The West Virginia First Foundation has awarded over $1.8 million in grants to organizations in Region 3, which includes Wood County and its surrounding areas.
These grants are part of the foundation’s Initial Opportunity Grant program, launched in 2024 to support recovery efforts tied to the state’s opioid settlement with pharmaceutical companies and distributors.
Region 3, which includes Wood, Tyler, Pleasants, Ritchie, Wirt, Calhoun, Roane, and Jackson counties, received a total of $2.55 million in grant funding. These funds will go toward a wide range of programs focused on prevention, recovery, child advocacy, transitional housing, and workforce development.
“These grants represent more than just funding,” said Tom Joyce, Parkersburg mayor and chairman of the Region 3 board. “They reflect a shared commitment to building a healthier, safer West Virginia from the ground up.”
Local Programs Receiving Support
The grants are supporting community-based organizations with programs that align with the foundation’s mission to address addiction and build stronger systems of care. Some of the key recipients include:
- North Star Child Advocacy Center (Wood County) – $720,000 for expansion, the largest grant awarded statewide.
- Westbrook Health Services – $298,686 to support diversion and interdiction programs.
- Mid-Ohio Valley Board of Health (Wood County) – $296,764 for transitional and recovery housing.
- Hope House Ministries (Ravenswood) – $200,000 to expand transitional and recovery housing.
- Jackson County Health Department – $192,000 for interdiction and diversion efforts.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Parkersburg – $190,123 for outdoor facility renovations.
- Boys & Girls Club of Pleasants County – $54,924 for SMART Moves and Career Launch programs.
- Public Defender Corp. (5th Judicial Circuit) – $69,485 for diversion and interdiction support.
- Integrated Health Centers of West Virginia (Ritchie County) – $81,276 for youth prevention and workforce development.
- United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley – $57,000 for youth prevention and workforce diversion.
- West Virginia University at Parkersburg – $39,925 to support youth-focused workforce development.
Building a Regional Approach
The grants are part of a broader strategy that includes the formation of Regional Expert Panels. These panels, made up of volunteer experts in seven key areas, help guide funding priorities and strategies tailored to each region’s unique needs.
Region 3 panel members include:
- Mental Health & Treatment: Jolie Kerenick, Westbrook
- Prevention: Mike Pifer, retired police chief
- Recovery & Lived Experience: Allison Browning, MA, counseling
- Health Systems & Finance: Amy Yokum, CEO of Integrated Health Centers
- Law Enforcement & Judicial: Rick Woodyard, Wood County Sheriff
- First Responders: Joe Martin, retired police chief
- Corrections & Reentry: Aaron Simonton, WV Department of Corrections
These experts work together to assess needs, shape public engagement strategies, and review grant applications. They also provide recommendations and data to support the foundation’s long-term strategic planning.
Joyce emphasized the importance of keeping communication open between the panels and the board, especially when identifying emerging threats and supporting data-driven approaches to fighting addiction.
Closing Thoughts
With nearly $17 million awarded across the state so far, the West Virginia First Foundation’s Initial Opportunity Grant program is proving to be a vital part of the state’s recovery infrastructure. Region 3’s share of over $2.5 million ensures that local organizations can continue their critical work — from housing and advocacy to youth development and prevention.
