UVA Alumna’s Backpack Buddies Wins Geico Contest, Cornell PhD Student Champions Amazonian Conservation - fundsforNGOs

Two individuals with ties to prominent universities are making significant impacts through their respective nonprofit endeavors. A University of Virginia alumna’s long-standing commitment to providing school supplies has earned her organization a substantial donation, while a Cornell Ph.D. student is actively working to preserve the biodiversity and cultural heritage of the Amazon rainforest.

Backpack Buddies Receives Generous Funding

Lucia Hoerr, a University of Virginia alumna from the Class of 2023, has seen her childhood initiative, Backpack Buddies, receive a $7,500 donation from Geico. Hoerr founded Backpack Buddies as a 10-year-old, inspired by her own enjoyment of back-to-school shopping and the realization that not all children could afford basic school supplies. The organization has since grown into a thriving effort, providing backpacks and essential supplies to students in need in Charlottesville and surrounding areas.

Hoerr’s personal connection to Backpack Buddies led her to submit the nonprofit for Geico’s internal Fast Pitch Program, where employees nominate their favorite charities for funding.
The $7,500 award is expected to fund approximately 200 backpacks filled with school supplies, enabling more students to start the academic year prepared.
Geico’s Virginia office is also partnering with Backpack Buddies on future fundraising events, amplifying the program’s reach and impact.

Cornell Student Fosters Amazonian Sustainability

Ethan Duvall, a Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology at Cornell University, is dedicated to protecting the Amazon rainforest and its indigenous cultures. His work in the Ecuadorian Amazon revealed the critical need for sustainable income opportunities for local communities, who often face pressure from destructive industries like illegal gold mining and oil extraction.

Duvall founded the Amazon Research and Conservation Collaborative (ARCC) in early 2024, collaborating with Ecuadorian colleagues and indigenous partners.
ARCC aims to conserve both biological and cultural diversity in the Amazon, recognizing their interconnectedness for long-term sustainability.
The organization is actively supporting indigenous communities, such as the Waorani people, by helping to market their artisanal crafts, like bags and jewelry made with traditional techniques and native materials, to U.S. retailers.
This initiative provides a vital economic alternative that encourages forest protection over destructive practices, with recent sales tripling or quadrupling normal volumes for participating artisans.