The Viennese Winter Ball Committee receives support from many area residents . At the heart of this event are volunteers of all ages , including from the Wheeling Symphony Auxiliary and student volunteers from area high schools . Oglebay Institute , Oglebay Park and local businesses play a significant role in the ball ’ s success . The committee secures monetary sponsorships and other donations that make the Viennese Winter Ball the grand event that it is , steeped in elegance and tradition .
With the volunteers and sponsors being the heart of the ball , it is the cotillion that is the soul . The cotillion is made up of 20 seniors from area high schools — 10 men and 10 women — who have undertaken volunteer service , substantially to the Wheeling Symphony , during their high school years . That longstanding service is education in and of itself ; then comes the two-weekend event of celebration and honoring the cotillion . This begins with a Patron Party at Oglebay Institute ’ s Stifel Fine Arts Center where the cotillion is introduced . The following weekend , the ball is held at Oglebay ’ s Wilson Lodge . Through fall and into winter , the members of the cotillion study under a choreographer to learn waltzes showcased throughout the evening of the ball . An etiquette class is also part of the program , emphasizing proper dining and related skills .
The Patron Party and the Viennese Winter Ball are scheduled for January 27 and February 3 , 2024 .
United Bank Named Most Trustworthy Bank in America by Newsweek
United Bankshares , Inc ., the parent company of United Bank , is proud to announce that United has been named the Most Trustworthy Bank in America by Newsweek for 2023 . Across 23 industries evaluated , United joined the list of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America , earning the No . 1 spot in the banks category , outranking its second-place position following the inaugural survey in 2022 . The Most Trustworthy Companies were chosen based on a holistic approach to evaluating trust , focused on three key public touchpoints , including customer trust , investor trust and employee trust .
“ Earning a first place ranking on Newsweek ’ s Most Trustworthy Companies in America list is a testament to our unyielding commitment to our mission of providing excellence in service to our customers , employees , shareholders and communities ,” says Richard Adams Jr ., CEO of United Bankshares , Inc . “ For more than 180 years , we have forged strong relationships built on a foundation of trust and served our stakeholders with safe , sound and secure practices that have allowed our company to weather any storm . Our commitment to being a trustworthy institution is deeply embedded in our culture , and we are honored to receive this recognition .”
Libera , Inc . Empowers Women , Teens
In West Virginia , Libera , Inc . is working to help women and teens embody the state ’ s beloved motto , “ montani semper liberi ,” which means mountaineers are always free . Named for the feminine form of the word liberi , Libera envisions a Mountain State where every woman and teen are free to feel seen , love themselves and flourish . In 2022 , a $ 349,983 ARC INSPIRE grant helped the organization get closer to this vision .
Since 2016 , Libera has dispatched over 100 volunteers across the state to identify common barriers faced by women and teens , connect them with resources to overcome those barriers and offer peer support groups that empower participants to reach their full potential .
In 2021 , Libera ’ s volunteer team impacted 23 counties and distributed over 6,000 resources throughout the state . A critical part of this resource distribution is LovePacks , which are drawstring backpacks filled with mental , emotional and abuse prevention tools for homeless and foster youth . Libera committed to distributing 7,000 LovePacks by the end of 2022 .
Libera , Inc .
To further its focus on foster youth , Libera will use ARC INSPIRE funding for the Mentoring Program and Social Enterprise to Empower and Employ Transitioning Foster Youth project . This program will provide a holistic network of supportive services to foster youth ages 15-24 , with a specific focus on job training , professional development programs and employment opportunities . Participants will also have access to substance use disorder ( SUD ) specialists , which for some could be a critical intervention or source of prevention during a vulnerable time in their lives .
Providing youth with stable , wraparound support as they navigate the transition into both the workforce and adulthood will undoubtedly put them on a more secure path to success . It is anticipated that 100 participants will be served in Libera ’ s mentorship , job training and SUD recovery and prevention efforts .
Mountain Health Network Opens Two Child Care Centers
Employees of Mountain Health Network ( MHN ), Marshall Health and the Marshall University Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine now have access to child care services through a new partnership with Ridge Kids Academy .
Two centers located near the Cabell Huntington Hospital ( CHH ) and St . Mary ’ s Medical Center ( SMMC ) main campuses were made possible through federal funding secured by U . S . Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin , Representative Carol Miller and the West Virginia State
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