WISH Celebrates 2026 Grant Award Recipients

ISSUED: 25 September 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Meg Patterson

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV - WISH (Women Investing in Shepherd) honored their 2026 grant recipients during the annual grant award reception.

Two Shepherd University learning projects and two local nonprofit organizations each received $36,625, for a total of $146,000 in grant funding.

Shepherd University President Dr. Cameron Wesson praised WISH for their ongoing support of Shepherd and the community.

"We are here today to celebrate the profound, lasting impact you make year after year," Wesson told members during the reception. "Your partnership does more than just support our University-it actively builds the future for our students and energizes our entire campus community."

Shepherd will use the grant to create summer recruitment workshops, highlight career opportunities, and encourage students to consider Shepherd.

The Shepherd University Writing Project also received a grant that will fund two summer institutes for twenty K-12 teachers and two "literacy pop-up" events for K-12 students.

Local nonprofits, Community Markets Inc. (CMI), and Morgan County Starting Points, also received WISH grants.

CMI will purchase a refrigerated van to expand their local food delivery program. Morgan County Starting Points will provide supplies and stipends for their Bloom Teaching Garden and Art Collective, an initiative to create a safe, supervised outdoor learning space for girls in Paw Paw, W.Va.

The Shepherd University Foundation hosted the reception on Wednesday, September 23. A total of 125 WISH members attended, along with honored guests. The event was sponsored by WISH member Lisa Wolff '87.

WISH, a women's giving circle sponsored by the Shepherd University Foundation, was created to inspire, educate, and develop the potential of women's philanthropy through high-impact grant-making. Members' combined $500 annual contribution is divided into two grant pools-one for Shepherd learning programs and one for community nonprofits. A one-woman, one-vote process determines the grant recipients in each category. 2026 membership is being accepted until December 31.

To learn more about becoming a member of WISH or about the organization, visit https://shepherduniversityfoundation.org/women-investing-in-shepherd/

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