Featuring Educator Mini-Grants and the 2nd Annual YCF Billy Coffindaffer Award
November 18, 2024
Bridgeport, WV – Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia, Inc. (YCF) announces the distribution of 98 grants, totaling over $150,000, to 56 local charitable organizations and schools. These awards, ranging from $255 to $15,500, support community programs, schools, services, and initiatives across Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, and Taylor Counties.
The grants were presented at a celebration sponsored by Hope Gas at the Bridgeport Conference Center on November 18, the final day of National Community Foundation Week.
Nonprofit organizations receiving YCF grants:
• CASA For Kids of Monongalia & Preston Counties
• The Change Initiative
• Girls on the Run of North Central West Virginia, Inc.
• Grafton-Taylor County Health Department
• Health Access, Inc.
• Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center, Inc.
• Mountain Stewardship & Outdoor Leadership School
• Mountaineer Area Robotics, Inc.
• Pantry Plus More, Inc.
• Preston County Caring Council, Inc.
• Project Rainbow
• Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center, Inc.
• St. Ursula Food Pantry & Outreach
• Stars & Strides Therapeutic Equine Center, Inc.
• Taylor County Arts Council, Inc.
• Taylor County Family Resources
• The Shack Neighborhood House, Inc. (Mon County Starting Points)
• We Bike WV
This year’s awards included Educator Mini Grants, which were available to educators in traditional public schools in YCF’s service area. Grants of up to $750 were awarded to educators for special projects, materials, or classroom resources to help enhance the student learning experience.
Schools receiving YCF grants:
Harrison County
• Lumberport Elementary School
• Mountaineer Middle School
• Robert C. Byrd High School
• Simpson Elementary School
• South Harrison High School
Marion County
• Barrackville Elementary/Middle School
• East Fairmont Middle School
• Fairview Elementary School
• Marion County Technical Center
• Monongah Elementary School
• Monongah Middle School
• Pleasant Valley Elementary School
• Watson Elementary School
• West Fairmont Middle School
• White Hall Elementary School
Monongalia County
• Brookhaven Elementary School
• Clay-Battelle Middle/High School
• Monongalia County Technical Education Center (MTEC)
• Morgantown Early Learning Facility
• Mountainview Elementary
• Mylan Park Elementary School
• North Elementary School
• Ridgedale Elementary School
• Skyview Elementary School
• South Middle School
• Suncrest Elementary School
• Suncrest Middle School
• University High School
• Westwood Middle School
Preston County
• Aurora School
• Bruceton School
• Central Preston Middle School
• Preston High School
• South Preston School
• Terra Alta / East Preston School
• West Preston School
Taylor County
• Taylor County Middle School
• West Taylor Elementary School
The following YCF funds supported this year’s grants:
• Addiction Prevention Initiative Fund
• Billy Atkins and Carolyn Peluso Atkins Fund for Children
• Equitrans Midstream Foundation IMPACT Fund
• GIVE Marion County Fund
• Harrison County IMPACT Fund
• Mavis Grant and George W. Lilley Jr. Community Enhancement Fund
• Monongalia County IMPACT Fund
• Preston County IMPACT Fund
• Rape and Domestic Violence Field of Interest Fund
• S.T.E.M. for Girls Fund
• Stephen D. Tanner Children’s Enrichment Fund
• Taylor County Charitable Interest Fund
• Taylor County IMPACT Fund
• Women’s Giving Circle of North Central West Virginia Endowment Fund
• YCF IMPACT Fund
• YCF Regional Arts Endowment Fund
• The YCF Volunteer Leadership Fund
Additionally, The Change Initiative was presented with the 2nd Annual YCF Billy Coffindaffer Award. Made possible by The YCF Volunteer Leadership Fund, this award recognizes nonprofit organizations in YCF’s service area that demonstrate forward-thinking vision and strength in governance. The award pays special homage to the late Billy Coffindaffer, honoring his memory and vast contributions to YCF and the community.
These grants were awarded on the final day of National Community Foundation Week, celebrated annually from November 12 to 18. Community Foundation Week was created in 1989 by former president George H.W. Bush to recognize the work of community foundations throughout America and their collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community issues.
“On behalf of YCF’s Board of Directors, we thank our generous community of donors who make these grant awards possible,” said YCF’s Board Chair, Joshua Rogers. “We also congratulate the nonprofits and schools receiving the awards and working to improve the lives of residents throughout our region.”
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 works to make charitable giving easy, flexible, and effective.
For more information, please visit www.ycfwv.org or call the YCF office at (304) 296-3433.
