Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation

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Emeritus Council & Nonprofit Leaders Lunch

Just over $50,000 in grants were awarded by the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation to nonprofit organizations and schools in the Eastern Panhandle during the third annual Emeritus Council & Nonprofit Leaders Lunch that was held at the Purple Iris in late August. Grants from the D. Scott and Linda Roach Fund, the Bill and Nancy White Charitable Fund, the McMillan Family Fund, the Berkeley County Industrial Park Development Fund, and the Solomon Fine Memorial Fund.

The largest grant awarded came as a complete surprise to the recipient. Thanks to the generosity of Legacy Society member Solomon Fine, an endowed fund was created in his Will that is awarding grants in excess of $15,000 every year. The award is presented to a nonprofit organization that has done exceptional work in Martinsburg-Berkeley County during the previous year. The recipient of the 2018 Solomon Fine Memorial Fund grant is the Shenandoah Women’s Center for their outstanding work protecting victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking.

The Berkeley County Industrial Park Development Fund was created in 2009 by the Development board as all lands in its jurisdiction were developed and projects were completed. Annual distributions from the fund support economic development, job creation, workforce development, business recruitment and creation, and employability training initiatives. Seven grants were awarded from this fund in 2018:

$7,772 to Blue Ridge Community & Technical College for their JumpStart Scholarship Program for grade 12 students from Berkeley County.

$6,250 to Spring Mills High School for their Simulated Workplace Venture – Cardinal Catering Company.

$5,500 to Catholic Charities WV Migration and Refugee Services to train eight interns to serve the needs of our diverse community.

$4,690 to James Rumsey Technical Institute for their Civics Class Career Exploration and Personal Finance Program.

$2,000 to Faith Community Coalition for the Homeless for the Employment Action Team partner program with Immanuel’s House.

$2,000 to Family Resource Network of the Panhandle for their Soft Skills Training Program.

$2,000 to Horizon Goodwill Industries for the Get Onboard Job Readiness Program.

The Martinsburg Sunrise Rotary Foundation received a total of $2,000 in grants for their Read Berkeley Program that last year provided eight books and a backpack to each of 186 second graders in four Berkeley County elementary schools. The Sunrise Rotary Club hopes to double the number of students that receive books this school year.

An Outdoor Classroom at North Jefferson Elementary School will be built by volunteers from the Kiwanis Club of the Blue Ridge and Engineers Without Borders. Partial funding or $1,000 was awarded to help with the project. Walmart provided an additional grant for the project which is scheduled to be constructed in September.

Applications for the Community Foundation’s Mini Grants to Teachers are being accepted until October 19. The next Competitive Grant program which awards youth, education, healthcare, human welfare, housing, and historic cemetery grants goes live on the website in mid-October and applications may be submitted until December 5th of this year. Awards for these grant programs will be announced in February.

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TWO RIVERS GIVING CIRCLE HONORS DOUG PERKS

The Two Rivers Giving Circle has honored Jefferson County historian P. Douglas Perks with its 2018 Preservation Award.

The award recognizes Perks many years of support for historic preservation. It was presented during the Jefferson County Historical Society’s annual picnic, held August 1 at Fruit Hill Farm in Shepherdstown. Perks received a handcrafted platter made from local clay by award-winning potters Pam and Ren Parziale, of Sycamore Pottery in Leetown.

The accompanying photo shows Perks, center, with the following Giving Circle members, from left to right: Virginia Rowzie, of Charles Town; Eleanor Finn, of Shepherdstown; Jane Davis, of Berkeley Springs; and Dan Rowzie, also of Charles Town.

The Two Rivers Giving Circle is a donor-advised fund of the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation. Since its inception in 2008, it has provided grants totaling more than $68,000 to Eastern Panhandle organizations engaged in historic preservation and natural resources conservation. It is one of the few grant makers in the region that focuses on these two fields.

Each year, the Giving Circle also recognizes an individual who has been a leader in one or both of these fields.

A retired social studies teacher who resides in Shepherdstown, Perks has been active for many years in promoting greater understanding and appreciation of Jefferson County history.

He currently is historian of the Jefferson County Museum and of Shepherdstown’s Elmwood Cemetery Association. He is also is a certified park guide at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Vice President of the Harpers Ferry Park Association, and a member of the Historic Shepherdstown. Commission’s museum committee.

Perks was a founding member of the Charles Town Library Civil War Roundtable, and during the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War, from 2011-2016, he co-organized a series of seminars about developments in the County during the War years.

He worked closely with the Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society to preserve Charles Town’s Webb-Blessing House, one of the first structures in Jefferson County built by a free African American.

Perks is a frequent lecturer on the history of Jefferson County, a contributing author to the Magazine of the Jefferson County Historical Society, writes the column “Mr. Jefferson’s County” in the Jefferson County Historical Society newsletter, and writes the weekly column “History Matters” to the Spirit of Jefferson newspaper.

The West Virginia Division of Culture and History recognized him as one of the state’s “History Heroes” in 2017.

Individuals interested in joining or contributing to the Two Rivers Giving Circle should contact Michael Whalton, executive director of the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation, at 304-264-0353 or [email protected]. The cost of membership is $500 annually. Contributions of any amount are welcomed.

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Looking for Participants for Volunteer Hardy 2018

Volunteer Hardy is annual program of the Hardy County Community Foundation which seeks to promote volunteerism and encourage support for local community service organizations.

We’re currently seeking participants for the fifth annual Volunteer Hardy event.  This year’s program will take place during the months of August and September, specifically during August 18th through September 16th.

Nonprofit organizations, school and community groups, businesses, and families are invited to coordinated fundraising activities to benefit a specific cause during the event.

For more information and to sign up, download the 2018 Volunteer Hardy Details.

Follow us on Facebook to learn about Volunteer Hardy activities and opportunities for you to get involved with local volunteer efforts.

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Hedgesville High School EWVCF Scholars

Eight members of the Hedgesville High School Class of 2018 received scholarships from the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation in May. They are (l to r) Dymond Lanham, who received both a Berkeley County Teachers Scholarship and the Mary and Walter Duke Teachers Scholarship; Sarah Fonner, who was awarded a Terry Lee Walker, Jr. Scholarship; Amanda Starliper, recipient of the Todd Mosby Memorial Scholarship; Brady Michael, who received a Dr. Gwen Steeley Memorial Scholarship; Mallory Roane, who was awarded the Polly Dillon Scholarship; and Emma Reymé, who received a George and Holly Woods Hancock Scholarship. Not able to attend our Scholars & Donors Reception due to a scheduling conflict were Dante Wright, recipient of a George and Holly Woods Hancock Scholarship and Teferi Graham, who received a Martin Luther King Scholarship. Congratulations to one and all!

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Community Foundation Awards $114,000 in Scholarships

     We are delighted to share several photos and a recap of the Community Foundation’s Scholars & Donors Reception that was held May 10th at the Purple Iris in Martinsburg.  It was standing room only, with over 140 people — including 50+ students, dozens of parents, and several donors — in attendance. Tiffany and the staff at the Purple Iris did a splendid job of accommodating us and everyone had a marvelous time.
     Walter Brown spoke eloquently on behalf of the donors who established scholarship funds at the Community Foundation and WVU graduate Jamie Shrewsbury, who is now working her “dream job” in the front office of the New York METS, was wonderful; speaking on behalf of the students who receive the scholarships.  We are grateful to both of them and to the many donors who attended the reception to celebrate the students’ successes.   Scholarship Coordinator Karin Hammann Dunn shared a brief bio of each student and EWVCF Board Members Charlotte Norris and Ruth Pritchard, Board President Lisa Welch, Secretary Susan Caperton, Treasurer Andrew McMillan, Past President Darlene Truman, and Martin Luther King Scholarship Committee Member Sharon Curry presented the scholarship letters to the students.
     Here are photos of just a few of the 71 students who received scholarships from the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation in 2018. A total of $114,000 was awarded!  Thank you to one and all for making this such a resounding success.
Board President Lisa Welch congratulates 2018 Anna Jo Crosby Scholarship recipient Ethan Hatcher of Berkeley Springs High School.

 

 

 

 

Dymond Lanham of Hedgesville High was presented with the Berkeley County Teachers Scholarship by EWVCF Past President Darlene Truman.
EWVCF Secretary Susan Caperton (R) presented a renewal Dr. Gwen Steeley Memorial Scholarship to Chloe Campbell a rising sophomore at Shepherd University.
Berkeley Springs High School Senior Violet Hott was presented with a Martin Luther King Scholarship by Sharon Curry, a member of the Scholarship Committee.
EWVCF Board Member Ruth Pritchard presented a George and Holly Woods Hancock Scholarship to Hedgesville High senior Emma Reyme.
Alexander Taughinbaugh of Jefferson High School received the David A. “Hawk” Hawkens Scholarship. The award was presented by EWVCF Treasurer Andrew McMillan.
Tajae Stuckey of Musselman High School was presented with the 2018 Chad Hammond Memorial Scholarship by EWVCF Board Member Charlotte Norris.
Janae Barr (R) of Musselman High and Carly Holben of Martinsburg High each received a Dr. Theodore (TK) Oates Nursing Scholarship from the Community Foundation.

 

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.