Advancing Counseling Across Virginia
The VCA Foundation is dedicated to strengthening the counseling profession and expanding mental health support across Virginia.
Our mission is to foster professional education and development, support innovative programs aligned with VCA objectives, and elevate the impact of counselors in our communities and schools.
Through grants, fellowships, leadership training and recognition programs, we help counselors access the tools, skills and resources needed to thrive, ultimately improving the well-being of individuals, families and communities throughout the commonwealth.
How We Make a Difference
With donor support, the foundation works on multiple fronts to advance the profession.
Every contribution helps nurture the next generation of counseling professionals and ensures Virginia’s counselors have what they need to excel.
• Fund awards, grants and fellowships that empower counselors to launch high-impact projects.
• Provide scholarships to graduate counseling students preparing to enter the field.
• Support counselor-led research addressing today’s most pressing mental health needs.
• Expand professional development and continuing education, ensuring counselors stay equipped with evidence-based approaches.
• Train emerging leaders, including the Warren Fellows, who receive paid attendance to the VCA Leadership Academy.
• Recognize the contributions of counselors statewide through public awards and honors.
• Help sponsor the annual VCA Convention in Hampton, fostering community, learning and collaboration across the profession.
What Our Efforts Make Possible
Our work extends beyond traditional funding. We help counselors build stronger communities, advance mental health practice and grow as leaders.
Through grants, scholarships, recognition programs and professional development opportunities, the VCA Foundation creates a statewide ecosystem where counselors and the people they serve can thrive.
Innovative Programs That Strengthen Communities
The foundation supports counselor-led initiatives that address real needs in local schools, organizations and neighborhoods. These efforts have included emotional regulation programs in classrooms, family-focused workshops, peer support groups and creative approaches that increase access to care. By empowering counselors with the resources they need, we help bring meaningful, sustainable support to communities across Virginia.
Leone Grants: Fueling Counselor-Led Solutions
Our Suzee Leone Grants provide targeted funding for projects that improve mental health access, expand support for vulnerable populations, and encourage the use of research-backed counseling approaches. These grants have made possible initiatives such as:
• School-based wellness rooms
• Creative and expressive therapy tools
• Outreach programs for underrepresented communities
• Trauma-informed interventions and training
Leone Grants often serve as seed funding, giving counselors the ability to pilot new ideas that can grow into long-term, high-impact programs.
Advancing Mental Health Practice
The foundation invests in the ongoing development of counselors at every stage of their careers. Scholarships, research support and educational resources help counselors learn emerging therapeutic methods, strengthen their clinical skills and bring evidence-based approaches into their work. These investments improve the overall quality and accessibility of mental health care across the commonwealth.
Culturally Responsive Counseling & Outreach
Our support also fuels programs that address the diverse needs of Virginia’s communities. Foundation-backed initiatives have strengthened services for Hispanic families, LGBTQ+ youth, communities of color and others who face barriers to care. These efforts promote equity, representation and trust-building between counselors and the people they serve.
Professional Development & Counselor Well-Being
We help counselors stay connected, supported and professionally renewed. The foundation contributes to statewide events like the VCA Convention, provides development opportunities, and supports training that enhances supervision, leadership, self-care, and clinical expertise. When counselors are supported, the communities they serve benefit
Recognizing Excellence: The Cook Award
The Richard B. Cook Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals whose leadership, service and dedication have made a profound impact on the counseling profession. Recipients exemplify the highest levels of commitment and care, inspiring others and shaping the future of mental health in Virginia.
Developing Leaders: The Warren Fellows
Our Warren Fellows Program identifies and supports emerging leaders within the counseling profession. Fellows receive paid attendance to the VCA Leadership Academy, where they develop leadership competencies, connect with mentors and gain the skills needed to influence counseling practice and policy across the state. This investment ensures a strong pipeline of future leaders guiding the profession forward.