BAF Susan Landis Youth Philanthropists (SLYP) presented grants to three local non-profit organizations.  Students presenting the grant awards were Ryan Vaught, David Maiolo, Dillon Ewing, and Amber Meadows.  On hand to accept the grant awards were Scott Hill from Theatre WV, Debby Berry from the Raleigh County Humane Society, and Susan Hambric from Beckley Art Center.

Students interested in joining the 2018-2019 SLYP board can get more detailed information at our SLYP page by clicking here. 
 

The Massey Foundation has provided $25,000 for a challenge grant that will match donations to existing or new unrestricted funds at the Beckley Area Foundation. This is the tenth year that BAF has received this meaningful gift that will leverage much needed discretionary funds. 

The Foundation receives multiple worthwhile grant applications each year in response to its annual Community Grant Program. The Massey gift offers donors an opportunity to help meet this need and double the impact of their donation. Building the pool of discretionary funds is important to our area non-profit charitable organizations. 

Unrestricted endowments generate income that can be used for widely diverse projects ranging from health and wellness programs and public recreation to education initiatives and support of the arts in our schools and communities. 

A new named unrestricted fund may be established with $5,000. Utilizing this matching opportunity, a donor could create a fund honoring their family or memorializing a loved one with a $2,500 donation that then would be matched.  Gifts of any amount to existing unrestricted funds will also be matched. 
​
The matching funds will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Contact Dena Cushman, Executive Director or Rebecca Williams, Chief Financial Officer at BAF to reserve your match.

Since April 1, 2018 over $43,000 has been distributed from Beckley Area Foundation's Donor Advised Funds.  By creating Donor Advised Funds, donors have the satisfaction of shaping well-considered philanthropic programs that reflect their special interests and concerns. 

Donor Advised Funds give donors an unparalleled opportunity to:

• Play an active, personal role in charitable giving;
• enhance their understanding of community agencies and needs;
• benefit from the BAF's extensive experience in fund and grant management; 
• obtain immediate tax benefits; and 
• build an enduring, permanent resource that will assure perpetuation of their charitable presence in the community. 

Distributions made since 4/1/18 have benefited:
American Red Cross of Raleigh County: $1,000
BAF Community Grant Program: $327
Beckley Concert Association: $1,344
Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central WV: $914
Bread of Life Outreach Center: $1,000
Brian's Safehouse: $750
The Carpenter's Corner: $1,800
Concord University Foundation: $1,250
First Christian Church: $3,500
Fishes and Loaves: $1,000
Helping Hands Resource Center: $1,250
Hinton Area Foundation: $6,500
Hospice of Southern WV: $524
Humane Society of Raleigh County: $1,214.75
Just for Kids: $2,250
Mountain State Center for Independent Living: $250
One Voice: $500
Piney Creek Watershed Association: $250
Quota International of Beckley Empty Bowls: $250
Raleigh County Animal Rescue: $714.75
Raleigh County Board of Education: $800
Raleigh County Commission on Aging: $1,250
Raleigh County Historical Society: $1,000
Royal Family Kids Camp: $250
St. Stephen's Episcopal Day School: $2,000
South Asia Cultural Society: $2,500
Theatre of West Virginia: $2,000
Town of Sophia: $2,479.18
United Methodist Temple SAW Ministry: $500
Women's Resource Center: $1,000
YMCA of Southern WV: $2,884.50

Donor Advised grants were awarded from these endowments: 
​AEP Community Services Fund, Mr. and Mrs. L.D. Bembalkar Memorial Fund, Chase Community Service Fund, File Family Fund, Ford Family Fund, Mario C. Ramas Memorial Fund, Alex D. and Alice E. George Fund, Ralph H. Jackson Memorial Fund, Johnston-Frail Fund, Charles S. Lewis, Jr. Memorial Fund, Ben McGraw Memorial Fund, Albert King Minter, Jr. Fund, Robert and Margaret Sayre Fund, Smith Family Fund, C. Hampton Thomas, Sr. Memorial Fund, Woodcliff Garden Club Civic Beautification Fund, Woods Family Endowment, and the Word Family Fund. 

On June 21, 2018, the Beckley Area Foundation held its first ever GrantSeekers event at the Historic Black Knight Municipal Park. This was a new event designed to bring the Foundation's Donor Advised Fund representatives and local non-profit organizations together. ​

The Beckley Area Foundation is proud to support the YMCA of Southern West Virginia's capital campaign for construction of the new Cline Family YMCA. This donation was made possible thanks to the generosity of  our donors, both past and present. Your  gifts to our unrestricted endowments allow us to make lasting and meaningful contributions to meet the needs of our community today and in the future.

Read the full article from The Register-Herald by clicking here!

As part of our continuing efforts to support Raleigh County residents and organizations, the Board of Directors has approved our 2018 Gift to the Community. This will be an ongoing promotion throughout 2018. As new events are added, announcements will be made. 

CURRENT PROMOTIONS:
-FREE tickets to any Theatre West Virginia production if it is your FIRST time attending. This includes residents of Raleigh and surrounding counties. For tickets, contact Theatre West Virginia's box office 304-256-6800. Promotion ends August 4, 2018. Tickets are limited.  http://www.theatrewestvirginia.org/

-1/2 price season tickets for NEW members of the Beckley Concert Association. For tickets, call 304-253-3535. Promotion ends September 6, 2018. Tickets are limited.