Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia, Inc. (YCF), announces the distribution of grants totaling over $145,000 to 29 local charitable organizations to coincide with National Community Foundation Week. Awards range from $400 to $15,000 and support many community programs, services and initiatives in the region YCF serves, including Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston and Taylor Counties.
The nonprofit organizations receiving grants include:
- CASA For Kids of Monongalia and Preston Counties
- Children’s Home Society of West Virginia
- The Change Initiative
- Christian Help
- Fetterman UM Church/Anna Jarvis Backpack Program
- Girls on the Run of North Central West Virginia
- The Homestead Farm Center, Inc.
- Mason Dixon Elementary School
- Milan Puskar Health Right
- Monongalia County Starting Points Family Service Center
- Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center
- Mountain Stewardship and Outdoor Leadership School
- Mountaineer Area Robotics
- Mountaineers for Mutts
- Mylan Park Elementary School
- Nazareth Farm, Inc.
- Pantry Plus More, Inc.
- Planned Approach to Community Health Coalition of Taylor County
- Preston County Caring Council
- Shack Neighborhood House, Inc.
- St. Ursula Food Pantry and Outreach
- Stars and Strides Therapeutic Equine Center
- Summit Chamber Music Series, Inc.
- Taylor County Arts Council, Inc.
- Taylor County Board of Education
- Taylor County Family Resources
- United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties
- West Virginia Golf Association
- The West Virginia Sound Foundry
The grants include awards from the Addiction Prevention Initiative Fund, Billy Atkins and Carolyn Peluso Atkins Fund for Children, Emergency Impact Fund for North Central West Virginia, Louis and Mabel Tanner Community Fund, Mavis Grant and George W. Lilley Jr. Community Enhancement Fund, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Field of Interest Fund, Stephen D. Tanner Children’s Enrichment Fund, Taylor County Charitable Interest Fund, Women’s Giving Circle of North Central West Virginia Endowment Fund, YCF IMPACT Fund and YCF Regional Arts Endowment Fund.
YCF awarded grants on National Philanthropy Day, Nov. 15, which coincides with National Community Foundation Week, celebrated annually November 12-18. Community Foundation Week was established in 1989 by former President George H.W. Bush to recognize the important work of community foundations throughout the country. Community foundations are independent public charities that steward philanthropic resources from donors and award grants to local nonprofits. They represent one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy with more than 750 in the United States.
“On behalf of YCF’s Board of Directors, we thank our generous community of donors who make grant awards possible,” said YCF’s Board Chair, Martin Howe. “We also congratulate the nonprofits receiving these awards and working to improve the lives of residents across our five-county region.”
The YCF Community Grant Program is supported, in part, by the YCF IMPACT Fund, which was established to respond to local community needs.
“The annual earnings from the YCF IMPACT Fund provide crucial funding to support vital nonprofits,” said YCF President, Patty Showers Ryan. “And through the generosity of an anonymous donor, contributions to YCF’s IMPACT Fund are being matched 100% through December 31. We encourage individuals and businesses to take advantage of this opportunity to double their impact with a year-end gift.”
To donate to the YCF IMPACT Fund, visit YCF’s website at www.ycfwv.org or mail a check made payable to YCF to P.O. Box 409, Morgantown, WV 26507.
YCF’s mission is to promote philanthropy and build endowment funds to benefit our communities. Through financial resources, YCF extends many forms of assistance to qualified people, programs, and projects. Primarily serving North Central West Virginia, YCF’s underlying goal is always to enhance the quality of life for those the organization serves.
For more information, please visit www.ycfwv.org or call the YCF office at 304-296-3433.
