Transform Your Ideas: Apply for BAF's Grant Opportunities

BAF is thrilled to announce that two grant opportunities will be open for applications from now until September 15th, and September 30th, 2024. The first opportunity is the Students First grant program, which BAF initially launched in 1996. The second opportunity is a grant program with Mac's Toy Fund.

Apply for a Students First Grant

Apply for a Mac's Toy Fund Grant

Latest News

Household Hazardous Waste Collection 2024

Got used motor oil? How about leftover pesticides, batteries, fertilizers, cleaning chemicals, antifreeze, paint and other hazardous materials in your garage or home?

Local sponsors have teamed up to host a FREE Household Hazardous Waste Collection – RAIN or SHINE!

Saturday, September 28th, 8am - 2pm

Download the flier

Double Your Impact: Matching Gift Opportunity Until December 31st

Thanks to a matching opportunity from a generous donor, any gifts made to the "Veterans Cemetery Fund" will be matched dollar for dollar up to $5,000 until December 31st, 2024!

The Veteran's Cemetery Fund was created to ensure that the final resting place of these American Heroes is properly maintained for future generations.

Support the Veteran's Cemetery

New Funds

​​​Raleigh County Veterans Museum Fund
​​Thomas W. Jarrett Memorial Fund
Peggy & Polly Cook Fund
Salon Family Fund
Anna M. Collins & John Maynard Collins Scholarship Fund
Sally Lemke Fund for the Environment
Dante and Sherry Castrodale Family Fund
​Veterans Cemetery Endowment
Shady Spring High School Class of 1969 Scholarship Fund
Jack Jordan and Mary Frances Roop Family Scholarship Fund​​

---

Recent Memorials

Miles Thomas Cushman

Miles Thomas Cushman AKA MTC, Miles of Smiles, Cush, the Chillmaster, was born in Beckley on Friday, May 13th, 1977. Miles graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1995 and attended Virginia Tech for his college experience.

June 6th, 1999 Miles was involved in a serious car accident and he suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. Many angels of God appeared in those days and against all odds Miles miraculously survived. Miles lived out his 25 post accident years at home with his parents.

Miles was a music lover, dancer, and entertainer. He was the epitome of the phrase “dance like no one is watching.” He loved to sing as loud as he could with any music genre, but especially classic rock! Miles was an amazing artist. He made beautiful abstract geometric paintings in bold, bright colors. He loved to give away his art to people he loved-always proudly signing them with a big MTC. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations may be made to the Traumatic Brain Injury Fund.

Donate in Memory of Miles

Nancy L. Gunter Stoutamyer

Nancy Louise Gunter Stoutamyer, of Pineville, WV, died June 23, 2024. Born April 20, 1939, in Wyoming, WV, she grew up in coal camps and started school at 3 years old.

She attended Concord where she met the love of her life, Raymond Stoutamyer. They spent the next 65 years together.

She graduated with a bachelor's in education and later earned a master's in physical education from Marshall University. She loved to teach P.E. and share her love of sports, especially dancing. She was fun, silly, wildly creative and a joy to be around, whether at work or home.

She taught English at Pineville Middle and made an impact on generations. She treated students with respect and set high expectations because she wanted so much for them. She believed literature was their window to the larger world, and they loved and respected her.

Donations can be made to the Stoutamyer Scholarship Fund in Nancy’s memory.

Donate in Memory of Nancy

John H. Gorman

 John Henry Gorman was born in Elmira NY in 1927, and passed away on February 20, 2024 in Beaver, WV.

 John was a loving father, brother, and husband. He was known for his generosity, concern for others’ well-being, and active involvement in his family, friends, and community. A man of faith and a dedicated member of the communities he resided in, John was respected by many. He found joy and fulfillment in his love for work, Notre Dame, handball, golf and fitness. John proudly served in the U.S. Army and was an alumnus of Notre Dame. He worshipped at Saint Francis de Sales.

John Gorman established the Irish Festival Fund which later became the St. Francis DeSales School Fund when the Catholic Church no longer held the annual festival.

 In honor of John’s memory, donations can be made to the St. Francis DeSales School Fund.

Donate in Memory of John