Established in 1991, this is an endowment set up by the Beckley Area Foundation’s first president, James. W. Word Jr. and his wife, Sallie. As treasurer of the Dr. Thomas Walker Memorial Health Foundation, Word guided a gift of $1.1 million from the Walker foundation to set up a community foundation for Beckley. He was president of Beckley Loan Company, chairman of Gulf National Bank, director of Summit Holding Co. and Raleigh County national Bank and a former chairman of the WV Turnpike Commissions. As with all donor advised funds, recommendations for fund income distributions were made to BAF’s Board of Directors for approval. The Word family, individually and collectively, have been faithful supporters of Beckley Area Foundation since its origin in 1985.
