The meeting will be 5:30–6:30 p.m. Thursday at City National Bank in Point Pleasant.
Last year the community foundation worked with a large group of business sponsors and nonprofit organizations to establish the Mason County Fund for Youth. The community provided overwhelming support, with donations totaling more than $80,000.
“Due to strong community support and the increasing demand for local grant funding for youth programs, we are continuing the Youth Fund Community Challenge for one more year with a goal of adding $25,000 to the fund by November 2009,” commented Amy Leach, MCCF Marketing Committee chairperson.
This year the group’s volunteers are working to build the fund to $100,000. The permanently endowed Youth Fund will be utilized each year to provide grants to local nonprofits for youth related programs and projects in Mason County.
“This challenge program focuses on our greatest area of need — the youth of Mason County,” said Missi Scarberry, Mason County Community Challenge chairperson. “We hope to challenge our local community — businesses, nonprofit service groups and individuals — to work together to enhance the lives of the children here in Mason County.
“There is a need in Mason County to assure that more young people successfully negotiate the transitions from childhood to adulthood,” Scarberry continued. “For many, a key resource for addressing this need is the vast array of activities, programs and youth groups that are, or could be, available to support, guide and challenge young people. Unfortunately, many of these organizations are not always able to fund projects totally on their own. This is where the community foundation becomes a vital resource in the community.”
Scarberry said that if youth program providers are to reach their potential for expanding and improving programs, they cannot do it alone. She said people in education, business and community organizations need to be challenged to support youth programs through sponsorships and volunteerism.
“We believe by becoming actively involved in the lives of the young people in our community, we can support parents and help our youth make better choices that will lead to healthier, more successful lives which will in turn make Mason County a better place for them to grow, live and raise their families,” Scarberry concluded.
According to Jane Winters, MCCF regional manager, the youth fund already has begun to address youth development. Last year $7,500 in youth grant funding was awarded to build a shelter at a primary school; provide equipment for the youth recreational league; underwrite Main Street’s Halloween Block Party; and support high school mentoring and leadership programs. This year and each year there after, the Mason County Fund for Youth will be open annually to nonprofit service groups to apply for grant funding for a wide variety of youth programs and projects in recreation; education; arts; leadership development; scouting; 4-H; health; child services; etc.
Grant applications will be accepted in the fall through the Community Action and Youth Grant Program with a deadline of Sept. 1.
The Community Foundation volunteers encourage business sponsors to make a challenge donation of $5,000 (Gold Sponsor); $3,000 (Silver Sponsor); $1,000 (Bronze Sponsor); or a support donation of any size to the Mason County Fund for Youth. Interested supporters are encouraged to attend this week’s meeting to learn more about the Mason County Fund for Youth.
To confirm attendance or get more information about the community meeting or Youth Fund, contact Missi Scarberry, City National Bank, at 304-674-1017 or melissa.scarberry@cityholding.com or Amy Leach at Pleasant Valley Hospital at 304-675-4340 ext. 1492 or aleach@pvalley.org.
The Mason County Community Foundation (MCCF) is a non-profit charitable organization working to build permanent, dedicated funds to benefit Mason County. The foundation was created in 2004 by a local group of citizens and works to create a stronger community by connecting donors and resources to the area’s greatest needs to sustain our community over the long-term.
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