The West Virginia University Foundation is proud to recognize two individuals and one corporation as recipients of the 2025 Outstanding Philanthropy Awards, highlighting their incredible support and generosity to WVU.
This year’s honorees, who have been exceptional in their dedication and leadership, are Milan Puskar Outstanding Philanthropists David and Jo Ann Shaw and Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation Hope Gas.
David and Jo Ann Shaw
David and Dr. Jo Ann Shaw have provided financial support to WVU for more than 40 years, with 188 individual gifts totaling more than $9.5 million. Their gifts have benefited areas across the WVU system, including the School of Medicine, WVU Athletics, WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s and more.
The state-of-the-art medical education center that bears the couple’s name, the David and Jo Ann Shaw Center for Simulation Training and Education for Patient Safety (STEPS), is central to their giving. This facility, which has received more than $5 million in donations from the Shaws, features industry-standard experiential learning equipment and technology geared toward training WVU students for their future medical careers.
The Shaws have also established other namesake funds, including the Jo Ann Goldbaugh Shaw, MD Medical Scholarship and the Shaw Enrichment Fund for Nutrition and Mental Health. Beyond their philanthropic support, the pair was honored by the WVU Alumni Association as 2023 Outstanding Alumni.
Jo Ann, who serves on the WVU Foundation Board of Directors, earned her medical degree from the WVU School of Medicine in 1986, the same year David graduated from the WVU School of Pharmacy. The couple currently resides in Summerfield, North Carolina.
Hope Gas
This year’s Outstanding Philanthropic Organization, Hope Gas, has developed a partnership with WVU aimed at helping the state’s flagship institution move into the future. With support across a variety of areas, Hope Gas has been the embodiment of a premier corporate partner that shares in the goals of the University.
In 2025, Hope Gas showed its support in several impactful ways that will be visible to Morgantown residents and WVU fans around the world. This year, the Morgantown-based company invested in a multiyear sponsorship agreement for naming rights at what is now known as the Hope Coliseum, which will feature new signage, lights and more.
A recent gift from Hope Gas will also serve to revitalize the WVU Water Tower that sits on the Evansdale Campus. The funds provided will finance an overall facelift to the structure, featuring new paint and lights designed to draw attention to the iconic Flying WV atop the tower.
Aligning with its Keeping our Kids in West Virginia initiative, Hope Gas provided a multi-year commitment to the Media Innovation Center’s Public Interest Communication Research Lab at the WVU College of Creative Arts and Media. This partnership provides experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. Other areas of giving include WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s and Athletics.
Hope Gas was founded more than 127 years ago and employs over 650 people in the state. The organization monitors and maintains nearly 7,000 miles of natural gas pipeline across West Virginia and provides service to approximately 140,000 customers in 39 counties.
The WVU Foundation is the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University and its affiliated entities. Since 2005, the WVU Foundation has recognized individuals, companies and organizations for outstanding contributions and charitable devotion to WVU.