The businesses listed on the following pages—from food trucks to law firms, dental practices to security agencies—do so much more than serve customers. Please join us in celebrating our Community Impact honorees for all the ways they go above and beyond in making a difference for others.

Armada Hoffler Properties

Virginia Beach

“Since the inception of the company, community impact has been at the forefront. Our employees are dedicated to helping the community around them and know they always have the company backing them. We are all proud to be a part of an organization that does so much good.”

With four decades of experience developing, building, acquiring and managing office, retail and multifamily properties, Armada Hoffler’s presence is readily evident in our community landscape. Its employee-led Outreach Committee, established more than 30 years ago, creates a wealth of opportunities to give back and help those in need. The committee’s work is in addition to many company donations to support fundraisers, cultural events and nonprofits. Some partners include Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Association, Lynnhaven River NOW, Morning of Hope and Hope House. In 2019, Armada Hoffler contributed $248,000 to community organizations and dedicated more than 550 hours over the course of 22 outreach events.

Learn more at ArmadaHoffler.com

Bean’s Ice Cream

Poquoson

“We may not be able to give everything away, but as long as we can give generously and with an open heart and still operate a successful business, we have won. It is so rewarding to be able to give our time, talent and money where it is needed.”

Who doesn’t love a decadent dollop of their favorite ice cream flavor? For Bean’s Ice Cream owner Jenna Horning, however, it’s about more. “I love my community and I feel like I have been searching my entire life for a meaningful platform to be able to give back in a big way,” Horning says. And, after just over a year in business, she is well on her way—from free scoop cards for Poquoson City School students to surprise ice cream giveaways for local workers. There have been in-kind donations in partnership with nonprofits, internships and mentorships for local young people, and PTA spirit nights in which 20-25% of the day’s profits were donated. She also gives 10% of her business proceeds to her church.

Learn more at BeansIceCream.com

The Casual Pint

Virginia Beach

“To our company, community impacts looks like an open door. Those who need it are helped with open arms and smiling faces. No one is ever turned away. If a problem is identified, then we become part of the solution.”

Since their very first fundraiser supporting a veterans organization that provides prosthetics to injured military personnel in May of 2018, the team at The Casual Pint, a restaurant and craft beer lover’s spot in Virginia Beach, has kept the giving back ball rolling. They show their team spirit by sponsoring community and school sports teams including softball, football, soccer, baseball, kickball and track. During the government shutdown, they offered Coast Guard personnel and their families a full meal on the house. When the pandemic forced them to step back from their typical pace of at least one community activity per month for organizations like Toys for Tots, The Noblemen and CHKD, they still delivered lunches to frontline hospital personnel. We’ll raise a pint glass to that.

Learn more at TheCasualPint.com

Cox Communications

Chesapeake

“We’re committed to living out the values set in place by our founder Governor James M. Cox. We believe in human rights, justice and empowering our communities through investment—not only money, but also kindness, compassion and action. Through this we strive to leave the world a little better than we found it.”

Since they began servicing our region over 40 years ago, Cox Communications has focused not only on technology that brings people closer, but on a culture that puts people first. Efforts range from grants, in-kind and financial support to volunteerism, employee fundraising initiatives, mentorship and professional development. The Cox Charities program, funded by employee contributions, has put more than $1.2 million back into Virginia communities. Most recently, they quickly pivoted in response to extraordinary need caused by COVID-19, surprising both of the region’s food banks with contributions of $10,000 each. The James M. Cox Foundation, charitable arm of parent company Cox Enterprises, followed up with a $25,000 donation to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia.

Learn more at Cox.com

Langley Federal Credit Union

Newport News

“As a financial institution, we are a critical part of our society entrusted with people’s money. It is our responsibility to show people that we are invested in their safety, security and wellbeing. To our company, community impacts looks like people helping people, however we can.”

Langley Federal Credit Union helps its members “save, borrow and spend wisely.” When it comes to their investment in the community, the numbers speak volumes. In 2019, the credit union gave a combined $1,085,000 to 106 different nonprofits, granted $95,000 in student scholarships and logged 1,300 volunteer hours. Its Langley for Families Foundation alone has donated more than $2 million since 2014. During its first Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 2020, credit union volunteers helped the reception area at Chesapeake’s Children’s Health Investment Program and renovate 12 homes with Housing Partnerships and York County. Local food banks, domestic violence shelters, The United Way, American Red Cross, Peninsula Rescue Mission, ForKids, LGBT Life Center and Union Mission Ministries are just some of the other recipients of their generous efforts.

Learn more at LangleyFCU.org

Leva Psychiatry

Virginia Beach

“To our company, community impacts means being a place of business that values employees as people with lives outside of work, promotes personal and professional growth and connects people who have a desire to learn and reach out to the community.”

The professionals at Leva Psychiatry are dedicated to patient wellbeing, breaking the stigma of mental illness and engaging the community on multiple levels to promote awareness and create opportunities for healthy growth. These range from volunteer advocacy for the National Alliance of Mental Illness to expert resources offered to the community on the topic of mental health for new and expectant mothers during COVID-19, from actively supporting students pursuing careers in mental health to providing flexibility for employees’ volunteer endeavors and professional advancement. And, as proof that laughter really is the best medicine, Leva Psychiatry has provided financial support for Norfolk-based Push Comedy Theater including during shutdowns precipitated by the pandemic.

Learn more at LevaPsych.com

Matchsticks BBQ Co.

Williamsburg

“We are hyper-focused on bringing the people in our community together despite our differences in beliefs, religion, political views, etc. We are also hyper-focused on making sure the children in our community are fed, as we believe no child should go hungry.”

Sometimes making a tangible difference in your community doesn’t need to be complicated. But it sure can be tasty. Husband and wife team Matt and Nicole Sileno of Williamsburg-based Matchsticks BBQ food truck saw a need and served up a delicious solution with the creation of their Lunch Box Program in 2019, proceeds of which help pay down student lunch debt in Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools. Once the pandemic hit, they shifted gears with schools closed, setting up their food truck every Thursday in the parking lot of their future brick-and-mortar location to hand out free lunches to all school-aged children. We say that’s a napkin-worthy great idea.

Learn more at MatchsticksBBQ.com

Phillips & Peters Attorneys at Law

Norfolk

“We are a community-minded business that has supported local businesses since our inception. To Phillips & Peters, community impact looks like using our inherent talents, learned skills and time for the good of those around us. It is forward movement that gives everyone the opportunity to rise.”

As a law firm specializing in domestic relations, the team at Phillips & Peters understands the importance of coming together as a family to tackle problems at home and in the community. The company offers bro bono legal work to those who cannot afford it, mentors young professionals and has worked closely with organizations like ForKids, ACCESS College Foundation and CASA to support women in leadership, homeless families and abused and neglected children. They recently put together a bathroom kit for Samaritan House in response to increased domestic violence during COVID-19 and a video for students in the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association’s Mock Trial Program who could not participate in person. They also make a strong effort to support other community businesses by choosing locally based partners and providers.

Learn more at PhillipsPetersLaw.com

The Smile Group

Williamsburg

“We are truly compassionate about this; We are always thinking outside of the box to try and do more for the community or just someone in need. It is very humbling and heartwarming and makes us so very grateful to be able to be a part of that.”

For more than 25 years, Dr. James Burden and his team have been committed not only to honesty and compassion in family and cosmetic dentistry but to paying it forward through hundreds of community and charity events. Listing all of them here might take longer than a root canal, but these are just a few of their faves from the last year: Dancing with the Stars (benefitting Literacy for Life and Big Brothers Big Sisters), 911 Walk for first responders, Here for The Girls breast cancer charity events, Humane Society Drive, Fear 2 Freedom Drive, Warm Wishes Program, Pawful Heart Drive, youth baseball and Buddy Ball sponsorships, and toy and coat Drive for local shelters.

Learn more at SmilesOfWilliamsburg.com

Top Guard Security

Hampton/Norfolk/Richmond

“In recent years, our contributions have grown from donated services and volunteering to tremendous participation in group events. The common theme of these is that they allow us to invite the entire workforce and their families to participate.”

As the Commonwealth’s largest woman-owned employer, perhaps it is no surprise that mentoring women business owners has long been a priority for the executive team at Top Guard Security. But that’s just the beginning of the security firm’s community commitment. Through its “Top Guard Gives Back” initiative, the company supports scholarships and internships and is actively involved in charitable programs such as the YWCA’s “Walk A Mile in Her Shoes,” the American Cancer Society’s “Real Men Wear Pink,” the American Heart Association’s “Heart Walk” and “Step Up” for the Up Center. They recently celebrated 25 years in business and passed the $1,000,000 mark in charitable contributions since their founding.

Learn more at TopGuardInc.com