Unite Way awards more than half a million in grants to local nonprofits
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The United Way of the River Cities has awarded $579,787 in grants to 27 nonprofits in its six-county service area for the 2024 funding cycle.
These grants target critical issues in the areas of health, education, financial stability and safety net services by investing in local programs managed by nonprofits that work to solve these issues in Cabell, Lincoln, Mason and Wayne counties in West Virginia, and Gallia and Lawrence counties in Ohio.
Thirty grants were awarded following a months-long process of reviewing applications.
“This year we saw 49 total letters of intent at the start of our grants process that consisted of many great programs and agencies doing wonderful work in our community,” said Steve Cline, UWRC’s director of community impact. “Thanks to our community volunteers who came together over the course of five months to work through reviewing and scoring these applications and making the decision to award and fund 30 programs in our service area. This process would not happen without their efforts, and they never go unnoticed.”
The grants process is driven by the UWRC’s Community Investment Council, which is comprised of five United Way board members and four community-at-large members who review and score all grant applications.
Elizabeth Gross, labor relations and benefits coordinator at Steel of West Virginia and current CIC chair, said the group strives to ensure charitable dollars are maximized with local nonprofits who are doing good work in the community.
“We work hard to find, evaluate and fund programs that support children and adults in crisis – as well as programs that help create opportunity for people to rise above their circumstances and improve their futures,” Gross said.
Each grant was announced on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at an awards presentation at the HIMG Community Room. Jedd Flowers, executive director of UWRC, commended the individuals of each nonprofit for their work in helping others.
“You know that we should love our neighbors,” Flowers said. “You understand that some in our communities have found themselves in unfortunate circumstances. But you also know that when we all work together, we can raise one another up, lifting our communities and region in the process. The impact we can make by working together might just change the course of the future, for those we serve, for their children and for the places we all call home.”
This year, two types of grants were awarded totaling $579,787 in awards: impact grants and safety net grants. Impact grants are awarded to programs that address one of UWRC’s critical issues in the focus areas of health, education and financial stability. This year, $345,000 was awarded for impact grants.
Safety net grants are awarded to programs that provide short-term assistance with basic needs such as food, clothing, safe shelter, healthcare and more. Those grants totaled $234,787 this year.
Impact Applications:
Education-based Impact Grants:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State – $35,000
John W. Hereford Boys and Girls Clubs of Huntington – $35,000
Hamlin-Lincoln County Public Library Educational Support Grant – $7,500
Mason County Public Library Kids Connect – $10,000
Mason County Public Library Art Unleashed – $7,500
Team for WV Children – $10,000
Financial Stability-based Impact Grants:
Catholic Charities West Virginia – $24,500
Dress for Success River Cities – $30,000
Field of Hope – $35,000
Sojourners Care Network – $35,000
Tri-State Literacy Council – $23,000
Health-based Impact Grants:
Goodwill of KYOVA – $35,000
Hamlin-Lincoln County Public Library Health Families – $7,500
Lily’s Place – $35,000
YMCA of Huntington – $15,000
Safety Net Applications:
Branches Domestic Violence Shelter – $20,000
Cabell Huntington Coalition for the Homeless – $15,000
Children’s Home Society – $20,000
Community Mission Outreach – $12,000
Cridlin Food and Clothing Pantry – $15,000
Facing Hunger Foodbank – $15,000
Gabriel Project – $12,845
God’s Hands at Work – $20,000
Harvest for the Hungry Food Pantry (Hygiene items) – $12,900
Harvest for the Hungry (Senior Nutritional Drinks) – $7,042
Huntington City Mission – $20,000
Lincoln County Family Resource Network – $5,000
RLB Ministries/Backpack Buddies – $20,000
St. Peter’s Episcopal Community Outreach – $20,000
The Salvation Army of Huntington – $20,000
Grand Total: $579,787
