Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Parkersburg, W.Va. (September 28, 2021) — Every West Virginia-based United Way agency will receive grant funding totaling $100,000 from Highmark West Virginia’s Charitable Fund for Health. Announced by Highmark West Virginia officials earlier today, these grants, ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 will support programs dedicated to the health and well-being of West Virginia residents.
“Highmark has a long-standing partnership with the United Way through corporate contributions, onsite campaigns, employee pledges and volunteerism and we are more than happy to expand our partnership with this funding,” said Jim Fawcett, president of Highmark West Virginia. “By providing much-needed support, these agencies can continue to offer programs that ensure children and youth achieve their potential through enrichment programs, mentoring, leadership development, career exploration, and other activities designed to help them become productive members of our community.”
As the majority of Highmark West Virginia’s employees live and work throughout Charleston, Wheeling and Parkersburg, the United Way agencies that serve those areas will receive $25,000 each. The remaining 10 agencies throughout West Virginia will each receive $2,500. The full list of agencies receiving support is below:
| United Way of Central West Virginia | $25,000 | |
| United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley | $25,000 | |
| United Way of Upper Ohio Valley | $25,000 | |
| United Way of Southern West Virginia | $2,500 | |
| United Way of Harrison and Doddridge Counties | $2,500 | |
| United Way of the River Cities | $2,500 | |
| United Way of Greenbrier Valley | $2,500 | |
| Tygart Valley United Way | $2,500 | |
| United Way of Eastern Panhandle | $2,500 | |
| United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties | $2,500 | |
| Weirton United Way | $2,500 | |
| County United Way | $2,500 | |
| United Way of Gilmer, Lewis, and Upshur | $2,500 | |
| Total | $100,000 |
“On behalf of the United Ways throughout the Mountain State, we are thrilled to receive Highmark West Virginia’s support,” said Stacy DeCicco, executive director of the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley. “At such an atypical time with uncertainty, this funding will help fill in the gap and ensure we continue to meet the ongoing needs of our communities now more than ever.”
This donation is funded through Highmark’s new West Virginia Charitable Fund for Health, which provides critical funding to support West Virginia-based health and social service organizations. In its inaugural grant cycle, in 2021 the Charitable Fund for Health awarded $1 million in grant funding for West Virginia-based non-profit organizations.
About Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia serves approximately 246,000 members through the company’s health care benefits business and hundreds of thousands of additional members through the BlueCard® program. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of West Virginia holds the largest share of the commercial market, and more West Virginians carry a Blue Cross Blue Shield card than any other insurance carrier in the state. With offices in Parkersburg and Wheeling, Highmark West Virginia employs approximately 700 people and serves as a key economic driver in the state with its total economic impact reaching $262 million.
About Highmark Foundation
The Highmark Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private, charitable organization dedicated to improving the health, well-being, and quality of life for individuals and communities throughout the areas served by Highmark Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. We fulfill our mission by awarding high-impact grants to charitable organizations that implement evidence-based programs aimed at improving community health. Central to the Foundation’s mission is identifying and continuously re-evaluation our region’s prevailing health care needs. By doing so, the Foundation remains at the forefront of those needs, well equipped to pinpoint issues that most urgently need support. For more information, visit www.highmarkfoundation.org
About Highmark West Virginia Charitable Fund
The Highmark West Virginia Charitable Fund for Health, is a controlled fund of the Highmark Foundation. The Charitable Fund for Health‘s mission is to improve the health, well-being and quality of life for individuals who reside in all 55 counties in West Virginia. The Highmark WV Charitable Fund for Health strives to support programs that impact multiple counties and work collaboratively to leverage additional funding to achieve replicable models. For more information, visit www.highmarkfoundation.org.
For more information, contact
Cathy McAlister
Highmark WV Charitable Fund for Health
304-347-7754
cathy.mcalister@highmarkhealth.org
