Denise Hughes, director of programming at Children’s Home Society, in the gymnasium at the Heart of Worthington. The CHS recently received a $48,000 grant from the Milan Puskar Foundation Inc. which will be used to do renovations to the gym and the kitchen area at the former Worthington Elementary School. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

CHARLESTON — The Children’s Home Society of West Virginia received a $48,000 grant from the Milan Puskar Foundation Inc. to make renovations and improvements to its new location at the former Worthington School in Parkersburg.

Now called the Heart of Worthington, located at 2500 36th St., the CHS took over the building a couple of years ago and has been renovating the former school’s buildings to be able to carry out a number of programs.

This grant will help cover the remaining renovation work to the former school buildings, said Denise Hughes, director of programming at Children’s Home Society.

“This is the final push,” she said, adding the total renovation costs will be around $2 million which a lot of money came in through donations, fundraising and grants.

In a press release issued Monday, officials said the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia is overwhelmed by the generosity of the Milan Puskar Foundation Inc. for awarding this grant that will serve to make renovations and complete the Heart of Worthington.

Denise Hughes, director of programming at Children’s Home Society, points out where appliances will go as plans are underway to renovate the kitchen at their Heart of Worthington Center in Parkersburg. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

By supporting the Gymnasium Renovation project, CHS will be able to finalize and focus its work on the kitchen area, painting, and purchase of furnishings that will make this space a fully-functional kitchen, the release said. The gymnasium at the Heart of Worthington provides a space for site specific programming as well as recreational activities, it added.

The grant money will help create a commercial-grade kitchen with new flooring, appliances and cabinets, Hughes said. That will help to be able to do family style meals as well as other programming.

They will also be getting new tables and chairs and will be repainting the gymnasium and doing other upgrades.

“We are super excited to get this all completely done and put to good use,” Hughes said.

The renovated spaces will help CHS do programming they have with Hamilton Middle School as well as their Parents As Teachers program, Right From the Start program, Circle of Parents Support group and more that expands their programming and services.

“We are honored to have received this grant from the Milan Puskar Foundation,” Hughes said, adding the Parkersburg location recently hosted Lori Maynard, executive director of the foundation.

“It was a special time of sharing with her our mission of promoting the well-being of children and showing how we live out that mission with all of our programs,” Hughes said. “Milan Puskar Foundation’s mission to improve the quality of life for West Virginia is a perfect match for Children’s Home Society and we are so thankful to be chosen.”

The Milan Puskar Foundation was founded in honor and memory of Milan “Mike” Puskar.

Through his legacy of making a meaningful difference in the lives of others, “Mr. Puskar embodied generosity and transformed lives by his support for academics, athletics, health care for the homeless, and medical research to name a few of his passions,” the press release said.

The Children’s Home Society of West Virginia is a private, nonprofit child welfare organization that cares for children and families all across West Virginia by providing care and support in times of crisis. For 129 years, it has continued its mission of promoting the well-being of children, the release said.

Last year, the organization was able to help 24,667 children and families throughout West Virginia, according to the press release.

The local office was able to help 4,181 children and families over the past year, Hughes said.

“The agency does a lot of good throughout the state,” she said.