LEGO makes good on promise to support Virginia kids with $1.3m grant

The LEGO Group has committed over $1.3 million to local non-profits in Virginia's Greater Richmond area after opening a new facility there.

When the LEGO Group first announced plans to open a new manufacturing facility in Virginia, the company promised to commit money and resources to support kids and families in the area as part of its outreach via the LEGO Foundation. Now that the facility is open, those plans have expanded with a pledge of more than $1.3 million in grants, going to eight nonprofit organisations in the region.

Six of those organisations were already receiving funding from the LEGO Foundation, while two more have now been added to the list, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and Girls For A Change. The grants are awarded over a two-year period, with a focus on fostering learning and development through play for kids in line with the LEGO Group's values.

“We are proud to support the work of these incredible organisations that help make a difference in children’s lives every day," said Jesus Ibañez, General Manager of LEGO Manufacturing Virginia. "As we continue to build our factory, we become increasingly rooted in the community, and we’re dedicated to making a positive impact and bringing play to more children in the area.”

The organisations that will receive funding from the most recent announcement are: Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond, which supports children's development with school and summer sessions; James River Association, which offers experiences to strengthen children’s connection to nature; SOAR365, which supports access to a number of inclusive play-based learning experiences at PARK365; YMCA of Greater Richmond; Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU; Girls For A Change, which offers STEM support to young girls; Children’s Museum of Richmond; and Science Museum of Virginia.

Since 2022, the LEGO Group has awarded more than $3.5 million in grants to nonprofits across the greater Richmond area surrounding the Virginia facility, impacting the lives of more than 1 million children. As well as pledging money to such organisations, over 300 of the LEGO Group's employees based in Virginia have taken part in community engagement programs, resulting in over 2,000 hours spent volunteering.

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