Leadership change at Virginia 30 Day Fund
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- A local nonprofit that has been helping businesses across Virginia during the COVID-19 pandemic is getting new leadership.
According to a release, Pete and Burson Snyder, the co-founders of the Virginia 30 Day Fund and its affiliates, announced on Tuesday that they are stepping back from the day-to-day operation of the nonprofit.
Jim Cheng, who is on the nonprofit's board and is a former Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade, will be taking over the senior leadership role.
The Virginia 30 Day Fund was created in April in response to the pandemic and its major economic impact on small businesses, and it has since raised more than $4 million to help 1,000 businesses across Virginia.
"Helping others keep their dreams alive and their businesses and employees afloat during this past year has been the greatest and most rewarding job I've ever had," said Pete. "Thanks to the leadership of Jim Cheng and so many of our volunteers and generous supporters, Burson and I know with certainty the 30 Day Fund will be there to help thousands more hard-working heroes get through this horrible time. There is much hard work ahead, and Burson and I will continue to fight on behalf of small business and be part of the solution."
"The small businesses of Virginia, and the families and dreams they represent, have given more to us this last ten months than the 30 Day Fund could ever do for them. These incredible entrepreneurs have taught our family lessons in grit, perseverance, humility and creativity that have changed us for the better, and we are so grateful for this incredible opportunity to help shore up the backbone of our Commonwealth," said Burson. "Pete and I look forward to working with Jim and to seeing the Pay It Forward movement carry on under his leadership."
The release says the 30 Day Fund has also helped other leaders create similar efforts in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Mississippi and New Jersey.
Last month, Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports created the Barstool Fund, which is an affiliate of the 30 Day Fund, while Marcus Lemonis of CNBC recently partnered with the 30 Day Fund to help businesses that were affected by the bombing on Christmas Day in Nashville.
"Pete and Burson Snyder are incredible champions for Virginia small business," said Cheng. "In April of 2020, weeks into the pandemic, no one knew what to do. Government was slow to respond and small businesses were hanging on by a thread. Pete and Burson had a vision, brought people together and made a difference. Today we are on pace to help more than 1,000 small businesses in the Commonwealth, protecting thousands of Virginia jobs. Even though we've been at this for nearly a year, we are just getting started. The Pay It Forward movement the Snyders started is catching fire all around the nation and will be helping thousands and thousands more struggling small businesses in the weeks and months to come. I look forward to ensuring the continued success of the Virginia 30 Day Fund."
Since the beginning of the pandemic, 30 Day Fund-related entities have raised more than $25 million and helped more than 2,500 small businesses, securing 15,000 jobs across the country.