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Fairmont—The Robert H. Mollohan Family Charitable Foundation
awarded five community outreach grants totaling $18,513.70
in January 2006 to organizations throughout the state of
West Virginia.
The Mollohan Foundation was established in 2000 as a
non-profit charitable organization in West Virginia. It was
created by the family of the late Congressman Robert H.
Mollohan to improve the life of persons living in West
Virginia through its educational, scientific, and charitable
programs. To date, the Foundation has awarded well over
$170,000 to organizations that strive to provide important
educational and cultural opportunities to citizens of the
Mountain State.
In January, grants were presented to the Lincoln County
Agricultural Education Department, the Laughlin Community
Center, The Shack Neighborhood House, Inc., West Taylor
Elementary’s “Bucks for Books” program, and the
International Mother’s Day Shrine, Inc. These organizations
and programs help promote various educational and cultural
projects central to preserving and extending the unique
heritage of West Virginia’s residents.
The Lincoln County Agricultural Education Department will be
introduced in the curriculum at the new Lincoln County High
School, opening in the fall of 2006. Agriculture education
utilizes hands-on learning strategies to enhance skills
learned in core classes, including math, science, and
English. The Mollohan Foundation awarded the Lincoln County
Agricultural Education Department with a $5,000 Community
Outreach Grant toward the purchase of equipment for the
planned aquaculture classroom. This money will be used to
fund the Trout Hatchery and the Delta Star Chiller, which is
used to chill water in the trout hatchery. This program is
designed for students who have an interest in medicine,
veterinary science, forestry, parks and recreation,
landscape design, biotechnology, environmentalism,
oceanography, and many more disciplines. This will result in
diversified learning opportunities within various industries
and future career paths.
The Laughlin Community Center was also awarded a $5,000
Community Outreach Grant from the Foundation. Located in
Wheeling, the Laughlin Community
Center offers programs designed to provide a safe haven for
children in an atmosphere that encourages academic success.
The grant money will be used to help fund the
Integrated Reading Curriculum for the 2006 Summer Freedom
School Program. The funds will enable the Laughlin Community
Center to purchase books that directly support the program.
The curriculum includes 80 titles that are age-appropriate,
encourage community involvement, feature characters that
persevere and achieve, and reflect the children’s own
images. The goal of the Reading Curriculum is to foster a
love of reading
and learning through creative activities that are enticing
and engaging for children.
The Shack Neighborhood House, Inc. received a grant totaling
more than $3,000 for the Appalachian Rags to Rugs Program.
This program strives to preserve and create an Appalachian
heritage of cultural tradition, encourage creativity, and
promote recycling through weaving hand-made creations.
Weavers create rugs, purses, tote bags, wall hangings, and
placemats using looms. Located in Osage, Appalachian Rags to
Rugs received the grant for the specific purposes of loom
repair and the purchase of new tabletop looms and a heavy
duty sewing machine. Items woven by the program are sold by
West Virginia retailers and have been exhibited at various
fairs and festivals. Appalachian Rags to Rugs uses recycled
clothing and remnant materials and represents a cottage
industry that highlights West Virginia’s Appalachian
heritage.
West Taylor Elementary School opened in January 2006 from
the consolidation of Hepzibah and Pruntytown Elementary
Schools. The “Bucks for Books” program was initiated to
provide West Taylor Elementary with new books and resources
for the school’s classrooms and new library. The Mollohan
Family Charitable Foundation awarded the “Bucks for Books”
program with $5,000 to help purchase books for the library.
This will enable the school to provide up-to-date reading
materials including books and periodicals to further enhance
the educational opportunities provided to the students. |
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