursue a degree in environmental engineering so he can one day better steward his beloved Blue Ridge.

Many thanks to all who support our Lynn Davis Scholarship program that provides more than $30,000 each year to deserving college bound students who express a desire to enhance the quality of life in this region we all hold dear.

Learn more via profile link!

07/07/2026

Meet Friends of the Blue Ridge 2026 Scholarship recipient Liam Skelton!

A native of Roanoke and graduate of Roanoke Catholic, Liam will attend William & Mary and pursue a degree in environmental engineering so he can one day better steward his beloved Blue Ridge.

Many thanks to all who support our Lynn Davis Scholarship program that provides more than $30,000 each year to deserving college bound students who express a desire to enhance the quality of life in this region we all hold dear.

Learn more 👇

06/24/2026

Meet Friends of the Blue Ridge 2026 Scholarship recipient Chloe Weigl!

A native of Boone, NC, Chloe will attend Washington and Lee University and study the environment and mathematics while continuing to pursue her love of fly-fishing and bluegrass music!

Help us help next year's graduates with a gift to our scholarship program! Donation link in Comments 👇

Donations made by June 30 will be matched by longtime FRIENDS Gary and Barbara Duerk!

06/11/2026

Meet Friends of the Blue Ridge 2026 Scholarship recipient Riley Price!

A native of Roanoke and graduate of Glenvar High School, Riley will attend Princeton University and study English and Journalism. She hopes to use her degree to one day highlight the the environmental threats to, and cultural opportunities of, the Blue Ridge region.

We look forward to featuring more 2026 scholarship winners in the weeks ahead! Meanwhile, help us help next year's graduates with a gift to our scholarship program. Link in comments. Donations made by June 30 will be matched by longtime FRIENDS Gary and Barbara Duerk!

06/08/2026

Meet Friends of the Blue Ridge 2026 Scholarship recipient Michael Schruckmayr!

A native of Asheville, Michael will attend North Carolina State University and study botany and horticulture. He hopes to one day use his degree in service of the North Carolina extension service with a goal of helping farmers be more agriculturally and environmentally sustainable.

We look forward to featuring more 2026 scholarship winners in the weeks ahead! Meanwhile, help us help next year's graduates with a gift to our scholarship program in link below. Donations made by June 30 will be matched by longtime FRIENDS Gary and Barbara Duerk!

We went to Glenvar High School this morning to award one of this year’s 33 FRIENDS Founder Lynn Davis $1,000 Scholarship...
05/18/2026

We went to Glenvar High School this morning to award one of this year’s 33 FRIENDS Founder Lynn Davis $1,000 Scholarships to senior Riley Price!

Riley plans to pursue an English degree at Princeton University. As she writes:

“Southwest Virginia's identity is shaped by generations of families who have built lives among these mountains. Local traditions — from storytelling and music to farming and community gatherings — reflect a deep respect for the land and for one another. However, the region faces growing challenges. Environmental pressures, economic changes, and widespread misconceptions about rural communities threaten both the landscape and the culture that define Southwest Virginia. Too often, the complexity and beauty of this region are overlooked or misunderstood by those outside of it.

“These challenges have inspired my goal of becoming a scientific journalist. Journalism has the power to connect communities with the information that shapes their future. I hope to focus on environmental issues, translating complex scientific research into clear, engaging stories that people can understand. By reporting on topics such as conservation, climate change, and sustainable development, I want to highlight the importance of protecting Southwest Virginia's natural resources while also honoring the traditions and livelihoods of the people who live here.“

Our scholarship program is made possible by your donations and support of our Virginia specialty license plate.

We look forward to sharing the stories of more Lynn Davis Scholarship winners in the weeks ahead. Congratulations again, Riley!

Kudos to our New River valley chapter of FRIENDS for teaming up with the NRV Master Gardeners and Naturalists this month...
04/24/2026

Kudos to our New River valley chapter of FRIENDS for teaming up with the NRV Master Gardeners and Naturalists this month to create a pollinator garden at Heritage Park in Blacksburg! We are grateful for these volunteers’ dedication to our mission: “Building even better community throughout the Blue Ridge!”

Hey FRIENDS, help up install 3 new bike racks to support recreational opportunities and eco-tourism in the Roanoke Valle...
04/21/2026

Hey FRIENDS, help up install 3 new bike racks to support recreational opportunities and eco-tourism in the Roanoke Valley! Wednesday is GIVE Roanoke and we set a goal of $3,000 to place new bike racks at:

• Morningside Elementary
• Big Lick Brewing Company
• Feeding Southwest Virginia's Community Solutions Center

Give: https://www.giveroanoke.org/organizations/friends-of-the-blue-ridge

Working in partnership with RIDE Solutions and Lift Arc Studios LLC, FRIENDS has funded nearly 40 bike racks in the cities of Roanoke and Salem, Roanoke County, Botetourt County and Roanoke College.

Our bike racks provide residents and visitors an attractive means to secure their bicycles and helps promote a more eco-friendly form of transportation.

Address

541 Luck Avenue SW #317
Roanoke, VA
24016

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

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