Community, Service, and Growth: Beckley Area Foundation on Our Communiversity Today

Our Communiversity Today, sponsored by Pendleton Community Bank, is a community affairs program from West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley. Hosted by Dr. T. Ramon Stuart, president of WVU Tech, the program explores the vital connection between the university and the community it serves. Each episode asks the critical questions: “Why not us, and why not now?” as leaders and changemakers work together to build a brighter future for Southern West Virginia.

In this episode, Dr. Stuart welcomes Dena Cushman, Executive Director of the Beckley Area Foundation. Dena shares her personal journey from Wisconsin to West Virginia and her path from banking and the YMCA to leading one of the region’s most impactful philanthropic organizations. Her story reflects the importance of service, community building, and finding purpose in giving back.

The conversation highlights how the Beckley Area Foundation supports Southern West Virginia through grants, scholarships, and cultural programs. From funding arts and education to addressing critical needs like substance abuse recovery and homelessness, the foundation plays a vital role in strengthening communities. Dena explains the organization’s structure, its community grant program, and the role of donors and volunteers in shaping its impact.

Listeners will also learn about the foundation’s $80 million growth since its founding in 1985, its scholarship endowments, and its ability to meet the region’s challenges while planning for the future. With stories of real impact, from helping students pursue higher education to funding projects like the YMCA soccer complex, this episode shows how philanthropy drives opportunity and hope in Southern West Virginia.