Organizations receive $840,859 in grants
to support health-focused initiatives
The Pallottine Foundation of Huntington recently awarded 56 nonprofit organizations in the Tri-State with grants totaling $840,859 through its Healthy Communities Initiative.
 
The Healthy Communities Initiative supports funding requests up to $50,000 that address health-related challenges, such as chronic disease management, behavioral health and food insecurity, throughout the Foundation’s 20-county focus area in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. Grants support programming needs for the continuation or enhancement of existing projects, the development of new projects and projects that improve the organization’s internal capacity to work effectively.
 
"We are so pleased to partner with these amazing organizations," said Janell Ray, CEO of the Pallottine Foundation of Huntington. "They have worked tirelessly to meet increased needs while facing reduced donations and loss of volunteers and staff.”
 
The following organizations were awarded
Fall 2021 Healthy Communities grants:
 
WEST VIRGINIA
Advocate House
American Heart Association
Arts in Action
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State
Bob Burdette Center
Cabell-Wayne Association of the Blind
Camp Appalachia
Charleston Thunder Sled Hockey
Children’s Home Society of West Virginia
CONTACT Huntington
Ebenezer Medical Outreach
Family Resource Center of the Huntington WV   
  Housing Authority
Habitat for Humanity of the Tri-State
HAWC Foundation
Huntington First Church of the Nazarene
Inspiring Dreams Network
JDRF
Kanawha Valley Home
Lily's Place
Manna Meal
Marshall University Research Corporation
Midian Leadership Project
Rea of Hope
ReBUILD
Recovery Group of Southern West Virginia
Regional Family Resource Network
Religious Coalition for Community Renewal
Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church
The Education Alliance
Think Kids
Unlimited Future
Wayne County Community Services Organization
West Virginia Health Right
WV Behavioral Healthcare Providers Association
 
OHIO
Adult Advocacy Centers
Community Mission Outreach
Impact Prevention/Tri-State Family Connection
R L B Ministries/Backpack Buddies
Square One GJM
Steven A. Hunter Hope Fund
Wings of Hope
 
KENTUCKY
Aspire! Conservatory of Fine & Performing Arts
Big Sandy Area Community Action Program
Floyd County Homeless Shelter Inc.
Floyd County Senior Citizens
God’s Appalachian Partnership
God’s Pantry Food Bank
Grace Fellowship Community Kitchen
Hand in Hand Ministries
Haven of Rest Family Ministries
Helping Hands of Greenup County
Hope’s Place
Pathways
Safe Harbor of Northeast Kentucky
St. Vincent Mission
Spina Bifida Coalition of Cincinnati

Project: Routes to Recovery
Matt completed the Recovery Point substance use treatment program in Huntington and was hired as a part-time driver for the Routes to Recovery service. About three months after he started driving, Matt also began working as a peer recovery coach. After six months of employment, he moved on to become a foreman with a local HVAC company. Matt has told us how grateful he was for the employment opportunity right after he completed the program. He said he had been to treatment several times before, but he always returned home after and fell back into active addiction.

"This job afforded me the opportunity to start to build a life in the city where I got sober, stay plugged in with my support group, and continue to help those in need every day," he said. "I'm not just a driver when transporting people. I'm like an aid to them. People would open up and talk about issues or problems they were having in their lives, and I would try to give guidance through my own personal experiences.

"It is one of the few jobs that I have had in my life that I truly enjoyed doing. I would not have my current job as a foreman for an HVAC company if not for Routes to Recovery. I was transporting a client for one of our local partners and got to know him. He found out that I had years of experience in HVAC and put me in contact with my current employer. I hated to leave Recovery Point, but I had to move forward with my life and be able to better provide for myself and my family. I will always be grateful for the experience and opportunities through Recovery Point and Routes to Recovery."

Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home
In its 54-year history, the Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home (KVFH) in Charleston, West Virginia, has helped more than 2,000 men recover from alcohol and substance use disorder through an abstinence-based, residential treatment program. KVFH provides a secure environment in which residents can begin a new life by breaking destructive patterns of behavior associated with alcoholism and addiction. The organization consists of a main house with 15 individual bedrooms, six intermediate care apartments, and several after-care apartments.

Participants build independent living skills and form positive habits in a structured environment that allows them to transition back into the community as productive citizens. Residents are required to attend outside recovery meetings, weekly “Recovery Steps” meetings, and weekly group sessions with a certified addiction counselor. They are also required to work a minimum of 35 hours a week and are encouraged to continue with formal education.

The Pallottine Foundation of Huntington has awarded KVFH several grants in support of the organization’s mission to help men overcome addiction and rebuild their lives.

HEALTHY MEALS

COUNSELING AND TESTING SUPPLIES

TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES
KVFH also received two Capacity Building grants to fund improvements in technology and communication. The organization’s 2019 grant provided for an administrative laptop, secure router, staff training, and professionally managed information technology services. The 2020 Capacity Building grant funded a full website buildout, including hosting, site maintenance, and staff training. The improvements allowed for a mobile-friendly site, increased site security, and a platform that could be easily updated by staff. A new online application also helped KVFH continue taking referrals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information about the Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home, visit www.kvfh.org. 
Learn more about our grant opportunities
OUR MISSION
Through the support of transformative health initiatives that empower all individuals to lead lives
of optimal health, self-reliance, and self-respect, the Pallottine Foundation of Huntington
strives to foster systemic change and collaborative impact in our community.