The award will be presented by Two Rivers Giving Circle member Lisa Welch, who describes Foulds’ work as a major contribution to the life and wellbeing of the people and nature in the Eastern Panhandle. Foulds is a founding member and President of the Sleepy Creek Watershed Association, which received statewide recognition for its efforts in Outreach and Education. The organization’s outreach program has been highly effective in educating the community about the importance of protecting the local watershed.

In addition to education and outreach, the Sleepy Creek Watershed Association aggressively promotes watershed issues, has an excellent track record for getting grants, and enjoys strong growth thanks to a successful volunteer recruiting program. Thanks to her conservation work, Foulds is well respected by both her peers and the community at large.

Linda Case, a Two Rivers Giving Circle founder, explained that the award was an idea of the group to expand its vision of providing financial support to include special recognition to people in the community who make a difference on behalf of conservation and preservation.

The Two Rivers Giving Circle is soliciting grant proposals through September 16th and nonprofit organizations, schools, or government agencies with conservation or preservation projects in Morgan, Berkeley, or Jefferson Counties. are encouraged to apply. Information about the grants program can be found on the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation web site at www.EWVCF.org or by calling the Community Foundation office at (304) 264-0353. More than $6,000 in Two Rivers Giving Circle conservation and preservation grants will be awarded in late October or early November this year.

The Two Rivers Giving Circle is made up of like-minded individuals interested in supporting conservation and preservation programs in the Eastern Panhandle. Each member contributes $500 or more annually which is used to create a larger grantmaking pool to have a greater impact in the community. Members review proposals and interview potential grantees in order to report back to the grant-making circle as a whole for final grant recommendations.

Those interested in learning more about the Two Rivers Giving Circle should call the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation at (304) 264-0353. Founded in 1995, the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation serves Jefferson, Berkeley, and Morgan Counties, provides financial stewardship for more than 160 endowment funds, and holds approximately $15 million in assets. During the past three years more than $3 million in grants and scholarships have been awarded by the community foundation.

There are more than 700 community foundations across America and 26 in West Virginia, making community foundations one of the fastest growing forms of philanthropy today. With the mission to help donors establish a lasting legacy to support nonprofit organizations and charitable causes near and dear to them, the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation has enjoyed tremendous success and touches the lives of thousands in our region.

Community Networks, Inc (Bethany House) & Shenandoah Women’s Center Funds Grow Thanks to Recent Donations

MARTINSBURG, WV – Thanks to a matching-funds-challenge set up by a gift from the former Soroptimist Club, the endowment funds that help support Community Networks, Inc. (Bethany House) and the Shenandoah Women’s Center have each grown by $2,000. Several recent end-of-year gifts to the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation were earmarked to support the challenge and we wish to extend a special thanks to the donors who helped us reach our goal.