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December 19, 2022 By Rebecca Knight

EWVCF Awards Over $160K in Youth and Education Grants to Eastern Panhandle Nonprofits and Schools

            The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation (EWVCF) recently awarded 53 Youth and Education grants, totaling $163,525.43, to 38 organizations tackling the issues faced by families and young ones in Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan County.

            The majority of the funding went to organizations addressing the most basic needs in the Eastern Panhandle. $73,800 will allow organizations such as Community Networks, Graciously Giving Foundation, Faith Community Coalition for the Homeless, Renewed Life Ministry, the Children’s Vision Rehabilitation Program, and Morgan County Starting Points to continue to provide food, shelter, medical care, clothes, childcare, and more to the most vulnerable among us. The Martinsburg Initiative will use their five grants to continue their outreach to local schools in an effort to prevent substance abuse disorders and build strong families in our area. Community Combined Ministries received two grants to support the Kidz Power Pacs program, a vital community effort to end childhood hunger in the Eastern Panhandle.

The West Virginia University Foundation/Children’s Vision Rehabilitation Program team.

            Educational programs in our area received $40,626.43. Nearly $17,000 will be used to improve the literacy of Eastern Panhandle young ones. Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries received a grant for their 2023 Summer Reading Program “All Together Now.” Youth Services Manager Emily Jones reported that Berkeley County school teachers greatly appreciate the library’s reading programs which have been proven to help students maintain reading proficiency through the summer months. Martinsburg Sunrise Rotary Foundation will distribute ten books of each child’s choosing to every second grade student in Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan County through their Eastern Panhandle Reading program. Multiple school officials voiced their support and enthusiasm for this program which distributes tens of thousands of new books every year.  Likewise, EL teacher Jill Leathers of Opequon Elementary School will use her grant to continue to build a bilingual library in her classroom, where students will be allowed to check out bags of these books to encourage at-home reading. Spring Mills Middle School teacher Stephanie Gardner will use her grant to expand and diversify the history books in her 8th grade West Virginia Studies classroom library.

Second graders receiving books from the Martinsburg Sunrise Rotary Foundation.

            Nearly $12,000 will fund STEM-related programs. Harpers Ferry Middle School’s Jill Fornadley, recipient of several previous EWVCF grants and ever the champion of learning via virtual reality, will use this grant to purchase cameras that will allow her students to film and create their own virtual Social Studies content about local West Virginia history which could be shared in schools throughout the state. Kristina Allis, Technology Integration Specialist at Orchard View Intermediate School, will use her grant to purchase Snap Circuits, electrical kits that allow children ages 8 and above to learn about electricity by creating functional circuit boards.  At Wind Dance Farm & Earth Education Center in Morgan County, Director and Environmental Educator Leslie-Devine Milbourne received a grant for technological upgrades and supplies, which will allow the organization to continue their vital work of educating local youth about nature and the environment through their Student Citizen Scientist programs.

Kids enjoy the many outdoor educational programs at Wind Dance Farm and Earth Education Center.

            EWVCF also funded an exciting new educational program from the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission. The Commission is dedicated to providing heritage education to all ages, and this grant will allow them to deliver direct presentations to all Jefferson County 4th grade classrooms. Dr. Deborah Rochefort will travel to all nine elementary schools, presenting herself as a woman from 1775 and teaching students about 18th century textiles. Commission Chair Martin Burke anticipates that this program will generate “more appreciation and interest in life in the 18th century” among Jefferson County students as they are taught American Colonial History.

Dr. Deborah Rochefort.

            Organizations and programs dedicated to fostering a love of the arts in Eastern Panhandle youth received $20,434. The Apollo Civic Theatre, BlackCat Music Cooperative, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, and Morgan Arts Council all received grants which will allow them to continue their vital work educating Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan County young ones on the importance of creativity and self-expression through art. Meghan O’Neill of Shepherdstown Middle School and Jordan English of Spring Mills Middle School will use their grants to further musical education. Kim Patton, School Counselor at Opequon Elementary School, will use her grant to ensure that every student will receive a box of multicultural crayons and construction paper for school projects.

The Contemporary American Theatre Festival’s Hostel YOUTH! immersive summer educational program.

            Recreational programs and programs tackling the social and emotional needs of our youth received nearly $30,000. Neil Troppman, Head Coach of the Boy’s Club Lacrosse at Martinsburg High School, received a grant to purchase new helmets for every member of the team. Burke Street Elementary School families will enjoy the opportunity to have portraits taken by a professional photographer at the school thanks to a grant received by School Counselor Teresa Weller. Teri Wilson of Berkeley Heights Elementary School received a grant to purchase Playground Activity Panels, which will allow students to enjoy independent, unstructured outdoor playtime.

Martinsburg High School Boys Club Lacrosse.

            Another vital Eastern Panhandle organization, Potomac Valley Audubon Society, received four grants. Two of those grants will support their “Nature in the Neighborhood” programs, allowing PVAS to bring summer camp experiences to disadvantaged youth in Berkeley and Jefferson county. The other two grants will allow PVAS to continue to bring hands-on environmental education programs directly to schools in our area. Executive Director Kristin Alexander shared the following story with EWVCF about the organization’s Lead Educator Amy Moore Thomas’s recent successful trip to a classroom at Marlowe Elementary School. “Amy had the BEST time presenting her ‘Bugs a Billion’ program to 1st graders,” Alexander wrote. “They got to hold wiggly mealworms and one little girl told Amy that she’d been scared of bugs before the program, but now she was HOLDING one and she wasn’t scared anymore.” When Amy lead students outside to see even more insects, the kids began jumping up and down with excitement. “Amy came back and shared that those kinds of programs are why she loves her job. They re-energize her every time. Thank you for making these programs possible for ALL students,” said Alexander.

One of Potomac Valley Audubon Society’s many classroom programs.

            The Community Foundation’s Youth and Education grants are made possible thanks to the generosity of EWVCF’s donors. Funding came from the Jane P. Snyder Youth Fund, C. Scott and Elizabeth C. Shade Youth Fund, Bonn Poland Family Roundhouse Recreation Fund, Frada Fine Berkeley County Education Fund, and the Tom and Virginia Seely Morgan County Children’s Fund. Additionally, the Fund advisors for the Bill and Nancy White Charitable Fund, Fleming Family Fund, W. Randy Smith Family Fund, and the Michael and Brenda Mullin Charitable Fund stepped in and allowed the Foundation to award nearly $66,000 more than initially expected.

            The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation (EWVCF) was established in 1995 to help donors create permanent endowments to provide grants and scholarships throughout the region. Since its inception, EWVCF has awarded nearly $14.7 million, including $1 million in 2022 alone. The Community Foundation now holds more than 260 endowed funds with assets of $34 million and it is the leading steward of philanthropic giving in the region. EWVCF works with a wide range of nonprofit organizations providing funding for projects from human welfare and scholarships to affordable housing and natural resources conservation; youth and education to animal welfare and historic preservation, and much more. For information visit www.EWVCF.org, or contact EWVCF Executive Director Michael Whalton at mwhalton@ewvcf.org , 304-264-0353.

Filed Under: Blog, Slider

June 15, 2022 By Michael Whalton

Martinsburg’s Street Festivals Celebrate Unity, Diversity, and Juneteenth

The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation (EWVCF) is proud to support two free community events in Martinsburg this weekend, Unity in the Community on the 18th and the Juneteenth Marketplace Celebration on the 19th. A grant from the Foundation’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fund helped support the Community Corner during Saturday’s Unity in the Community event, taking place from 12 PM to 5 PM on Queen and Martin Street.

Unity in the Community is Martinsburg’s newest street fest and the area’s biggest party, thrown “in the spirit of inclusion and positivity!” Locals and visitors alike are encouraged to come and enjoy live music from Martinsburg’s own Christian Lopez, meals from a diverse array of food trucks, a beer garden for the adults, lots of activities for children, the Community Corner highlighting local nonprofit organizations, and the annual Father’s Day Car Show.

Then on Sunday, June 19th, the Juneteenth Marketplace Celebration will take place from 1 PM to 5 PM at the Martinsburg Shopping Plaza on Winchester Avenue. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in America, with observances dating back to 1865. From 1 PM to 5 PM this Sunday, Martinsburg residents can enjoy live entertainment throughout the afternoon, with more than a dozen performances as well as a DJ. During the festivities, visitors can shop from local vendors and enjoy food from local restaurants and food trucks.

We hope that you will join the Eastern West Community Foundation in celebrating Martinsburg’s community and history this weekend and enjoy these free events that will be fun for the entire family!

Filed Under: Blog, Uncategorized

June 8, 2022 By Michael Whalton

Two Rivers Giving Circle Honors Jane Rissler

The Two Rivers Giving Circle has honored Jane Rissler, the director of the Jefferson County Museum, with its 2022 Preservation Award.

The award was presented at a ceremony and reception held on the afternoon of Sunday, May 15, at the museum in Charles Town. It is a personalized, handcrafted platter made from local clay by award-winning potters Pam and Ren Parziale, of Sycamore Pottery in Leetown.

The accompanying photo shows Giving Circle member Linda Case, left, presenting the award to Ms. Rissler. They are standing in front of a historic flag that was conserved for the museum’s collection with help from a Two Rivers Giving Circle grant. The flag is from Charles Town’s Green-Copeland American Legion Post 63, founded in 1929 by local African Americans who had served in World War I.

The Two Rivers Giving Circle is a field of interest fund of the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation. Since its inception in 2008, it has provided more than $110,000 to Eastern Panhandle organizations engaged in natural resources conservation and historic preservation. It is one of the few grant makers in the region that focuses on these two fields.

Each year, the Giving Circle also recognizes one or more individuals who have been leaders in one or both of these fields.

A Jefferson County native, Ms. Rissler received a bachelor’s degree from Shepherd College, a master’s from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D. in plant pathology from Cornell University. Her ensuing career as a scientist spanned three-and-a-half decades and included positions with the University of Maryland, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Union of Concerned Scientists.

In 2005, while she was still working and commuting from Jefferson County to Washington, DC, she began volunteering at the county museum. When she retired in 2011, she was hired as the museum’s director.

In her presenting remarks, Ms. Case said Ms. Rissler has greatly modernized the museum’s operations during her tenure as director, leading major upgrades in its computing capabilities and online presence. She has also modernized and strengthened its finances, establishing a special new fund dedicated to acquisitions and conservation, and successfully seeking grant funding to help support these purposes.

“In addition,” Ms. Case said, “she has worked to build bridges to all sectors of the community. She has recounted that in 2016, the museum was preparing for an exhibit and realized it was not representing African Americans and women’s contributions to the county. Since then, she has made a strong push to diversify the museum’s collection and provide exhibits that recognize the contributions of all.”

To learn more about the Giving Circle, and to get information about joining or contributing, go to the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation website at www.ewvcf.org. Or contact Michael Whalton, the Foundation’s executive director, at 304-264-0353 or info@ewvcf.org. The cost of membership in the Giving Circle is $500 annually. However, contributions of any amount are welcomed.

Filed Under: Blog, Uncategorized

May 27, 2022 By Michael Whalton

Eastern Panhandle Nonprofits Receive $100,000 in Arts, Music, Design, and Nature Grants

The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation mailed grant checks from the Detlev and Mary Ellen Preissler Fund for the Arts, Music, Design, and Nature on Tuesday, May 24. Twelve Eastern Panhandle nonprofits received grants ranging from $2,325 to $10,000.

Several general support grants were awarded, while others focused on specific programs or projects ranging from an outdoor teaching space with a living roof at Potomac Valley Audubon Society’s Cool Spring Preserve to Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries’ “Martinsburg Rocks!” concert series in collaboration with the Tony M Music and Arts Foundation.

“We are delighted to be able to award these grants to so many worthy organizations,” stated EWVCF Executive Director, Michael Whalton. “Until now we haven’t had the resources to provide this kind of support for programs focused on the arts and nature.”

Just over $100,000 in grants were presented to the twelve nonprofits, and nearly $49,000 in grants will soon be awarded to Eastern Panhandle schools for art, music, theatre, design, and nature programs and projects. The advisors who recommended the grants were impressed with the quality of the applications and the summer programs that received funding are already gearing up to put the grants to good use.

In Jefferson County, the Contemporary American Theater Festival will use its grant to provide fair wages to college interns working with CATF this summer. Funding for the Old Charles Town Library will create a Children’s Art Center. Shepherdstown Day Care is offering a pottery class with Ms. Joy. The Appalachian Chamber Music Co., Black Box Youth Playhouse, and Friends of Music are all using their grants to support their programs.

Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries, Potomac Valley Audubon Society, and the Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle will offer a variety of programming during the summer. And, in Morgan County, the Black Box Music Cooperative, Morgan Arts Council, and Wind Dance Farms & Earth Education Center will all be able to provide expanded programs for children thanks to the grants they received.

The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation (EWVCF) was established in 1995 to help donors create permanent endowments to provide grants and scholarships. Since its inception, EWVCF has awarded $13.7 million, including $1 million in 2021 alone. The Community Foundation now holds more than 260 endowed funds with assets of just over $38 million and it is the leading steward of philanthropic giving in the region. EWVCF works with a wide range of nonprofit organizations providing funding for projects from human welfare and scholarships to affordable housing and natural resources conservation; youth and education to animal welfare and historic preservation, and much more. For information visit www.EWVCF.org, or contact EWVCF Executive Director Michael Whalton at mwhalton@ewvcf.org, 304-264-0353.

Filed Under: Blog

May 26, 2022 By Rebecca Knight

Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle Establishes Fund in Memory of Mary J. Stanley

Mary J. Stanley

The Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle will soon benefit from a new agency fund at the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation, honoring a beloved Shepherdstown resident. The Mary J. Stanley Fund to Support the Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle will honor the late community member who passed away in 2020. Mary’s spirit and love for her community will live on forever as future generations of young ones involved at the Club benefit from the scholarships this fund will provide.

Mary Stanley was a native of Wichita, Kansas, and retired to Shepherdstown in 1995. She was involved in many organizations and clubs in the community, and was a longtime supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle. She and the Club’s Chief Executive Officer Stacie Rohn met in 2009 and became fast friends, enjoying nearly ten Thanksgivings meals together, with Mary becoming something of a mother figure to Rohn. “Mary was not about pretense,” said Rohn, “She liked good people with good hearts, and she was one of them.”

When Rohn became the Chief Executive Officer of the Eastern Panhandle Club in 2013, Mary was instrumental in helping support her, often serving as a sounding board. “[Mary] gave insight from a unique perspective,” Rohn said. Mary always wanted to know how the children at the Club were doing and was thinking about what would benefit the kids and build their experiences in the club.

Mary helped to connect Rohn to a much larger audience to tell the story of the Club. She “knew everybody,” and arranged for participants in Shepherdstown’s Speak Story Series to hold workshops at the Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle so the staff could learn to help kids tell their own stories. “Anytime we can communicate our work from within and push it out is a good thing,” said Rohn. “We’re more than babysitting. While Club members enjoy new equipment and games, that is not the main reason they attend the Boys & Girls Club. They find their mentor or the person with whom they share their successes or challenges.”

The Mary J. Stanley Fund to Support the Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle will support the Club in two ways, first by providing scholarships to incoming kids who want to participate in the Club’s summer programs and demonstrate financial need. The summer programs take place over seven weeks and usually have around 60 participants. The Club charges a nominal fee for the summer programs, and Rohn reports that usually around three-fourths of the kids who participate require some sort of financial assistance, with some receiving scholarships covering up to 75% of the fee.

The programs are split into two sessions, one three weeks long and the other four weeks long. This year, the first session is Harry Potter-themed; the second session is based on Avatar: The Last Airbender. Each week, the participants go on a different field trip, with the club planning to visit Poor House Farm Park, Sky Zone, and nearby pools. On days when the participants stay at the club, they’ll partake in a myriad of programs and activities all connected to that week’s theme — when they do Earth week during the Avatar session, for example, kids will do science experiments and learn about the Earth’s core. When not running educational programs, the Club always tries to host at least two activities so that kids have their choice of fun.

Club members present handmade puppets inspired by The Rainbow Fish, made with help from the Jefferson Arts Council.

 

The second way the fund will support the Club will be by providing scholarships to youths who have been longtime members of the Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle. Each year, Clubs around the country name one graduating senior their Youth of the Year. 2018 Youth of the Year winner Emily Aronhalt called the Club “a place where they cared if she got her homework done and if she ate that day.” 2016 and 2017 Youth of the Year winner Jonai Jackson said that, when asked to think back on what the club meant to her, she couldn’t think of one particular person, but rather “it was pieces of all of you that really helped to shape me. […] The experiences I had in the club helped to make me social and adaptable.” The Eastern Panhandle Club awards a $1,500 scholarship to their Youth of the Year and, through this fund, will be able to do so this year, and forever.

Those interested in the Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle, or those whose lives were touched by Mary Stanley are encouraged to learn more at www.EWVCF.org or www.BGCEPWV.net and donate to the Mary J. Stanley Fund to Support the Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle today!

The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation (EWVCF) was established in 1995 to help donors create permanent endowments to provide grants and scholarships throughout the region. Since its inception, EWVCF has awarded $13.7 million, including $1 million in 2021 alone. The Community Foundation now holds more than 260 endowed funds with assets of just over $38 million and it is the leading steward of philanthropic giving in the region. EWVCF works with a wide range of nonprofit organizations providing funding for projects from human welfare and scholarships to affordable housing and natural resources conservation; youth and education to animal welfare and historic preservation, and much more. For information visit www.EWVCF.org, or contact EWVCF Executive Director Michael Whalton at mwhalton@ewvcf.org , 304-264-0353.

Filed Under: Blog, Press Releases

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