Aiming High in Hope
There are actions that can help ensure this opportunity is not missed , including :
• Professional advisors , such as lawyers , certified public accountants , investment managers , bankers and estate planners , working with clients and stressing the tremendous importance of partnering with and including their local community foundation and favorite charities and / or creating their own foundation in their will .
• Realizing that every West Virginian can be a philanthropist , no matter the size of their giving , from the retired teacher , small business owner and minister to the coal miner , doctor , entrepreneur or grocery store worker .
• Enacting state policies that increase incentives for charitable giving by expanding the West Virginia Neighborhood Investment Program from $ 3 million to at least $ 5 million annually so our neighbors can increase their charitable giving to benefit their communities , reducing the burden on government .
• Engaging younger generations on the value of honoring their parents and grandparents by investing in their hometown when the transfer of wealth happens .
• Creating challenge funds with national foundation , federal government and local partners , which are used to raise matching dollars to build community foundation funds for community grantmaking .
• Promoting the value of philanthropy as critical economic and community development that invest in local towns and build up rural communities to have staying power for the next century .
Now is the time for all West Virginians to replicate the generous examples of past generations of philanthropists from all backgrounds and sizes , such as Mike and Sarah Benedum in creating the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and William Maier Jr . in creating the Sarah and Pauline Maier Scholarship Foundation , now known as the Maier Foundation .
Borrowing the words of American architect Daniel Burnham , “ Make no little plans . They have no magic to stir men ’ s blood . Make big plans . Aim high in hope and work .” It is time for West Virginians to make big plans , aim high in hope and work together so a new generation of philanthropy can create an even stronger Mountain State . •
304-293-6831 | wvmep . com
Your Partner in Advancing Manufacturing in West Virginia
Customer Impact / Return on Investment 2020
$ 9.8M $ 9.1M $ 2.5M $ 4.3M
Increase in Sales
Retention of Sales
Cost Savings
Increase in New Products / Processes
WVUIE Safety Specialist Greg Green , MS , CHST , with Ines Garcia , Environment , Health and Safety Manager at Sogefi .
Providing customized services and practical applications to meet West Virginia ’ s manufacturing and leadership needs .
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