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Dr. Endrizzi was a well-known and much-loved veterinarian who passed away earlier in 2014. A Parkersburg resident for more than 60 years, he and his wife, Ann, raised five children here in the Mid-Ohio Valley, Dr. Mike Endrizzi, Kathy Endrizzi, Nancy Endrizzi, Mary Endrizzi Wright, and Emma Endrizzi O’Leary.
As a child growing up in Belmont County, Ohio, Endrizzi’s family, along with many other coal miner families, struggled. Endrizzi was born December 25, 1919 and of the years following his father’s death in 1924, Endrizzi wrote: “Most of mother’s income came from miners who would put money in her basket on pay day. Churches in Bannock helped, and some neighbors did also.” He remembered “At Christmas time, church people asked us to come and we would all get a paper sack with candy and one orange. This was our entire Christmas treat during the Depression.”
Nick Endrizzi never forgot the assistance that they received during those difficult years. Through his adult life, it was important for him to give back in order to help others less fortunate. “I always had it in my mind that I wanted to pay the people back who helped us, but they were all gone,” Endrizzi once said.
To this end, Endrizzi helped establish a charitable fund with the PACF to benefit the Salvation Army in Belmont County and was a consistent supporter of his church’s food pantry. He also loved gardening just to see fruits and vegetables grow and then would share his harvests with friends and neighbors, often putting surpluses on the curb with a FREE sign. Sharing food at Christmas was one of Endrizzi’s favorite holiday traditions.
This December 25 would have been Endrizzi’s 100th birthday. To mark this centennial in a meaningful way, Endrizzi’s children have partnered with the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation to raise awareness and support for its Hunger Fund for the region. This permanent charitable fund provides funding for community food programs for children, senior citizens, and other vulnerable populations in the region.
“We know that the Hunger Fund is something that our father would be proud of and would have supported himself,” said Mary Endrizzi Wright. “My brother, sisters, and I would like our community to support this fund this holiday season. In the spirit of giving that is Christmas, we are matching the first $2,500 donated to the Hunger Fund to celebrate our dad’s 100th birthday.”
To make a charitable donation to support the PACF’s Hunger Fund, please send a check made payable to the PACF to PO Box 1762, Parkersburg, WV 26101 or give online at www.pacfwv.com/HungerFund. Individuals who have questions or would like to make other gift arrangements may call the Foundation at 304-428-4438.
The Parkersburg Area Community Foundation and Regional Affiliates (PACF) is supporting the health, human services, recreation, and education needs of our community through its fall grant awards. At a December 4 reception, the PACF announced $203,381 in grant awards to support charitable projects benefiting the residents of the region.
Through the Foundation’s bi-annual Community Action Grants Program, area nonprofits seek grant assistance to address community needs. To be considered for a Community Action Grant, an applicant must be a private, nonprofit organization, tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a public institution. Either the applicant or program to be funded must be located in the Foundation’s eleven-county geographic service area (Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Jackson, Mason, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt, and Wood counties in West Virginia, and Washington County, Ohio). Submitted applications are considered for support from charitable funds managed by the Foundation that are designed to support a wide variety of projects and causes throughout the region.
The fall 2019 Parkersburg Area Community Foundation & Regional Affiliates grant recipients are:
In addition, through the support of the Tamara K. Brown Helping to Heal Fund, the Hollow Creeks Fund, and the Mid-Ohio Valley Endowment for Women, Children, and Families, the PACF provided support to school nurses at the following schools to purchase equipment to help them meet student health needs:
In addition to the grants announced above, the Foundation’s Ritchie County, Doddridge County, and Little Kanawha Area Community Foundation affiliates recently announced an additional $8,950 in grants to organizations providing services in Ritchie, Doddridge, Wirt, Calhoun, and Gilmer counties.
Toll Free: 1-866-428-4438 Office: 304-428-4438 Email Us
PO Box 1762 1620 Park Ave.Parkersburg, WV 26102-1762 Directions
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