West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active In Disaster (VOAD) has received a $100,000 grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation to provide services for survivors affected by the March 2015 Winter Storm Thor in West Virginia.
The proceeds of the grant will be used to meet the immediate and long term recovery needs of the West Virginia survivors.
West Virginia VOAD State Chair, Jenny Gannaway comments, "We are delighted to receive this grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation to help with the recovery from Winter
Storm Thor. This grant will help West Virginia VOAD agencies assist families affected by the winter storm that otherwise would not be able to help themselves overcome".
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin declared a statewide State of Emergency on March 4, 2015 in response to the inclement weather conditions of Winter Storm Thor. Major flooding caused by snowmelt,
rock falls and mudslides damaged homes and displaced families across the state.
West Virginia VOAD is coordinating member agencies in an ongoing effort to identify resources and provide services to the individuals and families impacted by Winter Storm Thor. With the Claude
Worthington Benedum Foundation grant, West Virginia VOAD will coordinate with member agencies that will provide direct assistance such as water, home repairs, health needs and helping displaced families.
"This is a wonderful gift to the people of West Virginia from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. These funds will be woven into the fabric of our state torn by Winter Storm Thor and will
help pull us together", says Jeff Allen, Executive Director of the West Virginia Council of Churches.
West Virginia VOAD is a humanitarian association of independent agencies that coordinate relief, response and recovery with local, regional and national partners to the people of West Virginia in
times of disaster.
The West Virginia VOAD is a state chapter and follows the National VOAD principles of Cooperation, Communication, Coordination and Collaboration. Their mission is to identify
unmet needs and facilitate efficient, streamlined service delivery to those imperiled or impacted by disaster while eliminating duplication of effort.
The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation was created in 1944 by Michael and Sarah Benedum in memory of their son, Claude Worthington Benedum. Focusing on West Virginia and Southwestern
Pennsylvania, the foundation strives to empower people to develop their own capacity through deliberately placed charitable resources. Grants provided by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
support initiatives in areas of Education, Economic Development, Health and Human Services, and Community Development.
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