Rev. Charles Whitfield and Dr. John “Pat” Favero, both of Martinsville, will join The Harvest Foundation Board of Directors this year.
When asked to serve on the foundation’s board, Whitfield said he was honored.
“I accepted the nomination to the board because after seeing the varied ways in which Harvest has aided in communal growth and vitality, I sincerely wanted to be a part of making a true impact in our community that will make a resounding difference for years to come.”
Favero said he’s excited and proud to serve his community at The Harvest Foundation.
“I know that Harvest can have an enormous impact on our community,” Favero said, “and with the current emphasis on economic development, I believe the foundation can help promote and encourage growth. I’m very pleased to be part of an organization that will have such a lasting impact.”
As a board member, Whitfield said he will bring his community experience to the foundation.
“I represent the faith-based community and I also represent the small business sector as a small business owner,” he said. “These two areas have been a passion of mine for almost a quarter of a century, and I believe this experience, coupled with the foundation’s desire to create opportunity, will be a great chance for me to give insight from a different vantage point.”
Also a small business owner, Favero said he is heavily invested in Martinsville-Henry County and its future.
“As a physician, I see patients on a daily basis that are either uninsured or underinsured,” he said. “If my patients have better jobs and better insurance, they can live healthier lives. The foundation can impact economic growth in our community by supporting new business, increasing jobs and raising employee wages.”
Whitfield is president and owner of Charis Enterprises LLC. He currently serves as president for the Virginia Baptist State Convention and is senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Martinsville. He received a master of arts in human services and counseling from Liberty University and his master of divinity from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. He serves as a board member for Community Recovery Program and the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce.
Favero is a physician and owner of Martinsville Family Medicine. He is currently a member of the Medical Society of Virginia. He received his doctorate from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at Lynchburg Family Medicine. He volunteers as an athletic team physician at Magna Vista High School and enjoys fishing, skiing, snowboarding and sports.
The Harvest Foundation Board of Directors is an 11-member board that includes a new slate of officers for 2019. They are David L. Stone, Jr. as chairman, Virginia W. Hamlet as Community Engagement Committee chair and secretary, Monica T. Monday, Esq. as Finance and Administration Committee chair and treasurer, and William L. “Bill” Kirby IV as Governance and Nominating Committee chair. Other board members include Dr. Paul R. Eason, Dr. Valenica Eggleston-Clark, Kelvin Perry, James “Jim” Tobin and Danny Wulff.
