Supporter Spotlight: Larry Davidson and Janice Dinkins-Davidson

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Larry Davidson and Janice Dinkins-Davidson are a dynamic husband-and-wife duo with a shared drive to make deep connections and lasting impact in the community. Each is woven deeply into the fabric of Roanoke in a distinct and unique way. Janice is the executive director of Children’s Advocacy Centers of Virginia (CACVA), a Roanoke-based statewide child abuse intervention organization; Larry is the owner and president of Davidsons, a men’s clothier.

“It’s in my DNA”

Larry’s grandfather, Joe, established Davidsons in 1910 in the heart of downtown Roanoke. According to Davidsons’ website, Joe believed that “customers were community” and he emphasized relationships over sales. Joe’s approach, the website goes on to say, “was a natural result of his bedrock conviction that if one expects support from the community, one must offer a sincere investment into that community.”

Subsequent generations of the Davidson family took that belief to heart. Larry is the third generation of his family—after his grandfather and his father, Sig—to operate Davidsons. You could say that community service is a Davidson family value.

Or, as Larry puts it:  “It’s in my DNA.”

Larry’s dedication to the community extends beyond Davidsons’ doors. Like his father, Larry has served on a number of nonprofit boards, including those of Center in the Square, United Way of Roanoke Valley, and Trust House (now known as ARCH Services), and supported other nonprofits, including TAP, in different ways.

A leader in child abuse prevention

Janice, too, has developed deep community connections through her work in nonprofits and child abuse prevention over the past twenty-plus years.

She began as a volunteer at Trust House (now ARCH Services), then transitioned to a full-time employee. She left Trust House to join Children’s Trust, where she served as executive director for 17 years. During her tenure there, she began her work with the Child Advocacy Center of Roanoke, successfully merged the Court Appointed Special Advocates program into Children’s Trust, and expanded services at Children’s Trust. Now directing Children’s Advocacy Centers of Virginia, her work has been critical in addressing child abuse in southwest Virginia.

According to Janice, “It’s here and it’s not going away, as much as we’d like it to. But children are better served now than they have ever been.”

Additionally, Janice has worked closely with TAP’s Domestic Violence Services (DVS). Stacey Sheppard, director of DVS programs, refers families in need to CACVA. In return, CACVA refers families in need to TAP. Stacey notes, “If it had not been for Janice, the Roanoke CACVA would have never started… She is an absolute angel to ensure that children have safe environments.”

Shared Beliefs and Deeply Personal Connections

Janice and Larry’s support of TAP also reflects a deeply personal connection to the organization. They enjoyed a close, decades-long friendship with Owen Schultz, the former director of TAP’s Planning Department. Among their shared beliefs was the need to work to leave their community a better place than they found it. After Owen’s death in 2016, Larry and Janice continued to support TAP as a way of honoring their friend’s legacy.

Larry Davidson and Janice Dinkins-Davidson remain committed to leaving their community better than they found it. As Janice notes, serving the community is “the rent I pay to live on the planet.”

A Thank You from Sabrina’s Place

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Sabrina’s Place, created in 2007, provides a safe space for custody exchanges and visitations. The program is in downtown Roanoke, housed in the same building since its inception. Unexpectedly, the program’s federal funding ended in 2016. The building’s owners, Cooper Youell and Scott Graeff, graciously allowed Sabrina’s Place to remain rent-free until other funding could be secured.

The property owners have also gone above and beyond to address maintenance issues and create a welcoming space for Sabrina’s Place families. Stacey Sheppard, director of TAP’s domestic violence services programs, states, “Our landlords have been diligent to fix any maintenance issues to ensure our families do not have an interruption in services.” Melody Robinson, Sabrina’s Place Program Manager, agrees. “They have been terrific and diligent at addressing … needs in the building, especially when it involves health and safety,” she says. This support from the property owners is crucial since the program cannot afford to pay for repairs on its own.

Cooper and Scott’s support of Sabrina Place has allowed the program to keep its doors open during hard times. Because of them, the only supervised visitation and safe exchange center in the region continues to serve families in need. From all of us at TAP, we thank them for their generosity and support.

For more information about how you can become a Sabrina’s Place supporter, please call (540) 777‑3799 or complete the contact form below.

Supporter Spotlight: Bank of Botetourt

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For more than 122 years, Bank of Botetourt has been committed to caring for its community. “Bank of Botetourt has a culture that focuses on bridging the needs of the community with the resources of the bank to improve the quality of life for all residents in our service area,” states Mary Ann Miller, Vice President-Business Banking and Community Relations.

Why TAP

One way Bank of Botetourt strengthens the community is by donating to organizations that make a positive impact. The bank has been a TAP sponsor for the past two years. “TAP is a well-respected organization,” says Mary Ann, “and when TAP Board Member Billy Martin approached us to become an annual supporter, we quickly signed on. The bank is grateful for our partnership with TAP as we seek to assist, educate, and support those in our communities who may have nowhere else to turn.”

A Culture of Service  

In addition to giving back financially, Bank of Botetourt encourages and supports staff involvement in the community. “We serve on local boards, volunteer, and work hard every day to find ways to give back,” says Mary Ann. 

A particular point of pride for bank staff is the financial education they provide in local elementary schools through their KidsSave program. By teaching young people the importance of responsible spending and saving, they hope to provide students with the tools to succeed as they branch out into the world on their own.

Community Connection

When you ask Mary Ann, who grew up in Botetourt, what makes the bank’s community so special, she is quick to answer—the people. “As a community bank, our customers are like family to us. Many of us have known one another for most of our lives. In my job I am able to help those in need through the backing of exceptional financial services at Bank of Botetourt. That makes my job so rewarding.”