Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation

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A Note From Amy Pancake, EWVCF Scholarship Coordinator

We want to thank all 137 students who submitted scholarship applications to the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation this year. There were so many exceptional young men and women who applied and we certainly have our work cut out for us during the next few weeks. All of the scholarship applications have been processed and we have notified those students who will be interviewed.

Not everyone who receives a scholarship from the Community Foundation will be asked to appear for an interview, so if you were not notified, it doesn’t mean that you are out of the running for one of our scholarships. Students who are selected to receive a scholarship from the Community Foundation will be notified in mid to late April and will be invited to our Scholars & Donors Reception scheduled for May 12th.

It is an honor to be able to help students pay for their education and we are pleased to work with many donors who have established endowed scholarship funds that provide support in so many ways. This year we will award just over $100,000 in total scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000.

We wish each and every one of you who submitted a scholarship application the very best of luck with your future studies and we hope you will consider returning to the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia upon graduation.

Regards,

Amy

(Photo above) Wonderful students being interviewed this morning for the many Community Foundation scholarships EWVCF will present this year. What an honor to be able to help in this way.

 

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Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department Receives Grant for New Fitness Equipment

Thanks to a grant proposal written by Deputy Morris Stewart (right), the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department now has a fully equipped fitness room. Former Berkeley County Sheriff Randy Smith (beside Deputy Stewart) recommended that a $20,000 grant from the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation W. Randy Smith Family Fund be awarded to cover the cost of the commercial-grade equipment from Legend Fitness. In addition to free weights, benches and dumbbells, the room also has a cable crossover, a Smith machine (not invented by nor named after Randy Smith), two ellipticals, and two treadmills.

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Thanks, EWVCF Board!

Many thanks to our intrepid Board Members who braved the snow and freezing rain to attend last Thursday’s (January 29)  EWVCF Board Meeting. Also, a shout out to Bree Myers (left) and Chris Amores (far right) for the tour of the wonderful “For the Kids, by George” Children’s Museum at the train station in Martinsburg, where the meeting was held.

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Meet Our New 2015 Board Members

Meet the Foundation’s new board members, introduced at our board meeting at The Purple Iris on November 14th. From left: B. Lee Snyder, Charlotte Norris, Judi McIntyre, George Karos, Joan Ergin and Bill White.

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W. Randy Smith Family Fund Purchases New Pickups for Panhandle Home Health and Hospice of the Panhandle

 
When Randy Smith won the $44.3 million in cash by hitting the PowerBall Jackpot in 2010 one of the first things he did was to establish a $5.9 million donor advised fund at the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation. During the past four years Mr. Smith has recommended more than $3 million in grants be awarded to over 30 local nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities.

Since he is a strong advocate of the work being done by both Panhandle Home Health and Hospice of the Panhandle, Smith wanted to do something to help them serve the public in any kind of weather. Through his generosity, the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation W. Randy Smith Family Fund purchased a 2015 Ford F-250 4X4 pickup truck for Hospice of the Panhandle and a 2015 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 for Panhandle Home Health.

These organizations are now much better prepared for what is shaping up to be a rather brutal winter. Both of the brand new, heavy-duty, extended cab pickup trucks are built to handle serious weather conditions. With these vehicles, Hospice of the Panhandle and Panhandle Home Health will be levitra online able to get their staff members and patients where they need to go, regardless of the weather.

Smith doesn’t like to call attention to his generosity, and staff members of the community foundation often carry out his charitable wishes with little or no fanfare. But his generosity did not go unnoticed by Philanthropy West Virginia, a regional association of grant makers who, earlier this month, recognized W. Randy Smith with the Philanthropist of the Year Critical Impact Award for contributions to the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks & Recreation Board to cover the cost of constructing the new Rec Center in South Berkeley County.

The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation has been serving Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan counties for nearly 20 years, growing from an initial gift of $100,000 in 1995 to more than $17 million in assets today. Donors have created 188 endowed funds to support favorite charities, and provide a lasting legacy to improve the quality of life in the region. For information about the Community Foundation, visit their web site at www.EWVCF.org or call executive director Michael Whalton at 304-264-0353.

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.