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Our Community's Foundation - The Parkersburg Area Community Foundation (PACF) and the Regional Affiliate Foundations of Doddridge, Ritchie, Jackson, Mason Counties and the Little Kanawha Area (Wirt-Calhoun) - announces its second round of grants for the 2006 calendar year.
The Foundation awarded a total of $141,910 through the Fall Community Action Grants program to organizations within the Foundation's eleven-county service region of Wood, Wirt, Ritchie, Doddridge, Mason, Calhoun, Gilmer, Roane, Pleasants, and Jackson Counties in West Virginia, and Washington County, Ohio.
"We received requests for many worthwhile projects in this cycle," said Program and Development Officer Marian Clowes. "We focus our funding on responding to emerging and unmet needs in the community. The projects being funded will impact many human service, educational, and community development needs in our area."
On Tuesday, December 5, representatives of the recipient organizations attended an Awards Presentation Program at the Smoot Theatre to celebrate their awards and to share information with the community about their projects. Many foundation supporters also attended the event, which included a presentation on the results of the recent COMPASS II community needs survey conducted in the region.
Grants awarded to Calhoun and Wirt County organizations include $10,000 to Minnie Hamilton Health Systems to purchase mammography equipment and $10,000 to the Town of Elizabeth for sidewalk improvements.
Since being founded in 1963 with an initial contribution of $5,000, the Foundation has grown substantially. Today, the Foundation administers more than 320 different named funds, representing more than $21 million in assets. The Foundation's funds have been created through gifts and bequests, large and small, from a wide range of sources. Each separate fund is dedicated for a particular charitable purpose. The collection makes up our community's permanent endowment - a lasting base of funds from which the earnings are drawn to support important community needs and opportunities.
Grants awarded through the Community Action Grant program are provided through the following funds of the Foundation: the Dr. Athey and Veronica Lutz Fund, Resource Conservation Fund, Michael Eddy Fund, Marion Layton, Mr. & Mrs. Gilmer S. Wharton Anniversary Fund, Coldwater Creek Fund, Albert Wolfe Family Fund, Robert W. Burk, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Ira Wharton Memorial Fund, the Virginia S. Hackett Memorial Fund, the Ausenheimer Memorial Trust, the Dennis and Ruby Farley Memorial Fund, the Ray L. and Mabel S. Vannoy Youth Recreation Fund, the Junior Department of Parkersburg Women's Club Endowment Fund, the Cecile G. Morgan Fund, the Galbraith Fund for Mental Health, the Jean H. Stephens Charitable Fund, the Cathryn Sisson Hoblitzell Fund, and the Unrestricted Funds of the Foundation. Some of the Foundation's donor advised funds also chose to support project applicants to the Community Action Grants program.
To be eligible for a Community Action Grant, an applicant must be a tax-exempt private, non-profit organization or a government agency (such as a public educational institution). Requests from individuals are not accepted. Either the applicant agency or program requiring funds must be located within the Foundation's eleven-county region. The next round of Community Action Grants will open January 1, 2007, with applications due March 1. The Foundation recently updated its grant guidelines and application forms, which are available on the Foundation's web site (www.pacfwv.com). For more information on grants, contact Marian Clowes, Program and Development Officer.
The Foundation office is located on the first floor of United Bank Square at 501 Avery St., and open daily from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.. To contact the Foundation, stop by the office, call 304-428-4438 or see the Foundation's website at www.pacfwv.com Regional Affiliate Foundations also maintain offices in Ritchie County, Jackson County and Doddridge County. Contact information for all organizations is located on the Foundation's website.
Parkersburg Area Community Foundation Approved Grants - Fall 2006
$10,000 to the Salvation Army to renovate Opportunity House.
$2,500 a year for three years to the Center for Aging and Healthcare to support the Neighborhood More Active People (MAP) program.
$10,000 to the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley to coordinate the distribution of local funds to families in need of energy assistance.
$2,200 to The Arc for the "Inclusion for All People" project.
$6,000 to Boy Scouts of America Allohak Council for computer upgrades.
$8,500 to CASA of the Fifth Judicial Circuit for program start-up.
$10,000 to the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid Ohio Valley Business and Education Foundation for the purchase of electronic white boards for Wood County schools.
$3,000 to Children's Home Society to support the expansion of their computer recycling program into Wirt County.
$5,000 to EVE Inc. for their transitional housing program.
$1600 to First Baptist Church of Ravenswood for La Casa de la Amistad, an outreach center for the area's Hispanic population.
$5,000 to Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council for the "Discovery and Dreams" project.
$1,700 to Literacy Volunteers of the Mid Ohio Valley to purchase a new office computer.
$4,665 to Little Sandy CEO's to repair the floor and roof at the Little Sandy Community Building in Jackson County.
$5,235 to Living Heritage Museum to support the "Connecting Generations" project.
$4,588 to Mason County 4H Leaders' Association to replace display tables for exhibits at the Mason County Fair.
$10,000 to Minnie Hamilton Health Systems to purchase mammography equipment.
$1,400 to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers to provide start-up funding for a new community action site in Wood County.
$1,050 to Nazareth Farm to improve accessibility for people with disabilities at their facility.
$7,000 to PS Project Recovery and Support Network to provide computer equipment, a copy machine, and a multimedia projector.
$9,211 to Ritchie County Historical Museum to purchase storm windows for the museum building.
$10,000 to the Town of Elizabeth for sidewalk improvements.
$5,000 to the Town of Mason to erect a stage in the town's park.
$1,511 to Try Again Homes to establish a library of resource materials.
$3,000 to Wood County 4H-West Virginia University Extension Service to support a project to reach low-income children through afterschool programming.
$7,500 to Wood County Law Enforcement Wellness Association to renovate the Rayon School Wellness facility.
$1,250 to the American Red Cross, Mid-Ohio Valley Chapter to support disaster relief for victims of household fires.
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