In Yadkin County, neighbors know your name, generosity flows quietly but powerfully, and community means more than geography. It’s a place that has been close to the Shallow Ford Foundation’s heart for years. Since 2018, the Foundation has partnered with and supported Yadkin nonprofits, schools, and generous neighbors who wanted to give back to the place they love. Now, the Foundation has opened a second office in downtown Yadkinville, making visible what has long been true: Yadkin County is an integral part of the Foundation’s story.

That story began in 2004, when the organization was founded as the Clemmons Rotary Foundation. In 2012, under visionary leadership, it transitioned into the Clemmons Community Foundation—a change that broadened its reach and deepened its mission. Like all community foundations, it became devoted to the community it serves by gathering financial gifts from individuals, families, and businesses and channeling those dollars back into the community through impactful grants, scholarships, initiatives, and more.

In 2018, the Foundation’s connection to Yadkin County truly began thanks to a transformational bequest from Wayne A. Shore, a Clemmons Rotary member and lifelong supporter of the county, as well as a resident of East Bend in his later years. His generous gift established the Wayne and Bradley Shore Endowment Fund, a permanent resource for Yadkin County, and enabled the Foundation to open its first staffed office in Clemmons, which remains active.

As the service area expanded to include Yadkin County, Lewisville, and North Davidson County, the Foundation adopted a new name in2021: the Shallow Ford Foundation. The name pays tribute to the historic shallow crossing of the Yadkin River—a place where people, wagons, and stories once passed from one side to the other. Though the river runs differently now, the spirit of that crossing and its sense of connection, generosity, and shared opportunity still flows through the work we do.

Thanks to the Wayne and Bradley Shore Fund, the Foundation was able to purchase a welcoming house that now serves as its Yadkin County office. On September 4th, 2025, staff, neighbors, partners, and community leaders gathered to cut a bright ribbon on West Elm Street in downtown Yadkinville. The office is more than just a remodeled house—it represents a long-term commitment to the community, walking alongside residents as the area grows, thrives, and dreams for the future.

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