The Foundation
The Ross Foundation Founded in 2006 Total Grantmaking in 2018 : $ 1,629,771
Parkersburg-based SBR was founded by Sam Ross in 1972 as a privately holding company . SBR operated 12 manufacturing plants in the U . S . and one in China and generated approximately $ 565 million in annual revenue . Its staple product , Simonton Windows , made the company one of the largest sellers of vinyl , hurricane-resistant windows . When the company was sold to Fortune Brands Inc . in 2006 , The Ross Foundation was created .
“ We wanted to continue giving back to the community that made us successful ,” says Executive Director Tres Ross , Sam ’ s son . “ We made our money here , and we had a policy of giving back to the community while operating the businesses .”
The Ross Foundation ’ s mission is to build strong , healthy communities by supporting nonprofit organizations that create a lasting impact in the Mid-Ohio Valley . With primary interests in education and community and economic development and secondary focuses in arts , disabilities and animal welfare , The Ross Foundation is committed to enhancing quality of life in Pleasants , Ritchie and Wood counties .
“ We give about $ 1.75 million to our region every year ,” says Tres .
The foundation works closely with other funders in its region when they share a common interest . The Ross Foundation , Bernard McDonough Foundation and Parkersburg Area Community Foundation are currently working together to address childcare access and affordability in their region . The Ross Foundation also partners with West Virginia University on its West Virginia Forward initiative .
“ We have also been doing a lot in the science , technology , engineering , arts and math , or STEAM , space ,” says Tres . “ We have worked with The Education Alliance on programs to integrate hands-on learning and makers spaces throughout schools in our area .”
The largest project in the foundation ’ s history will be the children ’ s museum it is currently planning to be built in downtown Parkersburg .
“ This will expand on what we did in smaller groups with the hands-on learning and makers spaces and take it to a whole new level by making it part of a downtown development project ,” says Tres . “ We are finishing our final numbers now , but it will likely cost close to $ 8.5 million . Our foundation will take on about 89 % of that .” The museum is tentatively set to launch in 2022 . “ We have working toward this since 2018 ,” says Tres . “ We started out as a small grant funder in the $ 1,000- $ 30,000 range . In 2015 , we changed to higher grants of up to $ 150,000 . Now we are taking on this large-scale , multimillion-dollar operation .”
Beckley Area Foundation Founded in 1985 Total Grantmaking in 2019 : $ 1,422,353
In 1984 , 10 community-minded citizens met to initiate something new , untired and untested in the Beckley area : a community foundation premised on the simple concept of caring people providing good things for the future . In January 1985 , a gift of $ 1.1 million was given by the Dr . Thomas Walker Memorial Health Foundation and was enhanced by an additional $ 150,000 in private endowment funds .
Thus , the Beckley Area Foundation ( BAF ) was born , and its mission to inspire and facilitate generous charitable giving that advances the community is still in full effect .
“ Beckley Area Foundation is our community ’ s philanthropic center ,” says Executive Director Dena Cushman . “ BAF has distributed $ 1,258,455 in grants and $ 325,818 in scholarships this year alone . In its 35 years of existence , a total of $ 18,530,000 has been awarded in grants and scholarships . All the work we do is possible because of generous donors who believe in making things happen . Every donation , no matter the size , lets us know our supporters believe in BAF ’ s mission .”
As the foundation continues to serve Fayette , McDowell , Raleigh , Webster and Wyoming counties , Cushman believes the operation is unique due to its ability to take a broad view of community in its grant programs .
“ We are proud to provide grants to all sectors of need that strengthen and enhance the quality of life in the communities we serve ,” she says . “ We support our community in perpetuity ; every dollar donated benefits the community forever . Funds are invested and income earned is used to provide charitable grants each year and forever .”
BAF ’ s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was swift and efficient . The COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund , or CERF , supported BAF ’ s nonprofit partners .
“ Donations helped 42 organizations address food insecurity , human services , health and educational needs ,” says Cushman . “ Additionally , we were able to secure personal protective equipment to area nonprofits struggling to open or to stay open .”
This experience helped created an opportunity for BAF to expand its work .
“ Prior to the pandemic , BAF positioned itself to help established nonprofits accomplish their objectives . Now , in addition to supporting existing organizations , BAF understands it must fill a new role in creating solutions to address unmet needs ,” says Cushman . “ Additionally , BAF will be doing its first-ever capital campaign to relocate into new space . This will create an opportunity for the foundation to offer more to our donors , nonprofit partners and the community .”
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE