MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia (YCF), Inc. is celebrating their 10th anniversary in 2021 of serving residents in Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston and Taylor Counties. In 2011, the foundation started with $6.6 million in assets and now manages 150 funds with a value of nearly $20 million.
In 2020, YCF made 72 COVID-19 relief grants of more than $150,000 in addition to more than $869,000 in scholarships and other grants.
YCF President Patty Showers Ryan is observing National Community Foundation Week (November 12 through 18) by awarding $130,000 to 27 organizations.
The Community Grant Program also receives support from the YCF Impact Fund designed to meet local needs.
“The YCF IMPACT Fund provides a pool of unrestricted grant dollars, allowing YCF flexibility to meet the changing community needs,” said YCF President, Patty Showers Ryan. “Donations to YCF’s IMPACT Fund are currently being matched as part of our $1 Million Match Campaign. The annual earnings will provide grant funds to important nonprofits like the ones we are gathering to celebrate today.”
The Harrison County Senior Center received a $5,000 grant to defray the cost of a truck to transport bulk food shipments from donors to their location where the food is prepared for delivery. Executive Director Beth Fitzgerald said prior to the purchase of the truck the work had to be done with a van and unloaded by hand.
“They’re able to now load it on to our truck with their forklift,” Fitzgerald said. “We can’t get it in our garage, but we can get it up to our door and unload it with our stacker.”
The center was able to pay about half of the total truck cost of $47,000 and will use the grant to help pay the balance.
“I think it’s a great program. It just takes a lot of volunteers and we needed a truck,” Fitzgerald said. “We’re so thankful today for this money today to help us toward that truck cost.”
The Phoenix Recovery House in Clarksburg received grants totaling $4,900 from YCF and the Woman’s Giving Circle. Angelica Scott said the organization was established to increase the odds that women successfully recover from addiction.
“We came up with the program to build in supports, build them up with basic life skills and community support,” Scott said. “So, when they do live independently they’ll have those skills and resources available to them.”
Katie Wolfe Elbon has worked with the homeless since 2014 and currently serves as a board member of Homes for Harrison.
“Our vision is that every woman that steps out of the program will be empowered, independent and living successfully in the community,” Wolfe-Elbon said.
Read Aloud Marion County also received support to provide books to children with families with cases pending in the county drug. Children select books that mailed to them monthly for a 12 month period. Read Aloud Marion County Chapter President Beverly Richards said they want to give kids an opportunity to grow and develop skills while dealing with diversity.
“Read Aloud Families will help Marion County Drug Court participants implement enriching reading routines with their children that only strengthen skills, but build relationships.”
Other organizations receiving grants were:
• American Red Cross of the Allegheny Highlands
• CASA For Kids of Monongalia and Preston Counties
• Catholic Charities WV
• Empty Bowls Monongalia
• Flemington Elementary School
• Girls on the Run of North Central West Virginia
• The Homestead Farm Center, Inc.
• Libera, Inc.
• Literacy Volunteers of Monongalia and Preston Counties
• Milan Puskar Health Right
• Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center
• Morgantown Area Meals on Wheels
• Mountaineers for Mutts
• Mountain Stewardship and Outdoor Leadership School
• On Eagles’ Wings Therapeutic Horsemanship
• Pantry Plus More, Inc.
• Planned Approach to Community Health Coalition of Taylor County
• Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center, Inc.
• Salvation Army of Grafton
• Shack Neighborhood House, Inc.
• St. Ursula Food Pantry and Outreach
• Taylor County Arts Council, Inc.
• Taylor County Collaborative Family Resource Network
• WVU Foundation – Monongalia County 4-H
For more information about YCF click here.