CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia National Guard Foundation is increasing its efforts to support service members and their families, especially during deployments.
Foundation President Frank Vitale said the foundation normally steps in to assist families in need when their loved one is deployed.
“We can be found often giving grants to families who have needs that arise, especially during deployment,” Vitale said Friday on MetroNews “Midday”.
As an example of their efforts, Vitale said that since fiscal year 2026 began on Oct. 1, the foundation has issued 37 grants to families in need, compared with 18 grants in fiscal year 2025.
He said the grants are used for a variety of needs, depending on what families require.
“When a family has that need, whether it’s a new washer, or it’s a lawnmower repair, or something else, we try to step in and help meet that need and we could not do that without the generous sponsors and supporters of the West Virginia National Guard Foundation,” Vitale said.
He said they try to focus on active Guard members and their families.
Vitale added that “active” can mean a range of different service statuses.
“Active can mean, they’re drilling with their unit one weekend a month and doing there service and training or it could mean full deployment, it could mean being in Afghanistan or Iraq,” he said.
Vitale said that while their efforts are ramping up, there will also be plenty of opportunities for the public to give back in the coming months.
“Particularly, for like our Gold Star Family weekend coming up in September, we’ll have some giving opportunities to sponsor and to be a part of that event,” he said. “And then we’ll have other partnership opportunities, and we’re working on our next fundraising campaign that we’re going to be launching this summer.”
Vitale encouraged businesses and individual donors to reach out to him at 304-288-0874 or fvitale@forgebz.com as the foundation works to expand its outreach.