​Beckley Area Foundation (BAF) is currently celebrating its 35th year since its inception in 1985. What started as a gift of $1.1 million from the Dr. Thomas Walker Memorial Health Foundation has grown to more than $46 million in over 490 different endowed funds managed by their three trustee banks. During that time, BAF has distributed over $17 million to nonprofit organizations, churches and schools located in Raleigh County or surrounding areas; making BAF one of West Virginia's largest community foundations.

The growth of BAF is a testament to the generosity of the community. Individuals or organizations who make a gift to BAF share a similar vision of "advancing our community." These gifts will sometimes be large (ex: a bequest or new fund) or small (ex: donating $5 to a fund), but they will leave the foundation as a significant resource to an area of need. BAF has received an estimated 24,000 gifts from the community since 1985, and these gifts have been used in a variety of ways, such as scholarships to help pay tuition, grants specific to a field of interest such as public recreation or the arts, or designated for a particular nonprofit organization. These grants can vary in size, but they all have a massive impact on the community.

​The new logo for BAF represents precisely that; the incoming and outgoing resources within the foundation. Some gifts may come in as a small line, but will grow over time to leave the foundation as a much more substantial line. BAF would not exist (or literally, be visible) without the incoming and outgoing resources from the community.

​Dena Cushman, Executive Director of BAF, says "All the work we do is possible because of generous donors who believe in making things happen. Every donation, no matter how large or small, lets us know our supporters believe in BAF's mission to advance our community."

The Household Hazardous Waste Collection will be from 8am-2pm on Saturday, October 3, 2020.

This is a FREE event, and the perfect opportunity to dispose of your hazardous materials. Doing so will help protect the local environment and improve the health and safety of our community!

We are very lucky to have help from the following sponsors to put on this free event:​

• Beckley Area Foundation
• Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center
• Beckley Sanitary Board
• City of Beckley
• Piney Creek Watershed
• Raleigh County Sheriff Dept.
• Raleigh County Waste Authority
• The Carter Family Foundation

To find out what you can and cannot bring, please view the flyer below.

The Beckley Area Foundation would like to congratulate our 2020-2021 scholarship recipients on the awards they have received, and wish them the best of luck as they take a big step into the next chapter of their lives.

We would also like to thank our donors for their continued support. Your generosity will help these students achieve their dreams and pursue an education.

Using 107 different funds, the Beckley Area Foundation distributed $325,818 in scholarships this year. Click the button below to learn more about our scholarship program and view the awards yourself.

We are very thankful for the response we have seen from our community regarding CERF. The donations we received have been used to grant $62,620.84 to nineteen different nonprofit organizations in Raleigh County and surrounding areas. Below is a list of nonprofits in our community who we have supported during this time.

Bread of Life The purchase of supplies for their food pantry.
Raleigh County Commission on Aging The purchase of food for their local pick-up or home delivery seniors program.
One Voice WV The purchase of food to support the Food for Angels program.
Beckley Dream Center The purchase of food for children, unemployed and the elderly in our community.
Crab Orchard Baptist Church The purchase of food to assist their Neighbors on Wheels program to help low-income communities.
Helping Hands The purchase of food and supplies to help Raleigh County residents who cannot afford food.
McDowell County Commission on Aging The purchase of food boxes for seniors and disabled individuals.
The Carpenter's Corner The purchase of supplies to support their take-out feeding program.
Salvation Army The purchase of food boxes for unemployed and low-income families.
Five Loaves and Two Fishes Food Bank, Inc. The purchase of food for their summer feeding program.
The Itmann Food Bank The purchase of food for their food pantry.
Quota Club of Beckley Matching funds to support their Empty Bowls program that supports ten local food pantries.
Women's Resource Center Purchase of food, cleaning supplies and personal care items.
City of Gary, Police Dept. The purchase of Automatic Electronic Defibrillators for first responder units in McDowell County.
Catholic Charities of WV, Webster Springs Purchase of food and personal care items.
Food for Body and Soul The purchase of food for senior citizens and low-income families.
God's Grace Ministry The purchase of food boxes for low-income families and seniors.
Raleigh County Community Action Association The purchase of food for low-income individuals in Raleigh, McDowell and Wyoming counties.
City of Beckley, Parks and Recreation Dept. The purchase of school supply kits for the summer feeding program.

 If you are interested in donating, you may donate online by clicking the button below, or make a check payable to Beckley Area Foundation with CERF in the memo line.

​Please mail your check to Beckley Area Foundation, 129 Main Street, Ste 301, Beckley, WV 25801

In March, the Beckley Area Foundation established the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which was created to support local non-profit organizations working to provide aid to those impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

After our latest fifth round of grant award decisions, we have now granted $49,375 to sixteen different non-profit organizations. Below is a list of non-profits in our community who we have supported during this time.

Bread of Life | The purchase of supplies for their food pantry.
Raleigh County Commission on Aging | The purchase of food for their local pick-up or home delivery seniors program.
One Voice WV | The purchase of food to support the Food for Angels program.
Beckley Dream Center | The purchase of food for children, unemployed and the elderly in our community.
Crab Orchard Baptist Church | The purchase of food to assist their Neighbors on Wheels program to help low-income communities.
Helping Hands | The purchase of food and supplies to help Raleigh County residents who cannot afford food.
McDowell County Commission on Aging | The purchase of food boxes for seniors and disabled individuals.
The Carpenter's Corner | The purchase of supplies to support their take-out feeding program.
Salvation Army | The purchase of food boxes for unemployed and low-income families.
Five Loaves and Two Fishes Food Bank, Inc. | The purchase of food for their summer feeding program.
The Itmann Food Bank | The purchase of food for their food pantry.
Quota Club of Beckley | Matching funds to support their Empty Bowls program that supports nine local food pantries.
Women's Resource Center | Purchase of food, cleaning supplies and personal care items.
City of Gary, Police Dept. | The purchase of Automatic Electronic Defibrillators for first responder units in McDowell County.
Catholic Charities of WV, Webster Springs | Purchase of food and personal care items.
Food for Body and Soul | The purchase of food for senior citizens and low-income families.

Your Donation Will Support Our Community Today

The Beckley Area Foundation is very thankful for the contributions we have received thus far. We are reviewing applications each week and will continue to distribute grants in response to our community needs.

If you are interested in donating, you may donate online by clicking the button below, or make a check payable to Beckley Area Foundation with "CERF" in the memo line.

Please mail your check to Beckley Area Foundation, 129 Main Street, Suite 301, Beckley, WV 25801.

The Beckley Area Foundation received a $10,000 grant from Truist Financial Corporation to support the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund (CERF) established to provide resources to aid those impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

The grant is part of the financial services company’s Truist Cares initiative*, a $50 million philanthropic pledge to help rebuild communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
“The Beckley Area Foundation is incredibly thankful for the grant from Truist. Their support has helped us meet the needs of many nonprofits located in southern West Virginia that are dealing with increased needs during this pandemic,” said Executive Director Dena Cushman. “Because of their dedicated efforts, we have been able to fast track funds to the communities we serve.”

“We are proud to support the Beckley Area Foundation,” said Bobby Blakley, West Virginia Regional President at Truist. “Helping to ensure nonprofits can continue to meet the basic needs of West Virginia’s most vulnerable during this difficult time aligns perfectly with our purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities.”

CERF will support community-based nonprofits that, in turn, directly support individuals and families that are most affected by COVID-19 and its impacts in Raleigh County. If a non-profit organization you know could use additional resources to handle the increase of needs from COVID-19, please reach out to dena@bafwv.org. 

Priorities will include food, childcare, transportation, healthcare or prescription assistance. If you are looking for resources now, please contact 211 for information about direct assistance organizations.