The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation awarded four grants to West Virginia University during June totaling $546,000.

These grants will benefit various programs and initiatives at WVU, including:

  • Rural Revitalization through Downtown Development ($235,000): Grant funding received by the Rural Revitalization through Downtown Development initiative, part of Northern West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center which is housed at National Research Center for Coal and Energy, will support the community-driven downtown building redevelopment portfolio. Through this project, communities with capacity and leadership committed to downtown development will be identified and aided in the process of prioritizing projects, sharing data, and increasing rural economic development in rural downtowns.
  • WV Feedback on Student Learning Outcomes ($100,000): The WV Feedback on Student Learning Outcomes initiative at the College of Education and Human Services will carry out a survey and analysis of public comment on West Virginia Common Core education standards. The web-based survey will be available for public comment, and an expected 10,000 comments will be collected regarding WV Next Generation content standards and objectives. Following the survey administration, results will be analyzed and recommendations for possible standards revision will be submitted to the West Virginia Board of Education.
  • Appalachian Vision Outreach Program ($115,000): Through this program through the WVU Eye Institute, grant funds will be used to further the reach of vision clinics to underserved individuals in West Virginia. This initiative collaborates with already existing community health clinics. AVOP was established in 2011 by funding from the Benedum Foundation, serving four counties in the first year. In 2012, AVOP was able to expand to seven counties.
  • SIPPS Legal Education Clinic Phase II ($96,000): The Student Intellectual Property and Patent Services Project at the WVU College of Law assists WVU student innovators in pursuit of obtaining provisional patents. A pilot of the program began in 2013, and the Benedum funds will help to fuel the second phase of this project. Expansion of the program will assure in the continuation of assistance for students with ideas who want to push their ideas into the market.

With this latest round of funding, grants to WVU from the Benedum Foundation for FY15 total more than $2 million.

WVU Foundation Senior Vice President of Development and Chief Development Officer B.J. Davisson said, “We express our sincere appreciation to the Benedum Foundation for its continued support of so many different projects and initiatives at WVU. Its impact through private giving has touched the lives of so many West Virginians. We are extremely grateful for the generosity shown year after year.”

The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation was established in 1944 by West Virginia native and oil and gas industry businessman Michael L. Benedum. The Benedum Foundation provides grant funding to projects and initiatives throughout West Virginia and Pittsburgh, two places that Benedum and his wife, Sarah, called home during their lifetime together.

Through the Benedum Foundation, funds are made available to projects and programs in the areas of education, economic development, health and human services, community development and civic engagement.

-WVUF-

hk/07/07/15

CONTACT: Bill Nevin; WVU Foundation
304.284.4056; wnevin@wvuf.org

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