Join us for an unforgettable evening of inspiration and generosity at the 2nd Annual Hearts of Hope Gala, hosted by Miles of Love, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families facing pediatric congenital heart defects.

This charity gala features:

• A plated dinner and open bar

• A heartfelt paddle raise and exciting silent auction

• Live music and elegant entertainment

• A special presentation with Keynote Speaker Dr. Alfred Abuhamad, Executive Vice President of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, Dean of Eastern Virginia Medical School.

All proceeds support Miles of Love’s mission to provide hope, resources, and assistance to children and families navigating the challenges of congenital heart disease.

Reserve your seat, become a sponsor, or donate today. Let’s make a difference—one heart at a time.

For tickets and sponsorship info, visit: Hearts of Hope Gala 2025 – Miles of Love | Handbid – Mobile bidding + auction software

If you have any questions or would like to contact Chelsea + Paul directly, please feel free to email milesoflove0106@gmail.com. Visit our website and follow our social media channels for more information!

The post Hearts of Hope Gala 2025 appeared first on Hampton Roads Chamber.

Join us for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony! After the ceremony, the first 88 lucky guests will receive a free Panda Express t-shirt.

We’re Hiring!

Looking for a new opportunity? Panda Express is building a team in Norfolk! Apply today at PandaCareers.com.

The post Ribbon Cutting appeared first on Hampton Roads Chamber.

What is intestacy? 

Suppose you were to die without a will or other estate planning documents. In that case, you’re said to have died “intestate.” This means that the Commonwealth of Virginia will decide which of your heirs inherits what based on the rules set forth in Section 64.2-200 of the Code of Virginia. These rules do not consider personal relationships, family dynamics, charitable donations, or what you would have wanted. This means that the people and causes you care about may not receive anything at all from your estate after you pass.

Not only will your assets pass into intestate succession if you don’t have a will, they will also pass into intestate succession if your will is deemed to be invalid or incomplete by the clerk of court. The state of Virginia has strict requirements for wills, and self-prepared documents or those created in other states often lack the necessary legal requirements that Virginia demands. In these cases, your estate could still be treated as intestate.

How are assets distributed if you don’t have a will? 

Virginia’s rules for intestate succession follow a strict hierarchy that determines who inherits your estate in the absence of an estate plan. Below we’ll take a detailed look at how this works.

Do you have a surviving spouse and children?  If so, your spouse gets everything if all the children are also your spouse’s children. If any of the children are from a previous relationship, your spouse gets one-third and your children divide the remaining two-thirds.

Is there no surviving spouse, but there are children? All of your assets would pass to your children or their descendants if a child has predeceased you.

What if there is no spouse and no children? Your estate would then pass to your parents, and if they are not alive anymore, it would pass to your siblings or their descendants.

What if there are no close relatives? In that case, your estate would be split between your maternal and paternal grandparents, aunts, uncles, or their descendants. The process would continue up the family tree if necessary. If no relatives can be found at all, then your estate would be inherited by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Talk to a Virginia Beach estate planning attorney today 

The Law Office of Angela N. Manz represents the interests of Virginia Beach residents who are looking to draft or make changes to their estate plan. Call our Virginia Beach estate planning lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your next steps immediately.

The post What Happens if You Die Without a Will in Virginia? appeared first on Hampton Roads Chamber.

Drafting an estate plan in early adulthood 

Well, it’s probably not on your agenda, but drafting an estate plan at the age of 18 is a conscientious move that covers your bases if you become incapacitated. There are two key documents that you should consider creating once you turn 18 years of age. These include:

• Durable power of attorney – this document designates someone to manage your financial affairs when you become incapacitated. This individual acts as your financial proxy if you were to suffer an injury severe enough to not be able to perform those duties on your own. We recommend that you update your financial power of attorney every five years to avoid difficulties with financial institutions accepting the document.

• Health care directive – this document is actually three documents in one. It contains a HIPAA release that allows your proxy to access your medical information, a healthcare power of attorney, and a living will. These documents together help outline your medical preferences and appoint a proxy to make medical decisions on your behalf should you become unable.

When 18-year-olds do establish these critical estate planning documents, it is often at the behest of their parents who sometimes pay for the legal costs associated with drafting these documents. Without these basic legal documents, family members can be left powerless in critical situations, which often leads to court proceedings.

Key life events are a good time to revisit your estate plan 

Whenever you experience a significant life event, it is a good time to revisit your estate plan. After turning 18, the next major watershed moment in your life will likely be your marriage. Following marriage, you will likely welcome a child into the world. This is a good time to update your beneficiaries and ensure that your assets are passed to your loved ones if you were to untimely pass.

Talk to a Virginia Beach estate planning attorney today 

The Law Office of Angela N. Manz represents the interests of Virginia Beach residents who are looking to update or draft an estate plan. Call our Virginia Beach estate planning lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your next steps right away.

The post Is it Ever Too Early to Draft an Estate Plan? appeared first on Hampton Roads Chamber.

HRT’s Student Freedom Pass provides riders 13-17 years old in Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach with unlimited rides on HRT bus, ferry and light rail service. Best of all, there’s no cost to the passholder.

Students are welcome to attend one of two events:

• Thursday, Aug. 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hampton High School, 1491 W. Queen St. in Hampton.
• Saturday, Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at YMCA on Granby, 2901 Granby St. in Norfolk.

Students attending can sign up for a pass, learn how to plan their trips, and how to navigate the local transit system using the latest technology.

Members of HRT’s new Student Transit Riders Commission will be on hand to greet teens. The Commission is comprised of high school students who live in HRT’s service area. The board, which held its first meeting this month, serves as a voice and resource for the region’s youth. The commission meets once a month to exchange views and provide a teen perspective on transit initiatives that are important to them.

“The Student Freedom Pass from HRT is growing in popularity because it introduces teens to transit, educates them on how to get around, and provides them with safe and efficient transportation throughout the school year,” said William E. Harrell, HRT’s President and CEO.

Unable to attend one of the events? Get a Student Freedom Pass by filling out the application and visiting one of our transit centers in Norfolk, Hampton and Newport News.

About HRT

HRT’s mission is to connect Hampton Roads with transportation solutions that are reliable, safe, efficient and sustainable. For more information on transit services, visit gohrt.com

The post HRT Helps Students Get Around This School Year appeared first on Hampton Roads Chamber.

If you or someone you know is looking to work for a reliable, professional home care agency, this is the time to learn more! Nurse Next Door offers flexibility and opportunities to expand your skills.

We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated Nursing Assistant to join our healthcare team. The ideal candidate will provide essential support to patients, assisting with daily living activities and ensuring their comfort and well-being. This role is vital in delivering high-quality patient care in various settings, including acute care facilities, hospice care, and geriatrics.

Please share the job description attached or Complete an application on LinkedIn at Patient Care Assistant | Nurse Next Door, Norfolk VA | LinkedIn or on Indeed. For more information, contact Lician Johnson-Edwards at 757-974-8419.

The post Nurse Next Door Norfolk is Growing and Hiring appeared first on Hampton Roads Chamber.

Come celebrate with us at our new facility located at 6315 North Center Drive, Suite 100, Norfolk, VA 23502. We’re thrilled to expand our services and continue to provide vital healthcare to the community.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The post Join Us for a Ribbon Cutting at CAN Community Health! appeared first on Hampton Roads Chamber.

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Join us for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony! After the ceremony, the first 88 lucky guests will receive a free Panda Express t-shirt.

We’re Hiring!

Looking for a new opportunity? Panda Express is building a team in Norfolk! Apply today at PandaCareers.com.

The post Panda Express: Grand Opening appeared first on Hampton Roads Chamber.

“Being named a Top Workplace Industry Award winner for Financial Services is a meaningful honor because it speaks to the dedication of our team members to our members, each and every day, to help them thrive,” said Rebecca Riordan, Chartway’s chief people and culture officer. “This recognition among our peers wouldn’t be possible without the voices of our team members who help us build a top workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to grow.”

Top Workplaces Industry Awards not only celebrate organizations that have built people-first workplace cultures within their sector but also demonstrate leadership in industries spanning construction, distribution, education, energy & utilities, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, nonprofit, real estate, and technology, in addition to financial services. The award marks them as an employer of choice for those seeking to work in the industry.

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.”

In addition to earning the 2025 Top Workplaces Industry Award for Financial Services, Chartway received the 2025 Top Workplaces USA award and the 2025 Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for Innovation. The credit union was also recognized with several Top Workplaces in 2024, including the Inside Business Top Workplaces Award for Hampton Roads for the sixth consecutive year and a fifth consecutive Salt Lake Tribune Top Workplaces Award in Utah. In the fall of 2024, the credit union also earned Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Awards, recognizing employee appreciation and well-being, innovation, leadership, and purpose & values.

Top Workplaces awards are based on feedback from a research-backed employee engagement survey. Details about how Chartway Credit Union builds a great workplace culture are available on Top Workplaces.

You can learn more about jobs at Chartway Credit Union on the careers page here.

Get the latest news about Chartway by visiting our media center.

About Chartway

Since 1959, Chartway has been unlocking the potential of individuals and families so they can thrive. Member-owned and values-driven, our $3.1 billion credit union proudly serves more than 260,000 members with branches in Utah, Texas, and Virginia. We’ve been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions, included on American Banker’s Top Credit Union to Work For list, and received numerous other top workplace and best credit union accolades. Reflecting a bright way forward, our charitable arm – the Chartway Promise Foundation – has granted over $16 million to provide medically fragile children and their families memorable experiences that bring joy, hope, and smiles. For information on our vibrant organization, please visit www.Chartway.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Energage

Making the world a better place to work together.

Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 18 years of culture research and the results from 27 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.

The post Chartway Wins 5th Top Workplaces Industry Award for Financial Services appeared first on Hampton Roads Chamber.