When disaster strikes, the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation is ready and willing to come together to provide support in many different ways throughout the state of WV. While the majority of the Foundation’s grants and scholarships stay in the Eastern Panhandle, EWVCF increases the effectiveness of contributions given to disasters, bring greater attention to the life cycle of disasters, from preparedness and planning, to relief, to rebuilding and recovery efforts. In addition, EWVCF will provide timely and relevant advice from experts with deep knowledge of disaster philanthropy and conduct due diligence so donors can give with confidence. Pictured: Lisa Welch, Vice President, Scott Roach, Past President, Darlene Truman, President, Chip Hensell, Secretary.
RECOGNIZING THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS
NOVEMBER 12–18, 2017
EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Participates in National Effort to Highlight Local Impact of Philanthropy
Martinsburg, West Virginia ─ During the week of November 12-18, 2017, the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation will join more than 780 community foundations across America celebrating Community Foundation Week. For 28 years, the effort has raised awareness about the increasingly important role of these philanthropic organizations in fostering local collaboration and innovation to address persistent civic and economic challenges.
During the week, EWVCF will be working with local high school Leadership classes in Berkeley County to make them aware of opportunities to get involved in their communities. Through an innovative collaboration of schools, businesses and charitable organizations this will give the students the tools to bring about positive change and opportunities in their communities. EWVCF will also be preparing to distribute nearly $37,000 in Mini Grants to Teachers in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties while also promoting and working with Philanthropy West Virginia’s Keep 5 Local statewide program that encourages local residents to take a new look at philanthropic estate planning through the community foundation, making West Virginians see a powerful private sector solution to its longtime local charitable needs.
“Community foundations impact lives, create opportunities, and the result is a bright future,” said Darlene Truman, EWVCF Board President. “We are more determined than ever to bring our community partners together to find innovative and effective solutions for some of our most challenging social problems and advance the most promising of opportunities to benefit our residents.”
Community foundations are independent, public entities that steward philanthropic resources from institutional and individual donors to local nonprofits that are the heart of strong, vibrant communities. The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation is a local, independent, public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that directs tax-exempt gifts from donors to endowed funds to support favorite charitable causes in the region. The EWVCF, founded in 1995, provides financial stewardship for $22 million in endowments for nearly 220 component funds, and awards more than $3 million in grants and scholarships annually.
Community foundations represent one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy. Every state in the US is home to at least one community foundation—large and small, urban and rural—working to advance solutions on a wide range of social issues locally and globally.
Community Foundation Week, created in 1989 by former president George H.W. Bush, recognizes the work of community foundations throughout America and their collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community problems. West Virginia has over 25 Community Foundations and there are more than 750 across the US. These foundations, which support everything from social services to youth programs, historic preservation to the environment, and education to animal advocacy, provide stewardship for more than $66 billion in charitable endowment. For more information about the Eastern West Virginia Community contact Executive Director Michael Whalton at (304) 264-0353 or visit www.EWVCF.org.
For more information, please contact Michael Whalton at mwhalton@ewvcf.org or 304-264-0353.