Dozens of Morgantown-area children will now have adequate school supplies for the start of the upcoming school year thanks to donations made by employees of the West Virginia University Foundation.
During the first part of August, Foundation employees donated school supplies and money for needy children associated with Scott’s Run Settlement House in Osage as part of its 10th annual School Supply Giveaway program.
“We were told that there are many families in the area around Scott’s Run Settlement House who are unable to purchase school supplies for their children,” said Whitney Westbrook, Foundation development administrative assistant and one of the organizers of the Foundation collection drive. “This is tough on parents, and it can be embarrassing for children who are coping with the challenges of a new school year if they are not equipped with the tools that they need to do well in the classroom. The Foundation wanted to help Scott’s Run Settlement House in any way that we could, and it is easy to pick up a few extra notebooks or pencils to donate when you are doing your own back to school shopping.”
Over $600 in supplies and monetary donations was collected by the Foundation.
“We are very grateful for the generosity of the employees at the WVU Foundation for helping make our 10th annual School Supply Giveaway such a success,” said Heather Hudson, director of development at the Scott’s Run Settlement House. “As a result of the kindness shown by the Foundation, many students now have the basic tools needed to be successful in the classroom setting.”
Hudson said over 500 students in Monongalia County, ranging from pre-kindergarten all the way up to college, benefit from the program.
Scott’s Run Settlement House is a non-profit, grassroots project that provides various public services to Morgantown-area individuals and families, including a child development center, emergency assistance pantry, housing rehabilitation, and many other seasonal activities and services.
The WVU Foundation is a private non-profit corporation that generates and provides support for West Virginia University.
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ts/8/13/10
CONTACT: Bill Nevin, WVU Foundation
304-284-4056