Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia Inc. announced grants totaling over $115,000 to 25 nonprofit area organizations. Grants were presented at a ceremony at the West Virginia National Guard Morgantown Readiness Center Friday to coincide with National Philanthropy Day and Community Foundation Week, Nov. 12-18. Pictured above are representatives of the grant-funded organizations, YCF board and staff members and individuals with donor advised funds at YCF.
Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia, a nonprofit that promotes philanthropy and builds endowment funds throughout the region, handed out $115,000 total to 25 community groups Friday at a ceremony at the Morgantown National Guard Readiness Center.
The grants, which ranged in size from $500 to $18,000 went to schools, social programs and health care groups in Monongalia, Preston, Marion, Harrison and Taylor counties.
During the 2019 community grant cycle, 50 area nonprofit organizations requested more than $400,000, YCF officials said.
This year most of the grants focused on health and social services, education, arts and culture and recreation.
“This is not an easy job and we have limited money to award,” said Patty Showers Ryan, YCF president, during the check presentations.
The Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center, which helps abused children, received $18,000, the largest award made Friday.
“We want to make sure there are happy, healthy and safe children,” said Laura Capage, the center’s executive director, as she accepted the check.
CASA for Kids of Monongalia, which advocates for children who are victims of abuse, received $12,000 and Milan Puskar Health Right Inc., which operates a primary care clinic, received $10,000.
“Health Right is a jewel,” said Ranjit Majumder, chair of YCF’s community grant committee.
Other organizations receiving grants Friday included: Friends of Decker Creek, Grafton-Taylor County Health Department, The Homestead Farm Center, Literacy Volunteers of Monongalia and Preston Counties, Marion County Schools, Mason-Dixon Elementary School, Monongalia County Starting Points Family Resource Center — The Shack Neighborhood House — Mon River Trails Conservancy, Monongalia County Schools, Morgantown Area Meals on Wheels, Mountainview Elementary School, Mylan Park Elementary School, Skyview Elementary School, Taylor County Middle School and the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties.
The Women’s Giving Circle of North Central West Virginia, a YCF component fund, will announce its 2019 grant recipients Dec. 5.
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