The Virginian Hotel’s stunning ballroom was filled to the brim on January 14 with Best Of winners, sponsors, and attendees.

The food was incredible, thanks to Bootleggers; Skyline at the Virginian; Downtown Cairo, Sweet Indulgence Bakery; JD’s Mobile Cafe; The Virginian Hotel; Purple Door Gourmet Kitchen & Catering; The Water Dog; Repast Catering; Georgia’s Subs, Salads, and More; and William & Henry Steakhouse. As guests sampled from mouth watering local cuisine, they voted on their favorite restaurant for the evening. JD’s Mobile Cafe took home the People’s Choice award for the night, and Downtown Cairo was awarded the Judge’s Choice.

Winners and attendees danced (and sang) the night away alongside the incredibly talented Pleading The 5th Band, and crowd favorite Chief Meteorologist George Flickinger (WSET) emceed the evening.

Guests also enjoyed documenting the evening alongside Sanders Family Photo Booth.

A very special thank you to our sponsors who helped make our celebration possible. Hailey’s Appliance, Kairos Counseling, Beacon Credit Union, Blue Ridge BBQ & Catering, and 434 Marketing.

Photos by GLEN+CRAFT.

See the full photo album here.

What makes a great lawyer? While impeccable communication skills and high intelligence are a part of the equation, truly great lawyers also earn a respect that follows them out of the courtroom and into the community.

Top Lawyers of Greater Lynchburg is the result of a comprehensive peer-to-peer survey, facilitated by DataJoe Research Company.

Read on to see who lawyers themselves recommend in 23 specialties.

Summary.  To create the list, Lynchburg Living contracted DataJoe Research to facilitate an online peer-voting process and Internet research process.  DataJoe Research is a software and research company specializing in data collection and verification, and conducts various nominations across the United States on behalf of publishers.  To create the list, DataJoe Research facilitated an online peer-voting process. We paired this with an Internet research process to identify success characteristics. DataJoe checked and confirmed that each published winner had, at time of review, a current, active license status with the appropriate state regulatory board. If we were not able to find evidence of a lawyer’s current, active registration with the state regulatory board, that lawyer was excluded from the list.  In addition, we checked available public sources to identify lawyers disciplined for an infraction by the state regulatory board. These entities were excluded from the list.  Finally, DataJoe presented the tallied result to Lynchburg Living for its final review and adjustments.  

Final note.  We recognize that there are many good lawyers who are not shown in this representative list. This is only a sampling of the huge array of talented professionals within the region. Inclusion in the list is based on the opinions of responding lawyers in the region. We take time and energy to ensure fair voting, although we understand that the results of this survey nomination and Internet research campaign are not an objective metric. We certainly do not discount the fact that many, many good and effective lawyers may not appear on the list.

Disclaimers. DataJoe uses best practices and exercises great care in assembling content for this list.  DataJoe does not warrant that the data contained within the list are complete or accurate. DataJoe does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions
result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. All rights reserved.
No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without
written permission from DataJoe.

Questions?  For research/methodology questions, contact the research team at surveys@datajoe.com.

On November 8, 2022, Lynchburg Living magazine had the honor and privilege of recognizing area businesses and non-profit organizations who are working tirelessly to support our city and its community.

Taking place at the Academy Center of the Arts, it was a night of fun and celebration, with two unique groups coming together to recognize the spirit of generosity and community that is so prevalent in our area. Those who were presented with awards brought a crowd of supporters, mentors, and colleagues to cheer them on, which made for an even more festive occasion. While attendees and honorees mingled and connected with one another, they indulged in a delicious spread of food provided by Friends Catering.

Awards were presented by Lynchburg Lynchburg editor, Megan Williams.

View a full list of Giving Back and Community Impact Appreciation recipients here and here.

A special thanks to our partners and sponsors, including the Academy Center of the Arts, Member One Federal Credit Union, Lynchburg Dental Center, Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation, SHARE Greater Lynchburg and Successful Innovations. And a special thank you to Friends Catering for the delicious Mexican food.

Foster Fuels

​​How has your business recently impacted the community?
One of the initiatives that we participated in recently was with FuelFit. Foster partnered with KidFit to co-host an event called FuelFit. KidFit is a local organization that provides mentorship and opportunities to kids of all backgrounds through skilled athletic training and coaching. Together, we hosted FuelFit providing fitness activities for youth in Campbell County. Creating healthy habits starts early, so our team was proud to work with this great organization to promote active, healthy lifestyles for youth in our community.

Why does your business prioritize giving back?
As a family-owned and operated company, we focus not only on providing excellent service to each of our customers, but also on family and community impact. Through the FosterGives campaign, employees and their families have the unique opportunity to participate in, donate to and give back to the community around us.

Community service and involvement are close to the Foster family’s heart. One of Watt R. Foster, Jr.’s favorite quotes is from Winston Churchill, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Foster Fuels has been in this community for over a century, and their goal is to give back and grow the community that has given them so much.

Information provided by Olivia Beavon, Propane Marketer

Legacy Wealth Management

How has your business recently impacted the community?
We recently hosted a fundraising event for a local girl fighting an awful illness. $3,000 was raised to assist the family in fighting back against this disease. Each year we host a free Christmas lights drive thru and hand out hot chocolate and donuts to everyone. We simply ask that they bring a canned good or non-perishable item for the local food bank. Last Christmas, more than 1600 vehicles came through for community night.

Why does your business prioritize giving back?
Life is hard and life is short. We believe that helping organizations that are trying to find solutions to community issues brings meaning to what we do. There are so many organizations that are trying to help their fellow man, that we have found that when we partner with existing organizations who are focused on a problem, we can multiply the community impact.

Information provided by Joshua Stamm, President of Legacy Wealth Management

Lynchburg Dental Center

How has your business recently impacted the community?
Each year we participate in selected charitable events.
New to us this past year was participating in the “Give Kids a Smile” event. We regularly donate to the Oral Cancer Foundation and provide funding, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss to our local veterans, schools, and those less fortunate in our community. Our doctors regularly volunteer at the free clinic to provide services such as root canals, fillings, and emergency services.

Why does your business prioritize giving back?
Our team at Lynchburg Dental Center loves what we do. We take care of people and have done so for close to 50 years. As needs in our community arise, we determine if our strengths and resources can help. Ensuring confident, healthy smiles is more than our motto, it is the way we run our practice. Smiles come from our work, but they are also a result of our service and giving back.

Information provided by Kristie Coffer, Office Manager

Successful Innovations

How has your business recently impacted the community?
We take pride in supporting our community. We have been a supporter of the Lynchburg Education Foundation for over a decade. We sponsor classroom grants for teachers so that they can have funding to implement innovative programs for students and resources to support learning. We recently supported the Kiwanis Club of Lynchburg to help with funding towards the first fully accessible children’s playground in Virginia. In addition to this, we have sponsored Lynchburg City Schools’ Boys Basketball Program at Heritage High School to support with funding for resources for the team. In an effort to promote the professional learning and growth of educators within the community, we have provided scholarships to local educators to attend our annual National Family Engagement Summit.

Why does your business prioritize giving back?
Our company prioritizes giving back because we truly believe and live our company’s mission of making a difference in the lives of others. True success in life is not measured by the accumulation of riches, but rather the significance of the impact that we make in our communities…one individual at a time. We want to pay the blessings forward that we have been grateful to receive. We rise by lifting others.

Information provided by Darla Edwards, President and CEO

Central Technology Solutions

How has your business recently impacted the community?
Team CTS has recently impacted the community by becoming a mentor to local high school cyber security clubs, creating a hub of free educational videos for our customers and community, sponsoring non-profits, local sports, the VA 10 Miler, and more. We also launched a podcast that spotlights community leaders to normalize the conversation around technology and business.

Why does your business prioritize giving back?
We prioritize giving back to the community by breaking the scaremongering stigma that the IT industry has created for years. This approach discourages curious behaviors and history shows how curiosity has always led to great achievements throughout humankind. We hope our efforts encourage tech users of all levels to remain curious and learn about the world of IT/technology.

Information provided by Sherri Arthur, Marketing Director

Lynchburg is filled to the brim with generous, mission-driven, philanthropic people, and the hundreds of nonprofit organizations in our area are a result of that. Across the Lynchburg region, organizations are holding the hands of those in our community who are vulnerable, hurting, or in need of extra support.

We are so honored to tell the story of just a few of them.

The Giving Back Awards are an opportunity for the community to give back to the nonprofits by nominating them a designation. This award signifies the impact the organization has made in the community and validates even further the incredible work that the organization has done throughout the year.

Flip through these pages, read the profiles of the award recipients, and consider supporting them in their number one needs and upcoming goals. 

For many newly engaged couples, wedding planning seems like a dream—until you are faced with dozens of choices all at once. From the venue to the dress (and all of those little details in between), it’s hard to know where to start!

We are here to help. Our Best Of Bridal Picks list tells you who recent brides and members of their wedding parties recommend in 27 categories. Read below to see who made the list!

Our 2022 Bridal Pick Winners

Our 2021 Bridal Pick Winners

Our 2020 Bridal Pick Winners

How do you define a top level attorney?

While a substantial number of wins or taking on high-profile cases can earn you recognition, it’s a lawyer’s reputation—both inside and outside of the courtroom—that really sets them apart.

For the sixth year in a row, Lynchburg Living has partnered with DataJoe Research Company to bring you Top Lawyers of Greater Lynchburg. This is a peer-to-peer survey—the lawyers included on this list were nominated by fellow lawyers, which speaks volumes about their integrity and professionalism.

NOMINATE HERE

The Community Impact Appreciation Awards honor Lynchburg businesses and organizations that are making a tangible, measurable impact on their communities. That impact might be the result of any number of activities including job creation, workforce development programs, volunteer efforts, or innovative business models that promote a healthy work environment.

The deadline to nominate is July 29.
Nominations will be judged by a team of experts and leaders. Selected honorees will be featured in the November/December 2022 issue of Lynchburg Living Magazine.

SPONSORED BY

These awards are exclusive to for-profit businesses. If you would like to nominate a nonprofit, you may do so in the Giving Back Awards.

Important Note Regarding Multiple Nominations for a Single Organization
The Giving Back Awards review committee is looking for a single strong nomination for each organization, one that provides a well expressed mission, relevant details and specific examples of how that organization impacts our greater Lynchburg community in a positive way. Submitting multiple nomination forms from different individuals for the same organization does not improve that organization’s chances of being selected.

Nominate a business below. 

Lynchburg Living Magazine’s annual Giving Back Awards are designed to honor the region’s outstanding nonprofit organizations that transform our communities and enrich the lives of others in a variety of ways with charitable or cultural missions or through partnerships and programs. Honorees will be determined based on nominations submitted by either representatives of the organizations or a person familiar with their work. Considerations for selection include the strength of the organization’s mission and contribution to the community, but the final list also reflects an effort to represent the diversity and breadth of the nonprofit organizations that give back in our region. You may nominate a nonprofit below.

The deadline to nominate is July 28, 2022.
Selected honorees will be featured in the Nov./Dec. 2022 issue of Lynchburg Living Magazine.

SPONSORED BY

These awards are exclusive to nonprofit organizations. If you would like to nominate a for-profit business, you may do so in the Community Impact Appreciation Awards.

Important Note Regarding Multiple Nominations for a Single Organization
The Giving Back Awards review committee is looking for a single strong nomination for each organization, one that provides a well expressed mission, relevant details and specific examples of how that organization impacts our greater Lynchburg community in a positive way. Submitting multiple nomination forms from different individuals for the same organization does not improve that organization’s chances of being selected.