The Richmond Times-Dispatch names Wintsch the 2015 Richmond Christmas Mother

Richmond Times-Dispatch Publisher Thomas A. Silvestri presents a $150,000 check to representatives of the Salvation Army Central Virginia -- Executive Director Steve Batsche, HR Generalist Terri Stimes and Communications Director Matt Pochily.
Richmond Times-Dispatch Publisher Thomas A. Silvestri presents a $150,000 check to representatives of the Salvation Army Central Virginia -- Executive Director Steve Batsche, HR Generalist Terri Stimes and Communications Director Matt Pochily.
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The Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch has announced that the 2015 Richmond Christmas Mother is Katherine Wintsch.  She will be the 81st Richmond Christmas Mother.

Born and raised in Richmond, Wintsch is the founder and CEO of The Mom Complex, a strategic consultancy that inspires companies to make better products and services for mothers. Wintsch's international recognition for being an expert on modern motherhood comes from studying the passion and pain points of mothers around the world – the rest is accumulated from trial and error while raising her own two children, Layla and Alex.

"Richmond is a remarkable region and I'm thrilled to dedicate my time and talent to helping its most deserving of citizens have a brighter holiday season. I've watched the Christmas Mother make a difference in people's lives since I was a little girl so it's incredibly meaningful to be asked to represent such a well-known and worthy cause. I'm ready to get started right away."

"We are ecstatic that Katherine Wintsch will lead our annual effort to bring Christmas cheer to needy families in the city and region," said Thomas A. Silvestri, publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "Like our other Christmas Mothers, Katherine will bring a unique perspective, and we expect to learn from her as well on ways we can further improve our effectiveness."

As the 2015 RTD Christmas Mother, Wintsch will carry on a tradition started last year, in partnership with The Community Foundation of Richmond, of providing at least $100,000 in grants to community organizations.

The Community Foundation has created an online application process for non-profit organizations to apply for the grants. The Richmond Christmas Mother Fund seeks to support nonprofits that provide assistance to clients in need, with a special focus on services related to the holiday season. These services include, but are not limited to:

  • Food / holiday meals
  • Toys
  • Gifts
  • Clothing
  • Transportation related to participation in holiday events and celebrations

The newspaper invites non-profit organizations to apply online at www.tcfrichmond.org, where they can click on "Receive" and search for the Richmond Christmas Mother Fund information.

In addition to funding grant recipients through The Community Foundation, the Richmond Christmas Mother Fund also supports the Salvation Army during the holiday season.  On Monday, June 8, The Richmond Christmas Mother Fund awarded the Salvation Army $150,000 from money raised during the 2014 Richmond Christmas Mother Campaign. The donation equals the $150,000 given to The Salvation Army from the 2013 Richmond Christmas Mother drive. 

The Richmond Christmas Mother Fund began in 1935, evolving out of the Richmond News Leader's Empty Stocking Fund and the Richmond Times-Dispatch's Good Fellow Club.  "The main objective of the Christmas Mother is the abolition of mechanized charity.  Instead, there will be an intimate family spirit of Christmas," said John Stewart Bryan, the newspapers' publisher at the time. "The needy will share in the benefits of the Richmond family, rather than feel they are objects of charity."

To date, the Richmond Christmas Mother Fund has raised more than $7.5 million.

The community effort is coordinated by the Richmond Times-Dispatch's five-person Richmond Christmas Mother Committee, a non-profit organization.

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