News

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our community, the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation and Regional Affiliates (PACF) continues to respond. Thanks to the generous support of area residents, businesses, foundations, and organizations to its COVID-19 Relief efforts, the PACF has awarded another $38,250 in grants over the past two months, bringing total COVID-19 Relief grants to more than $390,000. This is the PACF’s seventh round of COVID-19 Relief grantmaking.

“Many families in our region still face food insecurity as a result of the pandemic, so several of our recent grants are helping organizations provide access to food to those in need,” said Marian Clowes, PACF Associate Director for Community Leadership. “We still have some limited COVID-19 Relief Funds available, particularly to address food access. Organizations impacted by COVID-19 are encouraged to reach out to us to discuss your needs.”

Several of the recent grants were awarded through partnership with the Sisters Health Foundation (noted with an *).  Agencies that received funding during the PACF’s seventh round of grants include:

• Calhoun County Committee on Aging - $7,000 to support the senior nutrition program.*
• Calhoun County Family Resource Network - $5,000 to purchase diapers, baby formula, and cleaning supplies to help individuals and families impacted by COVID-19.*
• Doddridge County Health Department - $3,500 to purchase personal protective equipment.
• Mason Community Action Group - $1,500 to provide emergency food boxes for seniors.
• Memorial Health Foundation - $10,000 to purchase tents for vaccination clinics.*
• No Hunger Food Pantry - $1,000 for food purchases (through support from the SDR and Ritchie Family Charitable Fund).
• Old Man Rivers - $5,000 to support food access programs.*
• O’Neill Senior Center - $2,000 to support the Senior Restaurant Meal Program.*
• Ritchie and Doddridge County Healthy Grandfamilies Program - $3,000 to provide tutoring assistance to children being raised by grandparents to support educational needs and to help navigate virtual learning.
• Wirt County Ministerial Alliance/Hope Shop - $250 to build a storage building to meet increase demand at food pantry.

The PACF is committed to granting 100% of donations received for COVID-19 relief back into the region. Organizations that have needs related to COVID-19 impact can contact the Foundation at info@pacfwv.com or 304-428-4438 to inquire about support.

Donations to support the PACF’s Hunger Fund and Safety Net Fund are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated.  To learn more about these funds and the work that the Foundation is doing to address COVID-19 in our region, visit www.pacfwv.com/COVID19.

The Ritchie County Community Foundation, an affiliate of Parkersburg Area Community Foundation, announces the availability of grants for Ritchie County educators seeking support for professional development opportunities and for academic school improvement projects at Ritchie County schools through the O. Eugene and Mary Scott Smith Memorial Fund.

The Fund provides grants for individual teachers who are seeking to further their education, for groups of teachers pursuing professional development opportunities, and for schools for projects that improve the academic curriculum. Funds are not available for athletic projects at schools. Applications, whether for support for individual teachers, groups of teachers, or for academic improvement projects, must be submitted through a Ritchie County school. The application deadline is February 15. Schools must apply using the Foundation’s online Community Action Grant application form, which is available on the Foundation’s website.

The Fund honors Gene and Mary Smith, who were natives of Ritchie County and who were educated in Ritchie County schools. Gene and Mary instilled their love of education in their eight children who all attended Ritchie County schools. Three of them became teachers. Because of Gene and Mary’s influence, there are more than forty college degrees including two doctorates in their large, extended family.

Schools are encouraged to apply for this grant opportunity. Project requests also will be considered for support from other Foundation grantmaking funds, including funds available from the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation. For questions or more information, contact Marian Clowes toll-free at 866-428-4438 or marian.clowes@pacfwv.com.

Recognizing that the impact of the COVID pandemic has been significant on our region, area residents, businesses, foundations, and organizations have responded generously by donating more than $361,000 to the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation’s (PACF) Safety Net Fund and Hunger Fund.

As a result, since March, the PACF has awarded $302,000 in grants to area nonprofit organizations to address COVID-19 related needs, including $43,990 in new grants in its sixth round of pandemic response. Several of the recent grants were awarded through partnership with the Sisters Health Foundation (noted with an *).  Agencies that received funding during the PACF’s sixth round of grants include:

• Actors Guild of Parkersburg - $5,000 in operating support to address revenue loss from canceled performances.
• Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg - $5,000 to support programs and services for children and youth during school closures.*
• Community Resources - $1,300 for support for the Doddridge County food pantry.
• Community Resources - $10,000 for rent, mortgage, and utility assistance to individuals impacted by COVID-19.*
• Doddridge County Family Resource Network - $250 for the purchase of cleaning products to distribute to Doddridge County residents in need.
• Downtown PKB - $5,000 in operating support to address revenue loss from cancellation of events and fundraisers and to ensure continuation of programming.
• EVE, Inc. - $4,000 in operating support to address revenue loss from canceled fundraisers and ensure continuation of programming for victims of domestic violence.*
• Gilmer County Family Resource Network - $1,000 in operating support to address revenue loss from thrift store.
• Living Heritage Museum/New Era One Room School - $340 to address revenue loss and assist with facility heating costs.
• Normantown Historical Community Center - $1,100 to purchase food for the food pantry and supplies to make masks for schools and community organizations.
• Parkersburg YMCA - $2,500 for technology needs related to childcare services for school-aged children due to school closures and virtual learning.
• Roane County Committee on Aging - $2,000 for operating support for the organization’s Amma and Reedy satellite sites.*
• The Gathering Church - $1,000 for food purchases for food delivery program.
• Washington United Methodist Church - $500 to purchase a freezer for new pantry to increase food access during the pandemic.
• West Virginia Nonprofit Association - $1,000 to support memberships for nonprofit organizations from the PACF service area who are facing financial hardship due to COVID-19.
• Wood County Senior Citizens Association - $1,500 to purchase shelving and supplies for the Household Goods Pantry to meet the needs of seniors for hygiene and cleaning products.*
• Wood County Society - $2,500 in operating support to address revenue loss and ensure continuation of programming.

The PACF is committed to granting 100% of donations received for COVID-19 relief back into the region. Organizations that have needs related to COVID impact are encouraged to contact the Foundation at info@pacfwv.com or 304-428-4438 to inquire about support.

Donations to support the PACF’s Hunger Fund and Safety Net Fund are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated.  To learn more about these funds and the work that the Foundation is doing to address COVID-19 in our region, visit www.pacfwv.com/COVID19.