Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation

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Preparing for our 20th Anniversary

Thanks to our many incredible donors, the highly professional investment advisors who help us manage our endowments, and the remarkable nonprofit organizations we serve, 2014 was another truly outstanding year for the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation. We awarded more than $620,000 in grants and scholarships last year, have grown to 190 component funds and hold more than $18 million in assets. Our investment returns continue to be strong and, although final numbers are not yet in for the year, we expect to award a record number of competitive grants for youth and education programs in 2015. The scholarship program has grown considerably over the past few years and more than $100,000 in scholarships will be presented to deserving students by the Community Foundation in 2015.

Our Partners in Philanthropy Corporate Sponsors have helped us establish unrestricted funds to address high-priority needs in each of the three Eastern Panhandle counties, and have helped fund our Mini-Grants to Teachers program which has blossomed in just two years.

The next twelve months hold great promise and we are excited to be working on many new programs and projects to serve you better and to help us celebrate our twentieth anniversary. We are truly thankful for your support and wish you a very Happy New Year!
Sincerely yours,
Michael

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Will Poe to Thru-Hike Appalachian Trail in 2015

Will’s Walk To Support Jefferson AFJROTC

Will Poe is going to walk the entire 2,186 mile Appalachian Trail, from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine from April to October 2015, in what is called a “Thru-Hike.” Along with checking an item off his bucket-list, Will looks to raise some money for a worthy cause — the AFJROTC cadets and program at Jefferson High School, in Jefferson County West Virginia.

Will invites you to follow him on his adventure and help him raise funds to support the AFJROTC the program he started in 2002 and retired from in June 2014.

What’s in it For Those Who Donate or Pledge?
  • Access to the Will’s online Appalachian Trail Journal, full of pictures and details — you’ll be there as he plans, walks, and lives on the trail.
  • Access to follow him via a “Twitter-like” feed—you’ll receive almost daily updates, pictures, and observations of his 5 million-step walk—a walk equivalent of climbing Mount Everest 15 times.
  • A tax-deductible way to make Jefferson AFJROTC stronger, forever.
  • Receive recognition for your contribution.
  • You’ll be motivating him every day for the six months he’s on the trail.

Tax-deductible donations made payable to the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation WV-20021 AFJROTC Angels Fund will be placed in a permanent endowment that is invested for long-term growth by the community foundation.

Each year, from the investment gains, up to 5% of the total Angels Fund endowment, will be distributed to the AFJROTC program to help support the cadets and the programs not covered by the Air Force or school system. To learn more about the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation visit their website at www.EWVCF.org or follow them on Facebook.

So, Will’s walk combined with your donation will become a legacy that will help deserving cadets in Jefferson AFJROTC forever.

Will You Help?

You can by making a donation or pledging a donation to help the cadets.  For example, if Will completes the entire trail:

  • Donate a set dollar amount of your choice ($50 or $100 for example).
  • A pledge of 1-cent per mile would be $21.86.
  • A pledge of 5-cents per mile would be $109.30.
  • A pledge of 10-cents per mile would be $218.60.
  • Or more!

You can also help by spreading the word to people in your network and seek donations or pledges from them.  His trail journal website will go live July 10, 2014, www.willpoe.me.

To Make a Donation or Pledge, or For More Information:                                         

Complete the form below and return it to Will as explained on the reverse, or visit www.willpoe.me on or after July 10, 2015.

Will’s Walk Donation & Pledge Sheet

Yes, I’ll join Will Poe on his adventure and to help the Jefferson High School AFJROTC cadets and program!

For administration and recognition purposes:

Donor’s Name: _____________________________________________________

City and State:  _____________________________________________________

Please keep my identity anonymous (circle one): YES     NO

For contact purposes and to receive access to Will’s Trail Journal and Social Media:

Email Address: _____________________________________________________

Phone Number: ___________________________________________________

I will donate the set amount of ______________________________for Will Poe’s Appalachian Trail hike to benefit Jefferson AFJROTC.  (Your donation can be made now or at any time before November 15, 2015.)

OR

I pledge to make a donation of _________________________________ per mile Will Poe hikes on the Appalachian Trail for Jefferson AFJROTC.  I will promptly send my donation when I’m informed by social media, Will’s Blog, or email that he has concluded the hike and before November 15, 2015.

For more information, or to make a donation or pledge, contact:

Will Poe

ATTN:  AT Hike for JHS AFJROTC, 434 Gap View Blvd, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425

Email: [email protected] (In the Subject Line enter: “Your Hike”.)

www.willpoe.me

You can make donations in person or by mail.

You can make a pledge in person and by mail, or email. If making a pledge in person or by mail, use this pledge sheet.

If making a pledge by email, you can simply insert the requested information, above, into the body of the email (no attachment necessary).

Please make checks payable to:

EWVCF WV-20021 AFJROTC Angels Fund

At the conclusion of the hike, Will Poe will remind you of this payment information.

  1. He’ll let you know when he receives your donation, and recognize you for supporting Jefferson AFJROTC.
  2. He’ll then forward your check to the foundation.
  3. You’ll receive confirmation of your donation from the foundation.
  4. Your cancelled check will also serve as your receipt.

(For more information about the foundation and the WV-20021 AFJROTC Angels Fund.)

(Please do not send this sheet to the foundation.)

Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation, 229 East Martin Street, Suite 4, Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401

304-264-0353, facsimile: 888-507-8375

Email: [email protected]

This is not a school-sponsored fundraiser.  As of June 28, 2014 Will Poe is a private citizen supporting a school group.  The Jefferson County Schools Board of Education neither approves or disapproves of this activity. Likewise, the board does not encourage or discourage your participation. 

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Historic Window Workshop

 

The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation Two Rivers Giving Circle Fund and the Historic Shepherdstown Commission each awarded $1,000 grants to Shepherd University to help restore historic windows in the Entler-Weltzheimer House on High Street and fund a “Windows Workshop” by the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia (PAWV). The two-day event, which was held on the campus of Shepherd University Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6, was well attended as 35 men and women participated in the “hands-on” educational effort.

Directed by Lynn Stasick, PAWV Statewide Field Services Representative, with assistance from AmeriCorps volunteer Rodney Bohner, Shepherd University Historic Preservation Coordinator Keith Alexander, and Allegheny Restoration’s Derrick Smith, the workshop introduced attendees to new techniques to safely remove historic glass, strip lead paint from the sashes, restore rotten wood, and install weatherstripping.  After the workshop Stasick was thrilled when one of the women who attended told him she had been planning on replacing all of her old windows, but will now restore the historic sashes instead. “When we convince someone to restore rather than replace, we feel that a workshop like this has been a great success.” stated Stasick, who demonstrated the latest technology, including two of his own inventions – specialized steam devices for removing glass panes and stripping lead paint from historic sashes and moulding.

Members of the Two Rivers Giving Circle Fund each contribute a minimum of $500 annually to help underwrite grants and build endowment to support preservation and conservation efforts. Grant applications are accepted in the summer, reviewed in October, and awards are announced in late Fall. Additionally, the Two Rivers Giving Circle members annually honor a leader in the field of preservation or conservation during their annual picnic in late summer. For more information about the Two Rivers Giving Circle contact coordinators Wayne Braunstein at [email protected] or Dannie Wall at [email protected] or call the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation office at 304-264-0353,

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Visionary Fund Established

 

$25,000 + 100 Years = $1.3 Million in Grants and a $25 Million Endowment

Martinsburg, West Virginia – Inspired by the 100th anniversary of the founding of America’s first community foundation, the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation (EWVCF) has launched a campaign to raise $25,000 to create its first Visionary Fund; an endowment that will be invested with the organization’s other assets and, over the next 100 years, grow to more than $25 million. Along the way, the Visionary Fund will distribute more than $1.3 million to area nonprofit organizations and, beginning in 2114, grant approximately $1.2 million annually to fund the Eastern Panhandle’s most pressing charitable needs.

“We believe in providing a lasting legacy for generations to come, and through the power of compounding will be able to do that with this Visionary Fund,” stated EWVCF President Scott Roach. “Based on historic investment returns, we project that the Visionary Fund will grow at 8% annually and by 2064 will top $1.1 million.“ No administrative fee (normally 1% annually) will be assessed and no distributions will be made during the first 50 years. At that time one half of the fund will become an unrestricted endowment awarding annual grants of $25,000 or more per year to area charities, and the other half will continue to grow without fees or distributions.

The concept was inspired by Ben Franklin, who in his Last Will and Testament left bequests to Boston and Philadelphia predicated on their stewardship of the asset for 100 years before expending funds to benefit their citizens. A portion of Franklin’s gift was then reinvested for another 100 years. Important public works projects were funded, including the Franklin Institute, one of the nation’s foremost science centers.

“The beauty of compounding returns is that once your assets reach a certain critical mass, the gains really start building quickly,” explained EWVCF Executive Director Michael Whalton. “To illustrate, the community foundation has paid out more than $2 million in grants during the past two years, yet thanks to excellent market returns, our net assets have grown by more than $1 million, to $16.6 million in 2013.”

The Visionary Fund is just one of several programs being introduced by the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation in 2014. Additionally, the organization’s Partners In Philanthropy are engaged in funding Mini-Grants to Teachers in all three counties as well as establishing the Jefferson Community Fund; the first of three unrestricted countywide funds that will address the Eastern Panhandle’s most pressing charitable needs. The highlight of the upcoming Scholars & Donors Reception on May 13th will be the presentation of $82,000 in scholarships to students heading off to colleges or universities in the fall.

The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation was founded in 1995 to build local, permanent endowment to generate annual charitable grants and scholarships. EWVCF serves Jefferson, Berkeley, and Morgan Counties, with affiliates in Hampshire and Hardy Counties.  Community foundations focus almost entirely on working with local individuals to build local assets to meet local needs. There are currently more than 700 community foundations serving donors across America, with 26 actively building endowments and making grants in West Virginia. Total assets held by EWVCF topped $16.6 million in 2013, and the organization currently manages 174 endowed funds.

By supporting special endowments like the Visionary Fund and the Jefferson Community Fund, donors can help ensure that the Community Foundation will thrive during the next 100 years. For information about the Partners in Philanthropy program or to make a donation to the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation Visionary Fund, call 304-264-0353 or mail your check to EWVCF, 229 E. Martin Street, Suite 4, Martinsburg, WV  25401.

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Scholarship Deadline Nears

 

Community Foundation to Award $80,000+

In 2014, the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation (EWVCF) will award more than $80,000 in scholarships to high school seniors from Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan Counties. On-line applications are being accepted through March 1st. Interviews will be scheduled for early spring, and scholarships will be announced during the Community Foundation’s Annual Scholar and Donor Reception in May.

University, college, technical institute, community college, and other higher education-bound high school students, graduating in 2014 can now apply for Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation (EWVCF)scholarships.

We offer dozens of scholarships which range from a few hundred dollars to $5,000 and you can download a complete list of the scholarships, their criteria, and who is eligible to apply.

Applications are submitted on-line by students using eGrant. Since you can apply for only five EWVCF Scholarships, make certain you’ve read the guidelines and are applying for the appropriate scholarships.

We wish you the best during your senior year and hope we can help as you prepare for your higher education next fall.

Download the scholarship criteria below:

2014 Scholarship Criteria.pdf

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.