As needs of West Virginia citizens, nonprofits, and communities grow in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, West Virginia businesses and citizens are stepping up with bold acts of generosity to respond to these needs.
This week the EQT Foundation has announced COVID-19 response grants to support West Virginia citizens and nonprofits in the communities where the company is located. The EQT Foundation is donating $160,000 in total to West Virginia communities with grants to the Mountaineer Food Bank and relief funds at three West Virginia community foundations including the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation & Regional Affiliates.
On announcing the grants EQT Foundation President Ellen Rossi said, “The EQT Foundation is pleased to alleviate the burdens of this pandemic on West Virginia’s citizens and nonprofits. Our commitment is to support the food bank and relief funds serving the communities of the state that we are working in.” She added, “Our partnership with the community foundations and Mountaineer Food Bank helps us deploy rapid response funds to numerous organizations serving those in need within the communities we serve in West Virginia.”
100% of the EQT Foundation gift to the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation will be used to support nonprofits and citizens in need in the
Foundation’s eleven county service area.
“EQT Foundation’s generosity and continued partnership with the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation will ensure that local needs that arise due to this COVID-19 pandemic are supported in a prompt and efficient way,” said Judy Sjostedt Ritchie, Executive Director of the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation. “This gift will support our Hunger Fund and Safety Net Fund which are designed to provide timely relief funding to respond to the growing needs across our service region.”
The PACF is awarding grants from its Hunger and Safety Net Funds to address food access and emergency needs of individuals and to provide operating support to nonprofit agencies delivering critical community services. The need to support area nonprofits has increased significantly, as the demand for their services has risen while many of their fundraisers and events have been postponed due to the pandemic.
“Support for the Foundation’s Hunger and Safety Net Fund is a direct investment in our community’s work right here in the Mid-Ohio Valley,” said Sjostedt Ritchie. “In times of crisis, the Foundation remains committed to connecting donors with community needs effectively and efficiently. Our community’s collective generosity is essential now more than ever.”
For more information about the EQT Foundation, visit: https://www.eqt.com/community/eqt-foundation/ . For more information about the Parkersburg Area Community, visit: www.pacfwv.com or call 304-428-4438.