The Legacy of Anne and Gene Worrell
Our grandparents were remarkable people: fearless, innovative, straightforward, and generous.
They met working as camp counselors in Southwest Virginia, sharing a love of outdoor adventures. Anne grew up in Surry, where she swam across the James River as a young girl, followed by a friend in a rowboat.
Gene learned Appalachian hunting and farming traditions as well as entrepreneurial skills from his grandparents. At sixteen, he earned a scholarship to Wake Forest University while she attended Virginia Intermont College. Both first-generation college students, they exemplified a never-give-up spirit in every endeavor.
Anne and Gene built their company, Worrell Newspapers, from the ground up, starting in Bristol. It expanded to include more than thirty papers across the country. In 1986, they created The Genan Foundation to support their commitment to philanthropy.
Read more about the history of Worrell Newspapers in the Ebook Birth of a Newspaper.
We are working collaboratively with the Directors and staff to drive the Foundation’s philanthropy with Anne and Gene’s personal values and integrity central to each decision. It’s a genuine honor to help pursue their vision with compassion for all living things and loyal service to Virginia and its people.
— Shannon and Zack Worrell