Generation West Virginia, a statewide network of regional young talent organizations, received a $50,500 grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation to advance its coalition of organizations across West Virginia through organizational advancement, program coordination and development.
“This generous grant allows us to focus on organizational growth and retaining, attracting and advancing young talent in West Virginia,” said Generation West Virginia Chairman Paul Daugherty. “Over the past two years, Generation West Virginia has successfully developed its infrastructure. Now we aim to form new young talent organizations and provide program coordination assistance to make West Virginia a destination for younger generations.”
As part of the grant project, Generation West Virginia has enlisted Charleston-based Forbes Consulting LLC to provide part-time administrative and marketing support. Forbes Consulting President Lesli Forbes has worked in marketing, advertising and public relations throughout the state and earned both bachelors’ and master’s degrees in journalism from West Virginia University.
The group also recently welcomed Generation Beckley to its roster of young talent organizations. Sponsored by the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, Generation Beckley is a young professional organization providing networking, social and development opportunities to emerging leaders in Raleigh County.
As part of Generation West Virginia’s program expansion, the group plans advance the organizational focus by training volunteer facilitators to assist new regional groups form, grow and be successful; creating partnerships with business, industry and entrepreneurs to identify present and future career opportunities; and launching new programs that further the Generation West Virginia mission. Other goals are to gather specific information on the present base of young talent in the Mountain State, provide mini-grants to support new regional leadership projects, and identify successful strategies from other states to advance young talent.
Generation West Virginia is comprised with young talent organizations statewide including Generation Beckley, Generation Charleston; Generation Morgantown; Young Professionals of the Eastern Panhandle; Young Emerging Leaders of the Mid-Ohio Valley; OVConnect, based in Wheeling; Huntington Young Professionals; Pendleton County YPC; Generation GAP, based in Mercer County; Generation Greenbrier Valley; North Central Young Leaders; and Generation Putnam.
The Pittsburgh-based Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation is an independent foundation established in 1944 by Michael and Sarah Benedum, natives respectively of Bridgeport and Blacksville, West Virginia. The Foundation was named in memory of their only child, Claude Worthington Benedum, who died in 1918 at age 20. The Benedums expressed the wish that grantmaking be focused in West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania, their native and adopted homes.
About Generation West Virginia
Generation West Virginia aims to cultivate and engage young talent in West Virginia by identifying and advancing the interests of young people; promoting the growth and success of local young talent organizations in West Virginia; retaining, attractive and advancing young talent; helping make West Virginia a great place to live, work and play; and improving the Mountain State’s image internally and externally. For more information about Generation West Virginia or any of its regional groups visit www.generationwv.com.