Welcome West Virginia

The former West Virginia District Kiwanians are very excited to be joining the Capital Kiwanis District, especially with respect to how our combined efforts through the Capital District Kiwanis Foundation can positively affect all of our communities.

The West Virginia District Foundation had a matching grant program which operated in a similar manner to the Capital District Kiwanis Foundation’s grant program.  The West Virginia District Foundation awarded its final round of grants at its last Kiwanis District annual meeting in August.  Six Kiwanis clubs were awarded matching grants for worthwhile projects in their communities, some of which were projects the clubs had supported for a number of years.

• The Shepherdstown Kiwanis Club was awarded a grant to purchase supplies for children at a day care facility in their community, the Shepherdstown Day Care.  This day care facility charges tuition on a sliding economic scale, and many of the families are struggling financially.
• The Kiwanis Club of Logan designed a bicycle safety program for children in their community and received a grant to purchase bicycles and refreshments for the program.  The club planned to purchase 30 bicycles for children attending the program who needed them. 
• The Weirton Kiwanis Club received a grant to purchase two benches to be installed outside of the city library so that members of the community could sit outside to read, socialize, wait for a ride, or use the free wi-fi, among other activities.
• The Wellsburg Kiwanis Club was awarded a grant to create a history walk program, including purchasing and installing signage for children and adults to learn about the history of the community while exercising outdoors.
• The Wheeling Kiwanis Club received a grant to assist two youth services programs in its community.  First, the club planned to purchase back to school supplies for elementary school students through the House of the Carpenter program.  Second, the club planned to give assistance to the McCrary House Transitional Living Program, which assists teens transitioning out of foster care due to reaching the age of 18.
• The Beckley Kiwanis Club was awarded a grant to purchase instruments for children who want to learn to play music and participate as part of the New River Children’s Symphony.

Kiwanians in West Virginia look forward to continuing Foundation matching grant-funded programs like these in the future, and learning about the projects carried out by Kiwanians in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.  Our combined efforts will increase the ways in which we can improve the world, one child and community at a time!