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Ohio Valley groups receive almost $55,000 in Wheeling

WHEELING — Leaders from organizations including the YWCA, Oglebay Institute and Wheeling Health Right came together last week at The Greater Wheeling Coalition for the Homeless to accept grants totaling $54,775 from the Women’s Giving Circle.

Debbie Bloomfield of the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley presented the checks to a total of 10 organizations that contribute to the education and support of women and girls. Organizations in attendance include the Challenger Learning Center, City of New Martinsville Parks and Recreation Department, Oglebay Institute, SMART Center, The Greater Wheeling Coalition for the Homeless Inc., Wheeling Health Right Inc., West Virginain Northern Community College Foundation, YWCA of Wheeling and Youth Services System Inc.

The Children’s Museum of the Ohio Valley also has been awarded, but was not present at the day’s event. “I can’t tell you how excited I am. This will make a difference in someone’s life. Thank you so much,” said Bev Gibbs of the New Martinsville Parks and Recreation Department, which received $2,500 from the WGC.

Gibbs said the grant will benefit 250 women and girls in a self-defense program. According to Pam Jeffers of Youth Services System, their $15,000 grant will assist the organization with helping women in transitional living programs.

Jackie Shia of the Challenger Learning Center said the $4,000 grant gifted to the program will focus on space and STEM research. “We want to inspire them in STEM and let women know they can do anything. We want girls to be on the front line of this,” said Shia.

The $5,000 award given to the WVNCC Foundation will go toward helping students with emergency assistance such as paying for a flat tire to get to class or purchasing WiFi to complete school work. “About 90 percent of people that have used this program have graduated, so it is a great thing,” said Rana Spurlock of WVNCC Foundation.

Libby Strong of SMART Center’s GEMS (Girls Enjoying Math and Science) Camp plans to use the $2,275 grant to support girls’ interest in science and inspire them to challenge boundaries.

“Things are changing and we need to continue to push for more change. I am treated differently as a female science person than my husband. They start talking to him about things that are more my expertise. … Girls can do math and science and look pretty and smile. They are not mutually exclusive,” said Strong.

Lisa Badia of the Greater Wheeling Coalition for the Homeless spoke about the darker side of helping women in need. “A woman, I knew took her life, who utilized these programs, but she died clean. That’s the not so beautiful part of what we do here.”

Badia said the $9,500 grant received will go toward the female empowerment program at GWCH.

Other organizations that received grant awards included the YWCA of Wheeling, Oglebay Institute and Wheeling Health Right, all of which received $5,000 each. The Children’s Museum of the Ohio Valley received a grant award totaling $1,500.

The Women’s Giving Circle is a group of female philanthropists consisting of 130 members.

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