The West Virginia University Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2016 Outstanding Philanthropy awards.
This year’s recipients are Stuart F. and Stephanie H. Bloch, Milan Puskar Outstanding Philanthropists; Pete White, Outstanding Volunteer Philanthropist; Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, Hazel Ruby McQuain Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation; and BB&T, Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation.
Since 2005, the WVU Foundation annually honors individuals and companies who display exceptional generosity, commitment, leadership and proven records of outstanding civil and charitable devotion to WVU.
“We are thrilled to honor this year’s award recipients for their willingness to give back to our University in so many ways from their philanthropic support and leadership, to dedication of their time and expertise,” said Cindi Roth, president and CEO of the WVU Foundation. “Their deep loyalty and commitment undoubtedly have made West Virginia University a better place, and for that, we are so grateful.”
Stuart F. and Stephanie H. Bloch
Stuart F. and Stephanie H. Bloch have shown tremendous support for WVU, from serving as leaders of various University initiatives to philanthropic support to the College of Creative Arts.
In 2013, the couple made a significant donation to the Art Museum of West Virginia University, specifically to the Print Study/Collection Room. The Blochs contributed generously to renovations of the Bloch Learning and Performance Hall in 2003, formerly known as the Choral Recital Hall. Additionally, WVU students have benefitted greatly from their giving for scholarships and technological upgrades within the College of Creative Arts.
Mr. Bloch has served as executive vice president and director of Hazlett, Burt & Watson, Inc. since 1980.
A graduate of Princeton University, Mr. Bloch served as president of The Bloch Brothers Tobacco Co. in 1970 and became vice president of General Cigar & Tobacco Co. in 1975.
He is a past president of the Smokeless Tobacco Research Council, Associated Tobacco Manufacturers, and West Virginia Manufacturers Association and the U.S. Golf Association. Bloch is a member of the Wheeling Hall of Fame and West Virginia Golf Association Hall of Fame. He is a former trustee of the Ohio Valley Medical Center, past Chairman of the Ohio Valley Health Services Education Corp and past Director of the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley. He also is a member of Rotary International. He is a past chairman of the WVU Foundation Board of Directors.
Mrs. Bloch is a dedicated, active community volunteer. Throughout her lifetime, she has contributed her talent and leadership to the University and organizations throughout the entire state.
She has served as president of the Junior League of Wheeling, chairman of the Association of Junior Leagues, and Area Council II.
Mrs. Bloch is a former member of the boards of The Children’s Home of Wheeling, Kings Daughters Child Care Center, Snowshoe Institute, WVU College of Creative Arts, Board of Advisors of WVU’s Blaney House and the West Virginia Public Broadcasting Foundation. She is a past elder of Vance Memorial Presbyterian Church.
The Blochs were named Most Loyal West Virginians in 2005 for their commitment to the ideals of the state of West Virginia and are also members of the WVU Foundation’s Woodburn Circle and Irvin Stewart Societies.
They currently live in Wheeling and are the parents of four children, daughters Karen and Caroline and sons Steve and Tom.
Pete White
Pete White is a notable former WVU athlete, student leader, U.S. Air Force Captain and successful businessman with over 55 years of professional success in the finance and insurance industry.
Mr. White’s lifetime is marked by generosity to WVU, the state of West Virginia, and the United States as a whole through his military service.
He lettered in each of his four years at WVU in both basketball and track. In 1985, he was honored by the Touchdown Club of Morgantown with the prestigious Proficiency Award, given to the West Virginian who has “displayed excellence in athletics and fostered good sportsmanship.”
He was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks, but his two-and-a-half year active duty military commitment to the U.S. Air Force pre-empted his playing professionally.
Mr. White’s tremendous success in the professional world has been recognized as well. He has qualified for Top of the Table and Court of the Table and has been a life and qualifying member of the insurance industry’s prestigious Million Dollar Round Table. He has earned the professional designations and licenses as a Chartered life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Advisor to Philanthropy, Accredited Estate Planner.
In 2014, Mr. White was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Charleston Estate Planning Council Association. He served as president of the Charleston chapters of both the Society of Financial Service Professionals and Estate Planning Council.
Mr. White has been involved as a community leader of many causes and associations. He served as president of the Kanawha County Heart Association, West Virginia Allergy Association and Fund for the Arts, past treasurer of the West Virginia State Heart Association, vice president of Sunrise Museum, and is a former treasurer and current member of the Charleston YMCA Development Committee.
He served as a member of the WVU Foundation Board of Directors for over 40 years, a past president of the Kanawha County WVU alumni chapter, and an organizer and past president of the West Coast of Florida WVU alumni chapters.
Mr. White is a member of the Irvin Stewart and Woodburn Circle Societies. In 2001, he was inducted into the WVU Order of Vandalia, the University’s highest honor for service and loyalty.
He and his wife Jo, a 1956 graduate of WVU, have two children, Anne and Brad.
The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation
The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, formed in 1962, is the 2016 Hazel Ruby McQuain Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation.
The mission of TGKVF is to “make thoughtful and proactive investments that grow the multiple forms of wealth necessary for our community to thrive.”
Since its founding over 50 years ago, TGKVF has benefited the greater community of six counties: Kanawha, Putnam, Boone, Clay, Lincoln and Fayette. It is the largest community foundation in the state of West Virginia and administers over 500 funds and $221 million in assets.
In 2015, The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation funded 49 grants for over 1.5 million dollars in discretionary spending. Two of these grants were awarded to WVU—one to support the WVU Extension Services STEM Ambassador program and the other to support the WVU Eye Institute. These combined grants served over 3,500 people in the TGKVF six county service area.
BB&T
BB&T is the Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation of 2016.
One of the largest financial services holding companies in the U.S., BB&T employs more than 37,000 associates and has 2,137 locations in 15 states and Washington D.C.
The company, founded in 1872, is headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C. It operates as a full-service financial institution, offering a full range of consumer and commercial banking, securities brokerage, asset management, mortgage and insurance products and services. BB&T currently administers assets of more than $209.9 billion.
Named a Fortune 500 company, BB&T has been recognized for outstanding client satisfaction by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Greenwich Associates and others.
BB&T established the Faculty Chair in Free Market Thought within the WVU College of Business and Economics and has provided other faculty support within the College. It also has supported construction of the new Erickson Alumni Center and renovation of the Milan Puskar Center.
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CONTACT: Bill Nevin, WVU Foundation
304-284-4056; wnevin@wvuf.org
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