WV AAP Endowment

Investing in the Health of West Virginia’s Children: Today and for Generations to Come

For nearly 70 years, the West Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics  has been a trusted voice for children—advancing evidence-based care, strengthening families, and advocating for policies that protect child health across our state.

As pediatricians, we see firsthand how early experiences shape lifelong health. We also know that meaningful, lasting change does not happen overnight. It requires stable, upstream investment that allows us to respond to today’s needs while preparing for tomorrow’s challenges.

That is why WV AAP is launching an endowment and sustaining giving campaign to ensure that our work for West Virginia’s children is strong, nimble, and enduring.

How Endowment Funds Will Be Used

Gifts to the WV AAP endowment will support a portfolio of child health and advocacy initiatives, guided by member expertise, emerging needs, and proven impact. Rather than funding a single short-term project, the endowment creates a long-term resource that allows WV AAP to continue to invest in local health initiatives. The WV AAP Board will select projects to be funded.

 

Current WV AAP Projects Include:

Supporting Early Literacy & Development

WV AAP is leading clinic-based literacy efforts that place books and guidance directly into the hands of families, meeting children where they receive care to help build the foundation for school readiness, language development, and lifelong learning.

Advancing Preventive Child Health

Future initiatives will expand into areas like oral health, ensuring children receive early prevention, education, and access to care that reduces long-term health complications.

Promoting Safe Sleep & Injury Prevention

WV AAP remains committed to protecting infants and young children through evidence-based safe sleep education and injury prevention strategies that save lives.

Advocating for Children

WV AAP responds quickly and effectively to policy threats and opportunities, amplifying the voice of pediatricians at the State Capitol and beyond. Advocacy protects not just individual children, but entire communities.

Why Sustaining Support Matters

Children’s health challenges evolve. Funding cycles end. Policy landscapes shift.

An endowment allows WV AAP to remain independent, proactive, and prepared. With this support WV AAP will be able to launch new initiatives, sustain successful programs, and advocate boldly when children need us most.

By giving regularly, members help:

  • Ensure continuity of impactful programs
  • Reduce reliance on short-term or restricted funding
  • Build a legacy that supports future generations of West Virginia children 

Your  support is not just a donation, it is an investment in the future of our state.

Early Investment from WV AAP

The WV AAP Board has designated $10,000 from reserves to seed the Endowment—a meaningful demonstration of its belief in long-term sustainability.

Your investment builds on this foundation.

WV AAP Endowment FAQ

The WV AAP Endowment is a long-term investment created to support the mission of the West Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Contributions are invested so that earnings can be used year after year to advance child health, prevention, and advocacy efforts across West Virginia.

Children’s health challenges in West Virginia are complex and evolving. An endowment provides stable, forward-looking funding that allows WV AAP to respond to urgent needs, sustain successful programs, and advocate effectively without relying solely on short-term or restricted grants.

Endowment earnings will support a range of child health and advocacy initiatives.  Qualifying projects will be selected by WVAAP Board Members on a rolling basis.  Rather than funding a single project, the endowment allows WV AAP to invest where the need and impact is greatest.  Current WV AAP Initiatives include:

  • Clinic-based early literacy programs, including partnerships with Dolly Parton Imagination Library
  • Preventive health initiatives such as oral health education and access
  • Safe sleep and injury prevention efforts to protect infants and young children
  • Advocacy and policy engagement to ensure children’s voices are heard at the State Capitol

The WV AAP Board of Directors provides governance and oversight, with funds managed in partnership with The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, a trusted community foundation. Clear policies ensure transparency, responsible investment, and mission-aligned use of funds.

The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation (TGKVF) is the community organization managing our endowment. Donations can be made online at West Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics

Donations can also be made with cash, check, or stock transfer by coordinating with the TGKVF in person (178 Summers Street, Charleston, WV 25301), by phone (304-346-3620), or emailing (web@tgkvf.org).

This is a chance to help build a lasting foundation for child health in West Virginia. Early supporters play a critical role in shaping the future strength, flexibility, and impact of WV AAP.

Together, we can ensure that pediatricians remain a powerful, unified voice for children today and for generations to come.

This is the WVAAP Endowment inaugural fundraising campaign.  We are seeking 70 founding and/or recurring donors to celebrate our 70th anniversary. 

Goal: 70 Founding Donors by the 2027 Annual Summit

No minimum gift required.  Every gift makes an impact.

Suggested Giving levels

  • $70 – Supporter
  • $1,000 – Founding Donor

Donors are eligible to be a founding donor at the $1000 level. This can be in recurring or single donation totaling $1000. Recurring payment plan and initiation must begin before the conclusion of the 2027 WVAAP Summit.

Founding donors will be honored on the website and receive annual updates on the endowments growth and utilization of funds. Founding donors will also be honored at the 2027 WVAAP Summit with a commemorative gift.

Yes. Sustaining gifts, monthly or annual, are strongly encouraged. Recurring support helps WV AAP plan responsibly, invest strategically, and build long-term impact for children and families.

Yes. WV AAP is a 501c3 organization. Tax documents for gift receipts will be provided by The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation.

An unrestricted endowment is one of the most powerful tools a professional organization can have. It allows WV AAP to:

  • Act quickly when new child health issues arise
  • Sustain proven programs beyond initial grant funding
  • Support advocacy efforts that cannot be grant-funded
  • Maintain independence and credibility as a trusted pediatric voice
Your gift supports capacity, continuity, and readiness rather than one initiative.

A strong endowment helps WV AAP:

  • Provide tools, resources, and pilot programs for practices
  • Support member-led initiatives and subject-matter expertise
  • Strengthen advocacy that protects pediatric practice and patient care
  • Reduce administrative burden by stabilizing funding

In short, it strengthens the organization that supports children, pediatricians, and communities.

WV AAP will regularly share the following to illustrate how donors investment is making a difference statewide:

  • Updates on funded initiatives
  • Stories from clinics, families, and communities
  • Annual summaries of endowment growth and impact