March 21, 2019
Morgantown, WV – Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia, Inc. (YCF) announces the establishment of the West Virginia Council of International Programs (WVCIP) Fund. The endowment will support the WVCIP in providing training and work-related experiences for international mid-career professionals.
WVCIP, which will celebrate its 48th year in 2019, recruits international participants to come to West Virginia and engage in a professional development and exchange program. This consists of a four month-long stay with three to four host families in the Morgantown vicinity. Host family living provides an opportunity for the international professional to gain unique insights to life in the US and provides West Virginians the opportunity to broaden their understanding of other cultures.
“Involving YCF is another step in involving the community and expanding our reach,” said Paula Martinelli, Treasurer at the Council of International Programs, which is housed under West Virginia University’s Global Affairs Office. “The endowment will support us in perpetuity.”
The earnings from the fund will be used to support the program’s operations including scholarships to transport participants to West Virginia and funding for their cultural experiences. Many participants eventually become students at WVU or work in the US as a result of their experience. Other participants return to their home country to apply their new experiences and skills.
For more information about WVCIP, visit its website at http://international.wvu.edu/cip.
YCF’s mission is to promote philanthropy and build endowment funds to benefit our communities. Through financial resources, YCF extends many forms of assistance to qualified people, programs and projects. Primarily serving North Central West Virginia, YCF’s underlying goal is always to enhance the quality of life for those the organization serves.
For more information, please visit YCF’s website at: http://ycfwv.org, or call (304) 296-3433.
