A Legacy of Compassion, a Future of Opportunities

Sandra D. Jones

About The Sandra D. Foundation

The Sandra D. Foundation was founded on a simple but powerful belief:

When barriers are removed, people have the opportunity to thrive.

Named in honor of Sandra D., a woman remembered for her generosity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to helping others, the Foundation exists to carry forward her legacy of service in a way that creates lasting, meaningful change.
Sandra believed that helping people wasn't about charity, it was about showing up, listening, encouraging, and giving people the support they needed to move forward with dignity.
That spirit continues to guide everything we do.
Today, The Sandra D. Foundation works to remove barriers that prevent individuals and families from achieving economic stability, workforce success, and long-term independence.
Our mission isn't simply to provide services.
It's to create opportunities.

Our Story

The Foundation began with one question:

"What is preventing people from moving forward?"

As we worked alongside individuals striving to improve their lives, one challenge surfaced repeatedly: transportation.
People were securing jobs but struggling to get there.
Parents were working hard but lacked reliable transportation.
Employers needed dependable workers, while motivated individuals were losing opportunities because transportation stood in the way.
Those experiences led to the creation of Ride To Work RVA, a workforce transportation program that demonstrated how removing a single barrier could change lives.
But as relationships grew and conversations continued, we realized transportation was only one piece of a much larger picture.
Many individuals also needed guidance, practical skills, workforce support, community connections, and access to resources that could help them build stable futures.
Rather than creating isolated solutions, we chose to build an organization focused on addressing barriers wherever they exist.
That vision became The Sandra D. Foundation.

The Sandra D. Foundation

  • We believe that potential exists in every individual.

    Too often, people are not held back by a lack of ability—they are held back by circumstances beyond their control.

    Reliable transportation.

    Limited access to opportunity.

    Financial hardship.

    Lack of information.

    Disconnected resources.

    Our role is not to define people's futures.

    Our role is to help remove the obstacles standing in their way so they can pursue the future they envision for themselves.

  • The Sandra D. Foundation exists to remove barriers that prevent individuals and families from achieving economic stability.

    Through workforce transportation, education, strategic partnerships, and community based initiatives, we create pathways to stability, mobility, and lasting success.

  • We envision communities where opportunity is not determined by circumstance.

    A future where every individual has access to the resources, support, and opportunities needed to build meaningful careers, strengthen their families, and contribute to thriving communities.

  • We believe meaningful change happens through partnership.

    That's why we work alongside government agencies, employers, educational institutions, nonprofits, and community organizations to develop practical, sustainable solutions that meet people where they are.

    Rather than focusing on short-term assistance alone, we strive to create systems that produce lasting impact: helping individuals bridge the gap from immediate challenges toward long term stability and independence.

    Every program we develop is designed with one question in mind:

    Will this create more opportunity?

    If the answer is yes, it aligns with our mission.

  • The Sandra D. Foundation is just beginning its journey.

    As our organization grows, so will our commitment to identifying barriers, developing innovative solutions, and building partnerships that strengthen individuals, families, and communities.

    We envision a future where transportation, workforce development, education, and community support work together, not as separate services, but as connected pathways toward opportunity.

    Our programs will evolve.

    Our partnerships will expand.

    Our mission will remain the same.

    To create pathways to stability, mobility, and lasting success.

  • Creating lasting change requires collaboration.

    Whether you're an individual, employer, government agency, nonprofit organization, or community partner, there is a place for you in this work.

    Together, we can remove barriers, expand opportunity, and build stronger communities—one pathway at a time.

    Let's create lasting impact, together.

Our Founder's Mission

"I created The Sandra D. Foundation because I believe every person deserves the opportunity to succeed. Throughout my work, I met people who were motivated, capable, and ready to move forward, but were held back by barriers they couldn't overcome alone.

Transportation was the first barrier I saw. It won't be the last.

My vision is to build an organization that identifies those barriers, develops practical solutions, and partners with communities to create lasting opportunities. Every program we launch should help someone move one step closer to stability, independence, and the future they deserve.

This Foundation is more than an organization. It is a continuation of my grandmother's legacy—a legacy built on compassion, service, and believing in the potential of others."

— Ivory Jones
CEO & Executive Director