2021 Recipients

2021 Grant Award Recipients

The 2021 WISH grant awards were presented Sunday, September 19, 2021 at Erma Ora Byrd Hall to two nonprofits and two Shepherd Learning Projects. Each grant totaled $31,250.

Community Nonprofit Winner- Berkeley County Meals on Wheels

Nonprofit winner Berkeley County Meals on Wheels provides nutritious meals throughout the county to over 200 seniors and other homebound individuals weekly. The program, dependent mainly on volunteers, has nearly tripled in the last few years from providing just over 20,000 meals to almost 60,000 meals annually. The WISH funding will allow the purchase of much needed equipment including a mixer, oven, refrigerator, freezers, and other miscellaneous items.

“Berkeley County Meals on Wheels is truly grateful to WISH for this funding opportunity which will enable our existing kitchen to upgrade and replace aging and outdated equipment. Food insecurities fueled by the COVID pandemic, along with the rapid growth of Berkeley County, has expanded the demand for our program. We are proud to partner with WISH to make it easier for our staff to provide this vital service to countless seniors for many years to come.” – Dianne Waldron, Executive Director

Nonprofit Recipient Berkeley County Meals on Wheels (l to r): Julian Long, Caroline Long, Executive Director Dianne Waldron, Bruce Waldron, Charylyn Ely, and MaryAnn Crawley

Community Nonprofit Winner- Shenandoah Community Health Foundation

The Shenandoah Health Community Foundation is the second nonprofit recipient. The Community Access to Resources for Everyone (CARE) Project addresses the need to provide affordable OB/GYN services to thousands of Shenandoah Valley women, most of whom are low-income. The WISH Grant funding will replace out-of-date equipment and procure additional equipment to meet the growing demand for women’s health services.

“Shenandoah Community Health Foundation is honored to receive this award that will be used to purchase equipment for the Women’s Health department of Shenandoah Community Health. The facility, which provided ob/gyn care for over 6,700 patients at its Martinsburg and Winchester offices in 2020, is grateful to WISH members for their votes of confidence. This grant will benefit women directly by increasing access to health care, enhancing continuity of care and patient satisfaction, and reducing costs of care.” – Tina Burns, Director of Resource Management

2021 Nonprofit Recipient Shenandoah Community Health (l to r) Dr. Krista Hopkins, Director of Resource Management Tina Burns, Dr. Marcia Brand, and Heather Marshall

Shepherd Learning Project Winner- College of Business Analytics Lab

Headed by Dr. Ben Martz, current interim provost, and Dr. Kathleen Reid, current interim dean, the College of Business Analytics Lab is the first of the 2021 Shepherd learning project grants. In order to prepare Shepherd students for data-driven analytics’ careers, the WISH grant will serve to bring the current lab into a state-of-the-art facility that includes: moveable tables, multi-screen capability and upgraded internet access, high quality video displays that will provide the infrastructure to support the visualization of charts and dashboard information, and the ability to handle increased technology needs created by more powerful analytical software.

“The proposal funds not simply a lab upgrade, but also the development of a classroom to showcase how Shepherd understands that, in today’s world, students must become more information literate. We see this grant as enabling opportunities. For Shepherd, we have a technology-enhanced analytics lab; for faculty, we have a customizable learning classroom; for students, we have an environment in which analytical and quantitative skills integrate with a well-rounded curriculum and the start of a knowledge-based career.” – Dr. Ben Martz, Shepherd University Interim Provost

Shepherd Learning Project Recipient College of Business (l to r): Dr. George Ray, Dr. Kathleen Reid, and Dr. Ben Martz

Shepherd Learning Project Winner- Lifelong Learning Hybrid Learning Classroom

Located in the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education, the Lifelong Learning Program at Shepherd University is dedicated to offering stimulating academic courses and activities to the community. Through the final Shepherd learning project WISH grant, the Lifelong Learning program will be able to transform classrooms into a state-of-the-art “hybrid” learning center which allows both remote and on-site learners to participate in programs in a seamless and inclusive way. This hybrid model, created through the purchase of multiple pieces of technology, will address the needs magnified during the COVID pandemic and allow students to attend classes and engage with each other and the instructor simultaneously, whether in-person or remotely.

“The Lifelong Learning Program is honored to receive a WISH grant for hybrid technology and a hearing induction loop in the Robert C. Byrd Center. Not only will lifelong learners benefit from the technology upgrades, but so will Shepherd University students, faculty, and the community that use the Byrd Center.” – Karen Rice, Shepherd University Director of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning