Creating Solutions for Stronger Communities: $740,897.65 Distributed by BAF Designated Funds

Pictured: BAF Board President, Jereme Evans and some of our grant recipients from Raleigh County. Organizations represented in photo: Appalachian Bible College, AWAY, Beckley Stratton Middle School, Bradley-Prosperity Volunteer Fire Dept., Hospice of Southern WV, Raleigh County Commission on Aging, Raleigh County Community Action Association, Raleigh County Historical Society & Temple Beth El.

Since the first designated fund was established in 1986, BAF has had the honor of helping donors support the organizations they are most passionate about. A designated fund is established by a donor to benefit a specific charity, or program for a charity.
 
To date, over eight million dollars has been distributed from designated funds!

Pictured: BAF Executive Director, Dena Cushman, YMCA of SWV CEO, Jay Rist, and BAF Board President, Jereme Evans.

“The annual designated distribution checks make a big difference for non-profits like the Y. From operations to capital improvements to youth scholarships, the monies received from our funds truly help us meet our mission of positively impacting the communities we serve here in Southern West Virginia.” — Jay Rist | CEO, YMCA of SWV

BAF distributed $740,897.65 to 86 organizations from designated funds for the 2025 distribution cycle.

​The grant awards are as follows:

  • American Red Cross – Raleigh County, WV | $3,186
  • Animal Control and Welfare Project | $2,251
  • Appalachian Bible College | $6,713
  • AWAY | $28,737.09
  • BAF Rain Garden Maintenance | $1,080.50
  • Beckley Art Group, Inc. | $2,903
  • Beckley Babe Ruth League, Inc. | $776
  • Beckley Concert Association | $12,885.75
  • Beckley Dream Center | $4,086.90
  • Beckley Little League, Inc. | $3,856
  • Beckley Presbyterian Church | $63,670
  • Beckley-Stratton Middle School | $635
  • Black Diamond Girl Scout Council | $2,176
  • Bluestone Baptist Church | $2,107
  • Bradley-Prosperity Volunteer Fire Department | $2,312
  • Bread of Life Outreach Center | $3,577
  • Buckskin Council of Boy Scouts of America | $3,064
  • Burlington United Methodist Family Services | $803
  • Camp Mountain Heart | $3,217.04
  • Children’s Home Society of West Virginia | $2,196
  • City of Beckley | $18,712
  • Concord University | $1,403
  • Cranberry Baptist Church | $765
  • Davis Stuart, Inc. | $895
  • Family Crisis Center, Inc. | $2,196
  • Fayette County Public Library | $7,438
  • First Baptist Church | $6,444.50
  • First Christian Church | $2,944
  • First Tee – West Virginia | $1,732.50
  • First United Methodist Church | $945
  • Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary | $1,000
  • Friends of the Beckley Library | $1,678
  • Fuller Center for Housing of Beckley, WV | $3,898.99
  • Greenbrier Valley Theatre | $15,943
  • Harmony for Hope, Inc. | $500
  • Harrah Cemetery Improvement Association | $473.50
  • Helping Hands Resource Center | $25,638.33
  • Hope Ministries Outreach | $1,500
  • Hospice of Southern West Virginia, Inc. | $35,154.23
  • Humane Society of Raleigh County | $80,158.20
  • Hunter’s Cemetery Maintenance | $1,350
  • Just for Kids | $19,600.95
  • Lillian James Learning Center | $545
  • Mabscott Elementary | $1,000
  • Mac’s Memorial Toy Fund, Inc. | $111,491.86
  • Marshall Baseball | $49.38
  • Mountain Heart Foundation | $3,000
  • New River Humane Society, Inc. | $2,090
  • Operation Underdog | $2,597
  • Patty’s Blessings, Inc. | $500
  • Philanthropy WV | $571
  • Piney Creek Watershed Association | $1,313
  • Princeton Public Library | $647.50
  • Raleigh County Board of Education | $8,557
  • Raleigh County Commission on Aging | $3,495
  • Raleigh County Community Action Association, Inc. | $1,500
  • Raleigh County Emergency Housing Center | $227.50
  • Raleigh County Historical Society | $732
  • Raleigh County Public Library | $8,445.75
  • Raleigh County Special Olympics | $569
  • Richard A. Rice Fund – Building Fund | $42,427.70
  • Southern WV Fellowship Home | $2,255
  • St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church | $559
  • St. Francis De Sales Catholic School | $6,943.38
  • St. Matthews AME Church | $943
  • St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church | $6,848
  • Storm Haven Inc | $910
  • Temple Beth El | $2,134
  • The Salvation Army | $18,414.42
  • Theatre West Virginia, Inc. | $2,815
  • Three Rivers Avian Center | $1,908
  • Toys for Tots | $5,000
  • United Methodist Temple | $2,519.50
  • United Way | $30,908
  • University of Charleston – Beckley | $30,580
  • West Virginia Public Broadcasting Foundation, Inc. | $8,097
  • Wildwood Cemetery Preservation Association | $11,500
  • Woman’s Club of Beckley | $1,193
  • Woodrow Wilson High School | $300
  • Woodrow Wilson High School Class of 1960 Scholarship Fund | $387
  • WVU Extension Services | $629
  • WVU Foundation, Inc. | $5,003.68
  • Wyoming County Paw Patrol, Inc. | $5,500
  • Wyoming County Toy Fund Inc | $1,270
  • YMCA of Southern West Virginia | $21,370.50
  • Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia | $2,495

Anyone interested in donating to a designated fund may mail contributions with the name of the fund in the memo to BAF, 1210 S. Kanawha Street, Beckley, WV 25801 or visit bafwv.org to donate online. If you are interested in starting a designated fund or leaving a legacy gift, call BAF at 304-253-3806 or email info@bafwv.org.