Charleston, WV – The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation (TGKVF) Board of Trustees approved the distribution of 37 grants totaling $1,209,550.
TGKVF awarded $171,900 to Arts & Culture, Basic Needs, and Field-of-Interest programs and $494,050 in the Foundation’s proactive areas of Community and Economic Development (CED), Education, and Health. In addition, funding of $90,000 was awarded for Special Initiatives projects, and continued generous support from an anonymous donor provided funding for Dental and Emergency Aid grants totaling $453,600.
The Center for Rural Health Development, Inc. – The Smithers/ Montgomery Center of Excellence for Senior Living and Care: $40,000 (CED)
The Healthy Village project will utilize vacant buildings and land located in both Smithers and Montgomery in Fayette and Kanawha Counties. These villages are communities created at the intersection of neighborhood planning and community health. Healthy Villages planning will improve the quality of life of residents and enrich vitality of communities while protecting their heritage, histories, and residents.
Partner Community Capital – WV Women’s Business Center: $50,000 (CED)
West Virginia Women’s Business Center supports small business development activities. Funding will support programmatic expansion to strengthen the organization and generate new products, services, and programs that will help support women and minority-owned businesses in rural and socially and economically disadvantaged areas across the six-county region served by TGKVF.
Community Development Partnership of West Virginia – Community Leadership Development and Project Implementation through HubCAP V: $40,000 (CED)
HubCAP V will develop five communities in West Virginia in partnership with municipalities, community-based nonprofit organizations, local Economic Development Authorities, and the WVU Center for Design. Funding will support Montgomery, Oak Hill, and Smithers in HubCAP V.
West Virginia State University Foundation, Inc. – STEAM-ulation! Program: $20,000 (Education)
The STEAM-ulation Program will engage rising 5th-7th grade students during a 2023 summer camp. Students from a diverse background in Kanawha County will be recruited to connect the relevance of art within STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) by broadening each participant’s knowledge, interest level, and self-efficacy through STEAM related activities, field trips, and interactions with professionals. Funding for this project will support supplies, admission expenses, subsistence, and camp staff admissions expenses.
FPC Hope Center, Inc. – Bridge Program Transition Pilot Project: $30,000 (Education)
The FPC Hope Center Bridge Program Transition Project is a pilot program providing adult volunteer mentors for students from Kanawha County graduating from the Mission West Virginia Bridge Program which provides mentorship and academic support to students in foster or kinship care. Funding will support meeting and professional costs for study skills, financial planning, and mentor training.
West Virginia School of Diversion & Transition – Closing the Reading Gap for At-Risk and Justice-Impacted Students: $50,000 (Education)
Funding for this project will support professional development to teachers working in schools that serve vulnerable and adjudicated students in the Kanawha Valley. The training will increase teachers’ ability to implement the state’s reading initiative through exposure to the Science of Reading and linguistics in the classroom. Teachers will administer dyslexia screenings and reading fluency assessments to all students.
The EdVenture Group, Inc. – Lincoln County Family Leader Summit: $17,300 (Education)
The Lincoln County Family Leader Summit (LCFLS) will expand upon the EdVenture Group’s West Virginia Family Engagement Center (WVFEC) work to elevate, amplify, and empower the unheard voices of families in WVFEC Lincoln County Schools. The LCFLS will consider Lincoln County data to customize a family-facing summit to build confidence in family voice and create a lasting, sustainable family-school connection.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State – BBBSTS Expansion to Putnam and Kanawha Counties: $25,500 (Education) Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State (BBBSTS) is expanding their service area to include Kanawha and Putnam counties. This expansion brings the nationally recognized and professionally supported mentorship programs that Big Brothers Big Sisters is known for back to the region. Funding will aid in staffing support, partnership development, mentor and mentee engagement, and marketing and recruiting costs.
Fayette County Family Resource Network – Summer Outdoor Art and Recreation Camp: $40,000 (Health)
The Summer Outdoor Art and Recreation Camp (SOAR) will help to fill a need for meaningful summertime outdoor youth programming in Fayette County. Working with several partners, SOAR will provide supervised learning through play in sports, outdoor recreation, and arts for elementary aged children. Funding will support camp scholarships and paid counseling opportunities for high-school aged youth.
ACEs Coalition of WV – Advancing ACES Through Awareness, Training, and Data Collection: $30,000 (Health)
ACE’s Coalition of WV shares knowledge and resources about positive and adverse childhood experiences by educating and engaging two primary target audiences of state department agencies and businesses in Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Putnam counties through training, awareness, and data collection.
Laotong Yoga – Laotong Yoga-Freedom Through Recovery Yoga: $37,250 (Health)
Laotong Yoga is a nonprofit service organization working to teach trauma-informed and mindfulness-based yoga classes to people incarcerated in the West Virginia prison system and justice-impacted individuals sentenced to diversionary recovery residence programs in lieu of incarnation. Funding will assist with expanding yoga classes into local recovery housing programs and restarting the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment program at Charleston Correctional Center, Kanawha County’s work release center run by the West Virginia Department of Corrections. Three state certified women’s recovery residences will benefit from funding including a new pregnant and parenting women’s program in Fayette County.
Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders Association Inc. WV Chapter – Expanding Services and Improving Care for Families Touched by Dementia: $40,000 (Health)
Funding for this project will support staff time, supplies, and public relations to increase the program’s presence and outreach in TGKVF’s six county service area. This will happen through increasing equity in accurate diagnosis and effective care through collaboration with healthcare systems and physicians, focus on increasing the number of families who access free services and quality care for better living with Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. Also, the program will expand volunteer outreach to offer education programs and increase access to support programs in underserved rural areas.
New Roots Community Farm – Fortifying Farm to School in Fayette County: $39,000 (Health)
New Roots Community Farm (NRCF) is a historic 82-acre farm near Fayetteville, WV designed to support the development of just and equitable agricultural economy in the New River Gorge Region of Southern West Virginia. Funding will support a partnership between NRCF and the Fayette County Board of Education (FCBOE) to help increase the amount of locally grown food served in Fayette County’s public pK-8 feeding programs. Also, the program will deepen the impact of agricultural experiential learning opportunities for FCBOE pK-8 students and their families and will articulate the best practices for farm to school programming in West Virginia.
West Virginia Free, Inc. – Love Your Birth Control: $35,000 (Health)
Funding for this project will cover the “Know Your Options, Love Your Birth Control” campaign, focusing on increasing access to the full spectrum of contraceptive options. WV FREE addresses the lack of access to and education around contraception in a three-pronged approach: intensive community outreach and education; shared decision-making training on contraceptive counseling for health care providers; and social and emotional wrap-around service professionals. This is a statewide program but funding will support the work in TGKVF’s service area.
FestivALL, Charleston, West Virginia, Inc. – FestivALL 2023: $24,000 (Arts and Culture)
FestivALL 2023 is a project comprised of performance, exhibition, and learning opportunities in performing and visual arts. Support will be used for hiring artists and art groups at FestivALL in June and FeastivALL in October for events such as FestivALL Arts Fairs, Carriage Trail events, Dance FestivALL, and special theater performances and art projects.
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia – Public Art for West Virginia Courts Learning Center Project: $5,000 (Arts and Culture) The West Virginia Court Learning Center in Kanawha County will be an innovative and interactive environment for visitors to learn about their rights and responsibilities under West Virginia law and the role of the judiciary as a branch of state government. The Court will showcase local art in and near the educational space. Incorporating art will transform the intimidating capitol building into a warm and welcoming area for diverse visitors to learn about their state court system. Funding will support artists’ creative efforts and installation of their work.
West Virginia Symphony Orchestra – All in for Wild, Wonderful West Virginia Artists: $10,000 (Arts and Culture)
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra (WVSO) will connect visual, performing, and culinary West Virginia artists with thousands of potential customers by inviting them to exhibit and perform during AVN Symphony Sunday, a free, daylong celebration of the arts on June 4, 2023, featuring the WVSO, the West Virginia Youth Symphony, and other community bands at the University of Charleston. This festival has the potential
to benefit artists from all West Virginia counties, but specifically Boone, Clay, Fayette, Lincoln, and Putnam counties. Funding will support renting and setting up the stage, display tables, chairs, and paying professional WVSO musicians to perform.
Multi-Cultural Festival of West Virginia, Inc. – Multifest 33 in ’23: $10,000 (Arts and Culture)
Multifest has been the largest diversity festival in West Virginia for the past 32 years. Held in Charleston, the festival serves all six counties of the Foundation’s service area over a four-day period. Each day there will be cultural performances and exhibits, including minority food vendors and authentic arts, craft, and clothing vendors. Daily entertainment will be provided by local, regional, and national artists. Funding will support entertainment fees, travel, meals, hotel, equipment, festival activities, and event costs.
Charleston Ballet, Inc. – Charleston Ballet 2023-34 Season: $18,000 (Arts and Culture)
Funding will support the Charleston Ballet’s 2023-24 season by assisting with local and guest artist rehearsal and performance fees, travel, housing, and new costumes. The season will present three mainstage performances. Smaller performances will also take place throughout the season. All performances exhibit educational and cultural diversity components, including BALLET FOR ALL and 21st Century After-School programs.
The Norman Jordan African American Arts and Heritage Academy – Summer Youth African American Arts & Heritage Academy: $3,600 (Arts and Culture)
Funding will support Fayette and Kanawha County student scholarships for a week of study and activities related to art and cultural heritage. The week-long academy will be held at West Virginia State University. Students will choose from vocal music, instrumental music, theater, dance, visual arts, and creative writing and then participate in classes and workshops, interact with guest artists, and have performing opportunities.
Arts in Action – Arts in Action Classroom and Performance Supplies: $20,000 (Arts and Culture)
Arts in Action provides art education and performance opportunities for 425 students annually from locations in Kanawha and Putnam counties. School-year classes, summer camps, and Christmas Ballet provide instruction in dance, acrobatic dance, music, theater, and visual arts. The program provides needs-based financial aid and programming for people with developmental disabilities. Funding will support classroom and performance supplies for students in Kanawha and Putnam counties.
Faith in Action of the Greater Kanawha Valley, Inc. – Serving Seniors Sustainably Neighbor to Neighbor: $50,000 (Field-of Interest)
Faith in Action of the Greater Kanawha Valley is a resource to the seniors living in Kanawha County. By using volunteers, the program provides free services including transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping assistance, friendly phone calls, minor home repairs, and handicap modifications to ensure safe home environment for care receivers and volunteers. Funding for this project will support expanding the volunteer team, purchasing “Honey Do” project materials, and developing meaningful new programs.
Housing Innovations Corporation – Meeting the Needs of Older Adults in Our Community: $31,300 (Field-of-Interest) The Meeting the Needs of Older Adults in Our Community project aids older adults in Kanawha County who are living in public housing. Funding supports acute emergency needs such as transportation, utilities, rental deposit assistance, and specifically the spread of bed bugs. Funds will be available for laundry, cleaning supplies, mattress protectors, and assistance with treatment preparation. Essential household, personal hygiene, and food pantry items will be made available. Funding will also provide financial support for programming related to social, emotional, and physical wellness of residents, decreasing the risk of homelessness or being admitted to a higher level of care.
Appalachian Service Project, Inc. – ASP Westside Housing Revitalization Initiative: $35,000 (West Side Initiative) The Appalachian Service Project Westside Housing Revitalization Initiative will continue to make homes warmer, safer, and drier and will contribute to neighborhood revitalization on the West Side of Charleston. Funding will support providing critical home repairs for 10 West Side families through volunteers, staff, and subcontractors ensuring quality construction as well as strategically collaborating with other community organizations to provide a renewed sense of safety, pride, and hope for underserved citizens.
TEAM for West Virginia Children, Inc. – Western Regional CASA: $45,850 (Emergency Aid)
Funding will provide Western Regional CASA with Comfort Cases to distribute to children in Boone, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Putnam counties who are entering out-of home care after they have experienced trauma in their own homes. These bags supply children with basic necessities. Funding will also provide extra-large bags for CASA Advocates to give children as they change placements or safely return home. The bags will ensure children have a dignified move to the new placement and not have to resort to collecting their belongings in a trash bag.
Walking Miracles – Country Roads Cancer Care Assistance Program: $28,750 (Emergency Aid)
Walking Miracles projects work with hospital social workers to identify patients needing travel assistance. Rural areas have no public transportation. Through the Care Assistance Program, travel cards will be provided to cover the cost of getting medical care including transportation, gas, lodging, meals, and other necessary expenses. This assistance will aid in ensuring travel is not a barrier to cancer treatment in Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Putnam counties.
Pollen8, Inc. – Pollen8 Recovery Initiative: $25,000 (Emergency Aid) Pollen8 provides treatment for the underlying causes of addiction at Appalachian Behavioral HealthCare Center. The program also addresses employability skills through an internship at four social enterprises, and safe and sober housing at Reloc8 which offers outpatient follow-up care. Funding will aid in replacing the furnace and air conditioning units, utility costs due to the breakdown of units at Café Appalachia, and for food costs at Appalachian Behavioral HealthCare Center.
Kanawha Valley Collective – Emergency Men’s Shelter: $50,000 (Emergency Aid)
The Kanawha Valley Collective will assume operations of the Emergency Men’s Shelter from Roark Sullivan by April of 2023. Funding will provide initial payroll and stabilizing the building and related services.
WV Foster, Adoptive & Kinship Parents Network, Inc. – Planning for Child Welfare Impact: $25,000 (Emergency Aid) West Virginia Foster Adoptive & Kinship Parents Network is developing a board and strategic plan to ensure ongoing service to families in TGKVF’s service area that is member-driven and financially sustainable. Funding will be used to collect input from families impacted by child welfare, strategic planning, and program resources.
Solutions Oriented Addiction Response – Ignite Save a Life Day Across WV and Beyond: $10,000 (Emergency Aid)
Save a Life Day will be September 14, 2023. People across Appalachia will organize over 100 events, trainings, and equip 10,000 people with life-saving naloxone. All fifty-five West Virginia counties are participating as well as several counites from surrounding states. TGKVF funding will support Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Putnam counties. Each county will receive organizing support, educational packages, direct funding to expand their events, and enhancement of one ongoing overdose prevention project.
The Salvation Army – Social Services: $50,000 (Emergency Aid) The Salvation Army provides aid to underserved without regard for age, gender, religion, social orientation, or income. Funding for this project will support program services in Boone, Clay, Kanawha, and Putnam counties, including rental assistance with evictions or first month rent, utility assistance with electric, gas, water, and sewer terminations, food assistance through food pantry, and Christmas Kroger gift cards.
West Virginia Health Right, Inc. – Healing Opportunities for Parents Everywhere (H.O.P.E.): $50,000 (Emergency Aid) West Virginia Health Right recognized that expectant and new parents suffering from substance misuse require targeted services and launched H.O.P.E. to support sobriety among addicted expectant and new parents, thereby decreasing neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) births.Funds will be used for cost associated with staffing, supplies, and transportation.
St. Agnes Catholic Church – Sustaining Common Grounds: $24,000 (Emergency Aid)
Funding for the Sustaining Common Grounds project will provide food boxes for all eligible participants each year. The food boxes will provide 2-3 days of meals for over 4,275 families who struggle to provide nutritional sustenance to adults, children, and grandchildren. The food boxes will also be distributed twice each month to over 300 homeless individuals who are in great need of food.
REA of Hope Fellowship Home, Inc. – Rea of Hope Dental Fund: $20,000 (Dental)
Rea of Hope (ROH) provides safe, affordable, and supportive long-term sober living for West Virginia women suffering from alcohol and drug addiction, as well as their children. Priority is given to women living in Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Putnam counties. Poor dental health is a barrier impacting recovery, mental health, and overall wellness. Funding will support ROH in helping program participants restore their natural teeth, if possible, while connecting them to a dental home for future care.
West Virginia Health Right, Inc. – Dental Care for Impoverished Adults: $125,000 (Dental)
West Virginia Health Right eliminates financial and transportation barriers of dental care through its on-site dental clinic in Charleston and its Mobile Dental Unit that provides preventative, restorative, and oral health educational services to impoverished adults in Boone and Clay counties. Residents of Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Putnam counties are served through its on-site dental clinic.
Advantage Valley Community Development Corporation – Advantage Valley Regional Housing Assessment: $30,000 (Special Initiatives)
Funding for this project will support a housing market analysis for a ten-county region that includes TGKVF’s service area. With recent economic development announcements of NUCOR, Berkshire Hathaway’s Titanium facility, Our Next Energy Battery Storage manufacturing, Green Motor Power, expansion of Toyota, and others, there are approximately 2,000 new jobs coming to the region. The current housing inventory is very limited in the number, type, and condition of housing units. This study will look comprehensively to identify the projected demand for workforce housing, location of units, and the implications for land use and infrastructure development.
Charleston Regatta, Inc. – Charleston Sternwheel Regatta: $25,000 (Special Initiatives)
Charleston Sternwheel Regatta is a five-day music festival in downtown Charleston that focuses on music, food, sternwheel boats, and activities for all ages. Funds will be used to offset costs for the entertainment comprised of local, opening acts, and national main acts.
The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation is grateful to our community of generous donors who make these and other grants possible. The programs and work approved for the first and second quarters of 2023 are supported by the following funds: Robert Lytle Anderson; Marian H. Angell Memorial; Anonymous; Anonymous/Dental; Anonymous/Emergency Aid; John C. and Ada K. Arter Memorial; Frank W and Joan Allison Badger; Beatrice Bell Memorial; Juanita M. Boll Memorial; Kenneth H. Bowyer Memorial; Cabot Foundation; Miriam Duling Carter Memorial; Senator William E. Chilton, Sr.; Nelle Chilton Family; Ellsworth R. and Caroline H. Clark; William O. Clarkson; Helen R. Coffindaffer Revocable Inter Vivos Trust; Columbia Gas; Lenore Cox Compton Memorial; Cox-Morton; J. Hornor Davis II; Jane M. and Rugeley P. DeVan Jr.; Mary Lewis Dickinson; Zelma Drennen Memorial; James F. Duncan Charitable; Lloyd and Margaret B. Erhard, Jr. Trust; General BB&T; General City National Bank; General JP Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. William L. Goldsmith Memorial; Morton F. Hess Memorial; J. W. and Gabrielle P. Hubbard, Jr.; Woody and Helen Hunsinger; Blanche E. Jacobson; Bernard H. Jacobson Cultural; Lois and Lawrence C. Kaufman, Jr.; Stanley Loewstein Memorial; Lowenstein #1; Lillian M. Mairs; Mary Jane Mason Fisher General; Alfred and Lucy McClung; Mary S. Moses Memorial; Nancy Gay Randolph; George and Josephine Rogers; Harry and Florence Silverstein; and Glenn (Fritz) and Lois Wingett Howard Memorial.
