These need-based scholarships will make the camp more accessible to any families who currently find the cost of attendance prohibitive. Similarly, $2,000 of the grant funding will support the Career Closet, a donation-based program where students can pick out interview-appropriate attire at no cost. The Career Closet aims to provide students in need with clothing to look their best and project confidence while working toward their career goals.
“Our goal is to share our campus with as many people in the community as possible. These funds have afforded us the ability to offer scholarships to our camp and give children the chance to have an experience on our campus they may not have gotten otherwise,” stated Spencer Flanagan, Director of Falcon Center & Campus Recreation. According to Prof. M.E. Yancosek Gamble, Associate Professor in the College of Business and Aviation, “My vision is to eliminate the stigma around borrowing professional clothing, so the students see the Career Closet as just another added resource that FSU provides.” The vision of FirstEnergy’s Foundation Grant program is to invest in transformative causes that improve the vitality, sustainability, and diversity of the communities FirstEnergy serves. Both funded projects aim to offer meaningful, unique opportunities that will improve Fairmont State’s community. The Falcon Day Camp provides educational and recreational experiences to local youth, seeking to increase their self-esteem, respect for different cultures, teamwork, and social communication. The Career Closet intends to mitigate the stress of students who feel discouraged or ill-equipped for job interviews. Moving forward, the Career Closet will continue to be sustained by Prof. M.E. Yancosek Gamble and Susan Rodriguez, Senior Director of Career Development and Civic Engagement. One initiative they plan to pursue is an upcoming donation drive with a focus on gently used business attire to further stock the closet. Falcon Day Camp will continue to provide worthwhile activities for children within the surrounding community. Anne Bolyard, President of the Fairmont State Foundation, added, “Fairmont State University and the FirstEnergy Foundation share a unified commitment to empowering the communities they serve through educational initiatives. The continued collaboration and support between the Fairmont State Foundation and the FirstEnergy Foundation makes key initiatives such as this possible.” Fairmont State University receives grant through EQT Foundation to nourish student success8/23/2024
This grant will fund the purchase of food and hygiene products to restock the Nest and Freddie’s Pantry with quality supplies for students, including the ability to source fresh produce at more regular intervals. This grant will also be used to purchase reusable tote bags and utility carts. The reusable tote bags will allow students to utilize the food bank in a more sustainable way by returning their bags to the Nest once finished with them. The utility carts will serve as portable food carts placed at varying locations to make supplies within the Nest more accessible.
Additionally, this project will foster collaboration between these campus services and the Fairmont State University Newman Center. The Newman Center is a Catholic student center serving the Fairmont State community which offers various religious and secular activities for all students during the school year, including at least two free meals per week. This grant will help to coordinate the free meal events. According to Caitlin Jividen, University Social Worker at Fairmont State and project lead for the grant, “This grant will make a significant difference not only for our students here at Fairmont State, but for the surrounding community. It allows us to alleviate the food and basic need insecurities that many individuals are facing. Addressing these needs allows our students to reduce stress and enjoy their time being college students.” By improving the selection of food and hygiene products available, the Office of Social Work and the Office of Student Success intend to minimize some of the reluctance or resistance students might feel toward using food banks. Similarly, by increasing the accessibility and availability of these resources, Jividen and her project team hope to encourage those who need these services to utilize them. The EQT Foundation aims to fund projects that help communities thrive and develop into healthier, more sustainable regions. Jividen continues, “Our project goes hand in hand with EQT’s mission. Our goal is to enhance community health by ensuring that students have access to essential resources so they can focus on their education and personal development. By supporting students’ basic needs, the grant helps ensure a more resilient community.”
Financial literacy is crucial as it equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to manage personal finances effectively, leading to informed decision-making, responsible budgeting, and debt management. It helps people save for the future, avoid financial scams, and invest wisely, contributing to both personal financial stability and broader economic health. By empowering individuals with financial knowledge, financial literacy promotes independence, reduces stress, and enhances overall quality of life.
The grant will fund seminars on topics such as banking, credit cards, housing loans and leases, budgeting, tax preparation, health and financial benefits, and insurance choices. The goal of the project is to educate participants so they can make good financial decisions. The financial literacy seminars will be organized by the Office of Financial Aid and the College of Business & Aviation, both of whom intend to expand current financial literacy programming. These offices plan to collect and utilize data and feedback from these seminars to improve and refine the program as it continues to grow. “Financial literacy is key focus area of the Truist West Virginia Foundation. All people and communities should have an equal opportunity to thrive. Through our partnership with innovative organizations like Fairmont State Foundation, and a refined focus on supporting key areas, the communities we serve have a chance for a better quality of life,” said Courtney Pack, Executive Director of the Truist West Virginia Foundation. “The Truist West Virginia Foundation is pleased to support this financial literacy initiative. We believe the Truist West Virginia Foundation contribution to Fairmont State Foundation will help make a difference in the lives of many.” |
