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McDonough Foundation president addresses Rotary

Robert Boone, president of the McDonough Foundation, talks about the foundation’s work and goals during Monday’s meeting of the Parkersburg Rotary Club at the Blennerhassett Hotel in Parkersburg. (Photo by Wayne Towner)

PARKERSBURG — For 50 years, the McDonough Foundation has been providing philanthropic help to a variety of agencies, organizations and others throughout West Virginia.

McDonough Foundation president Robert Boone gave a presentation on the history of the foundation, its founder Bernard P. McDonough and its plans for the present and future during the weekly meeting of the Parkersburg Rotary Club on Monday at the Blennerhassett Hotel.

Boone talked about the history of Bernard McDonough, from his parents’ arrival from Ireland to his business ventures locally and around the country. He passed away in 1985 at the age of 82.

The McDonough Foundation was established in 1967 with $2 million from McDonough to bring a systematic approach to his philanthropic efforts, Boone said. Another $20 million was later provided by his wife, Alma, he said.

The foundation is committed to providing financial support to non-profits whose mission is to assist with basic human needs including those that address basic health and social welfare. Boone said about 80 percent of the grants are made primarily in the area of social welfare along with health and medical.

Social welfare are those organizations whose primary function is to serve the general welfare requirements of people whose circumstances in life require that they receive financial or social aid to improve their quality of life.

Boone said the foundation provides $1.4 million in grants annually and is the fourth largest foundation of its kind in West Virginia. The McDonough Foundation has given out over $40 million in grants since its inception.

Boone said he works with the foundation’s board to review grant requests each year. Among the criteria he uses are potential future sustainability and whether the grant will have a lasting and significant impact on the state of West Virginia.

In 2016, Boone said, 22 percent, or $282,000, of the foundation’s grants went to programs and organizations working on the drug problem in West Virginia. In the current year, the foundation is on track to spend 24 percent to address that issue.

Boone said the foundation is looking at ways to address underserved and rural parts of the state. The McDonough Foundation works with other area foundations to coordinate assistance, he said.

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