Martinsburg, West Virginia ─ During the week of November 12-18, 2015, the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation (EWVCF) will join more than 750 other community foundations across America and celebrate Community Foundation Week. For the past 25 years, the effort has raised awareness about the increasingly important role of these philanthropic organizations in fostering local collaboration between donors and nonprofit organizations. By forging these partnerships, EWVCF has been able to champion causes and develop innovative solutions to address persistent civic and economic challenges in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
During the week, EWVCF will award the $13,000 Solomon Fine Memorial Fund grant, introduce the newly established Keep5Local Campaign that will help each of the five counties served by the Community Foundation (Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan, Hampshire, and Hardy) build lasting legacies, and distribute nearly $30,000 in Mini-Grants to Teachers.
“Community foundations impact lives, solve problems, and improve futures,” said EWVCF President Scott Roach. “As many residents grapple with limited resources and a growing need for services, we are more determined than ever to bring our community partners together to find innovative and effective solutions for some of our most challenging social problems.”
The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation is a local, independent, public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that directs tax-exempt gifts from donors to endowed funds to support favorite charitable causes in the region. Founded in 1995, EWVCF provides financial stewardship for $18.5 million in endowments for nearly 200 component funds, and awards more than $500,000 in grants and scholarships annually.
Community Foundation Week, created in 1989 by former president George H.W. Bush, recognizes the work of community foundations throughout America and their collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community problems. There are 27 Community Foundations in West Virginia and more than 750 across America. These foundations, which support everything from social services to youth programs, historic preservation to the environment, and education to animal advocacy, provide stewardship for more than $66 billion in charitable endowment.