News

West Virginia University alumna Jeanne Carter truly embodies what it means to be a Mountaineer.

She’s pioneering, loyal and determined to succeed.

The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation has been named the 2017 Outstanding Foundation and Philanthropic Organization by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Nominated by the West Virginia University Foundation, the Benedum Foundation has shown outstanding support and great commitment to the state of West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania.

More than 800 donors contributed over $100,000 to the West Virginia University’s Pride Travel Fund this fall in support of the Mountaineer Marching Band.

The annual campaign was established to help defray the costs of travel for the band, including transportation, hotels and food for the more than 350 members and staff. 

The West Virginia University Foundation’s efforts to overhaul its online donation web pages have earned it a top national honor. 

Boston-based Acquia, a leading cloud platform for building, delivering and optimizing digital experiences, named the WVU Foundation one of its 2017 Engage Award recipients.  The web page redesign project, led by Foundation Senior Application Developer AJ Blosser, focused on improving the search and transactional experience for the donor. 

It was promoted as “One Day to Give Back” and supporters of West Virginia University responded Wednesday (Nov. 8) during the University’s first Day of Giving.

Unofficial numbers show more than 2,500 gifts were made totaling more than $2.9 million. A more detailed report will be released in the coming days. 

A doctor known for his leadership and service, a successful entrepreneur, a highly-respected retired plant pathology professor and a dedicated administrative assistant are being honored as Most Loyals during the 70th annual Mountaineer Week, a celebration of Appalachian Heritage, Oct. 20-29, on West Virginia University’s campus.

The 2017 honorees are Dr. Ronald Wilkinson, Most Loyal West Virginian; Jon Hammock, Most Loyal Alumni Mountaineer; Mannon Gallegly, Most Loyal Faculty/Professional Staff Mountaineer; and Barbara Bodkins, Most Loyal Classified Staff Mountaineer. The group will be honored during halftime ceremonies of Saturday’s (Oct. 28) WVU-Oklahoma State football game.

The WVU Foundation is organizing the University’s inaugural Day of Giving, 24-hour online fundraising effort, as a simple way for University supporters to contribute to the Foundation’s "State of Minds" Campaign.

“The Campaign wraps up at the end of December, so we thought with a Day of Giving, we could bring the Campaign to alums and supporters all over the world while helping to raise dollars for the University’s greatest priorities and opportunities,” said Mary Esposito, who is leading the effort for the Foundation. “Those include scholarships and unrestricted funds at both the University and unit specific level. It’s an exciting way to celebrate the success of the Campaign as well as WVU’s 150th anniversary.”

The West Virginia University Foundation will honor donors on Friday, Sept. 15, whose planned gifts over the past year will provide for the future of the University. 

The Irvin Stewart Society will welcome 45 new members during a brunch at the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place. Membership in the Society is given to those who include a gift provision in a will or revocable trust, create a life-income gift, designate an after-death gift of a retirement account, make checking, savings or stock accounts “payable upon death,” donate life insurance, or make a gift of real estate with a retained life interest benefiting WVU and its entities.

Three West Virginia University alumni with successful careers in a variety of industries have been elected to the WVU Foundation Board of Directors. 

Each will serve a three-year term.

Five doctoral students are the latest recipients of West Virginia University graduate school funding through the Ruby Scholars Graduate Fellows Program.

Maryssa Beasley, Angella Macias, Jill Riddell, Adama Warr and Andrew Weaver make up the sixth class of Fellows.