Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation

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Community Foundation Legacy Society

Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation (EWVCF) officers, (left to right) Secretary Chip Hensell, President Darlene Truman, Vice President Lisa Welch, and Treasurer Bill White recently helped celebrate the installation of seven new Legacy Society plaques at the Community Foundation office in Martinsburg. The checks they hold represent grants awarded by funds that were established through legacy gifts from Jane Snyder and Elizabeth Shade. Every year, these two funds alone provide more than $70,000 in support for youth and education programs in the Eastern Panhandle.

The Legacy Society of the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation experienced unprecedented growth in 2016, with seven local philanthropists choosing to join the group during the year. Individuals who remember the Community Foundation in an estate plan – either through a Will or Trust, or by naming EWVCF as a beneficiary of their Traditional IRA – are instrumental in the growth and well being of the organization. Some legacy gifts support the donors’ favorite charities with annual grant making in perpetuity; others add assets to existing funds, establish scholarships, or simply become a part of our unrestricted Community Impact Funds.

Donors may choose to work with Foundation staff on a Shell Agreement that provides detailed instructions for how a legacy gift will be put to use supporting education, recreation, social service programs, environmental causes, or any number of other charitable endeavors. Or, they can simply empower the board of the Foundation to use the proceeds of a Traditional IRA to support the outreach programs of the Foundation, with no restrictions.

Thanks to Legacy Society member gifts and contributions from donors who establish funds and work with the Foundation throughout their lifetime, total assets at the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation now exceed $21 million and annual grants and scholarships average well over $600,000 per year. To learn more about the Legacy Society contact Executive Director Michael Whalton at the Community Foundation offices.

 

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Scholarship Application Deadline Nears

2016 George & Holly Wood Hancock Scholars – Ayana Feliciano, Zachary Crooms, & Raeshean Simmons were three of nearly 50 students who received a total of over $93,000 in Community Foundation scholarships last year.

2017 Scholarship Deadline is March 1st

Eastern Panhandle students have until March 1st to apply for nearly $100,000 in scholarships from the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation. More than 70 scholarships of up to $5,000 each will be awarded to students from Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan counties this spring.

The Community Foundation is accepting scholarship applications by US mail or students may deliver them in person to the Foundation office at 229 E. Martin Street (Suite 4) in Martinsburg. “Having students compile hard copies of all the necessary forms and documents gives them the opportunity to review their application thoroughly,” stated Amy Pancake, EWVCF Scholarship Coordinator. “It seems as if there are fewer incomplete applications this way and with 44 endowed funds granting more than 70 scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 each, there’s been a tremendous amount of interest in our program this year.” Each scholarship has its own individual selection criteria and eligibility requirements crafted by donors to provide area students with opportunities to pursue an advanced education. Following a competitive process, scholarship awards are announced at the Community Foundation’s annual Scholars & Donors Reception at the Purple Iris in May.

A listing of available scholarships, as well as the application instructions, can be downloaded from the Community Foundation’s website, www.EWVCF.org. Completed applications may be submitted by US mail or delivered in person to the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation, 229 East Martin Street, Suite 4, Martinsburg, WV 25401. Submissions must be postmarked or delivered by the March 1 deadline.

The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was established in 1995. Led by a local board of directors and a staff of three, EWVCF serves Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan, Hampshire, and Hardy counties. It provides financial stewardship for more than 210 endowment funds, holds approximately $20 million in total assets under management, and awards between $600,000 and $750,000 in grants and scholarships annually. There are more than 700 community foundations across America, with each one serving donors and nonprofit organizations in a distinct geographic region. Information about the Community Foundation can be found on their web site at www.EWVCF.org or by calling 304-264-0353.

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Story Time in Wardensville, WV

 

The Hardy County Community Foundation has provided funding for the Wardensville Lions Club Story Time program for the past few years. We think it’s a fantastic program and look forward to reading the reports the Club sends us. Here’s an excerpt from their most recent report:

“Story Time takes place each Friday at 10:00 at the library. Every Story Time gives the children a positive learning experience filled with adult interactions with guest readers and the Story Time Ladies. The adults bring their individual perspectives on the book presentations and share their personal insights, interests and knowledge and love with the children. They model respectful interactions and happy attitudes.

Children sing songs, play games, and dance at Story Time, and the activity is usually tied into the theme of the week’s book. Joy is in the air as the children’s little voices sing “Bushel and a Peck” or “Five Little Pumpkins”. “The Freeze Game” and “The Hokey Pokey” are two of their favorite musical games, and as these songs bring laughter and fun, they also help with listening skills and movement. Story Time funding provided a hopscotch rug that we can use indoors, an indoor horseshoe game, and a small colorful parachute that we can have fun with while honing those “listen to instructions” skills. All of these activities contribute to the overall learning experiences of Story Time, complementing the joys of reading and friendship.

Crafts at Story Time help the children learn to use skills such as coloring, pasting, painting, building, and thinking creatively and artistically. The books that we read inspire all kinds of crafts, and we try to vary them from week to week so that the children get well-rounded experiences. Story Time Ladies make sure that the craft pieces are prepared ahead of time so that the children will be successful with their projects. Each week the children take home their own creation. Crafts that the children have done during this grant period include plaster of Paris hand prints for Father’s Day gifts, patriotic windsocks for the 4th of July, bird feeders for Our New Budgerigar, bag holders made from milk jugs for How to Help the Earth, by the Lorax, pirate telescopes for the book Costume Fun, and cotton ball llamas for Is Your Mama a Llama?

Story Time ends each week with snacks, again related to something in the book of the week. There is usually fruit, along with something salty and something sweet, often homemade from someone’s kitchen. Story Time Ladies Esther Parker and Aggie Mason have become experts in preparing snacks in the shape of something special such as a pirate ship made from apples and cheese or donuts with teeth for a funny Halloween treat. They’ve perfected how to make s’mores in the microwave for books about camping or picnics. In December, Ann Heishman guided the children as they rolled out cookie dough, cut out the cookies, and then decorated them. The cookies baked while the children enjoyed the book, and then they got to eat their cookies for the snack!

Children and their families that come to Story Time form friendships that are meaningful. The children learn about being with other children and sharing and taking turns and other such valuable lessons. The friends that they make at Story Time carry over into school and are helpful there. Their parents and grandparents who bring them to Story Time enjoy visiting and sharing in the experiences of children growing and learning. Young mothers help each other and grandparents give loving guidance. The adults become the children’s partners in the crafts, helping when needed – working together, and often with another person’s child.

 

This grant provides books to make a difference in the lives of the children of our community. The children experience good things with books and build up their home libraries. They are hopefully developing a love of books and learning which will serve them throughout their lives. The relationships that Story Time nurtures strengthen the bonds of our community.”

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Joan “Joanie, Angel Taxi, Book Lady” Roach

Joan Roach

Joan Roach, age 85, gracefully passed away on Monday evening at one of her favorite places, Otterbein United Methodist Church.

Born June 7, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Dr. J. Paul Gruver and Alberta Maxine Corwin Gruver.

Joanie had a special regard for many, many people in this diverse community that she loved so much. She gathered friends together to establish the Meal – on – Wheels as well as CCAP/Loaves and Fishes organizations. She had a special affection for all of the struggling folks in Martinsburg and around the world. She was a taxi for getting strangers to work and the “Book Lady”, handing out children’s books randomly throughout town and at Halloween. She has often suggested that to honor her memory we should visit a young mother, an elderly person or just volunteer somewhere.

She is survived by her husband Doug, sons Stan and wife Sara Corwin-Roach, Steve and wife Tina F. Roach, Scott and wife Linda Roach, daughter Terri Lynn Rotunda and husband Joe, special young lady Tracey Pittsnogle Crowell and husband Mike of Harpers Ferry and considered Mom by hundreds of other kids that have grown up in Martinsburg. Grandkids Josiah Corwin-Roach, Jason Roach and wife, Marlana, Matt Roach and wife, Kelly, Anthony, Alec, Maggie, Maria and Molly Rotunda; two special little great grandkids Alivia and Weston; a brother, Jacob Gruver and wife, Carol of Falling Waters, WV; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, close friends and all their families.

She was preceded in death by a special young lady Rene Pritchard

Family will receive friends on Saturday, December 17, 2016 from 3:00PM to 5:00PM at Brown Funeral Home.

Memorial service will be held at 2:00PM on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at Otterbein United Methodist Church with Rev. Mark Mooney and Rev. Ed Hall officiating .

She believed that everyone has a stake in making the world a better place and has ask that in lieu of flowers that a donation be made to one of these organizations: Maloto – Feeding, Educating and Empowering the children and women of Malawi (www.Malotoinc.org) or locally at the Eastern W V Community Foundation in the Joan Roach Volunteer Fund for the Needy, 304-264-0353 (www.ewvcf.org)

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Teachers Receive 2016 Mini-Grants

Teachers from 41 public schools in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia were awarded a total of $30,972.51 in Mini-Grants on November 17th. We are thrilled to be able to help them fund remarkable programs and projects. Congratulations!

The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation received 231 Mini-Grant applications from public school Pre-K through Grade 12 teachers in Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan counties.  A wide variety of projects and programs were proposed, with grant requests ranging from just under $100 to the maximum $500. The total amount requested was $93,857.67.  Of the 231 proposals, 40 grants totaling $15,169.94 were awarded to Berkeley County teachers; 24 grants totaling $10,799.29 were awarded to Jefferson County teachers; and 12 grants totaling $5,003.28 were awarded to Morgan County teachers.

The grant presentations took place at the Holiday Inn in Martinsburg on Thursday, November 17 – National Philanthropy Day – at 5:30 PM. A total of $30,972.51 in Mini-Grants were presented to Eastern Panhandle educators. Teachers, principals, and school administrators joined Community Foundation board members and fund donors for the celebration.

Some of the more popular proposals included Lego Robotics Kits, Boomwhacker musical instruments, Kindle Fire tablets, iPads, and a wide variety of art and music supplies. Teachers are encouraged to apply for grants for projects and programs that are unlikely to be funded through traditional school resources.

We want to extend our sincere thanks to the following Community Foundation Endowed Funds and individual donors who have provided the financial support to make the Mini-Grant to Teachers program possible:

Bonn Poland Family Recreation Fund

Scott & Elizabeth C. Shade Youth Fund

Endowment for Recreation

Endowment for the Arts

Frada Fine Berkeley Education Fund

Jane P. Snyder Youth Fund

Tom & Virginia Seely Children’s Fund

McMillan Family Fund

Erdem and Joan Ergin

Ruth Pritchard

Partners in Philanthropy

Martinsburg Office
127 Crimson Circle
Martinsburg, WV 25403
[email protected]
304.264.0353

Romney Office
Post Office Box 40
91 South High Street
Romney, WV 26757
[email protected]
304.822.7200

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Vision

To build vibrant communities that provide opportunities for everyone living in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

Mission

To inspire philanthropy, serve donors, strengthen communities, and improve the quality of life in Eastern West Virginia now and for future generations.

Values

We honor the philanthropic vision of our donors and value their generosity. We respect the work of nonprofit organizations and the passion they bring to carrying out their missions. We earn the trust of our grantees, donors, and partners through our commitment to excellence in our stewardship and our dedication to accountability, integrity, professionalism, and transparency in all our actions. In all our work, we actively embrace accessibility, inclusion, racial and social equity, and the unity that comes from diversity.