WesBanco’s Regional President-Upper Ohio Valley Dawn Zenner-Gaudi presented a $12,500 check to the Oglebay Foundation on Wednesday.
The bank’s financial support provides funds for the Foundation’s Access to the Parks Scholarship Program and educational signage for the Good Zoo’s new West Virginia Conservation Center.
Access to the Parks provides low-income Ohio County children and an accompanying adult with free year-round admission to all the activities at Oglebay and Wheeling Park, including related equipment. Thanks to WesBanco’s financial support, children will enjoy golf, pedal boats, fishing, swimming, water slide, tennis, ice skating, snowboarding, skiing, as well as visits to the Good Zoo, Glass Museum, Mansion Museum and the Environmental Education Center.
The longstanding partnership between WesBanco and the Oglebay Foundation is critical to the Foundation’s mission ensuring that all children in the Ohio Valley have the ability to explore, play and learn regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.
“We are proud to be able to support this wonderful organization again for 2019. We value this long-standing relationship and the great things they do for our community,” Gaudi said.
The Oglebay Foundation Access to the Parks program reaches approximately 1,500 children annually, who visit the park 10 times a year on average.
The new West Virginia Conservation Center at the Good Zoo is one of only four federally licensed facilities in West Virginia to rehabilitate injured eagles, hawks and owls; and partnering with regional wildlife agencies in local conservation efforts related to the monarch butterfly, eastern hellbender salamander and bobcat. The new signage will enhance guests’ experiences as they engage with animals and birds in the facility while learning about the Zoo’s efforts to conserve various native species.
Eriks Janelsins, Oglebay Foundation president and CEO, attributes the parks’ continued success to support from community partners like WesBanco.
“WesBanco’s generous support enables the parks to grow and expand the educational and recreational opportunities we provide to area residents and guests every year,” Janelsins said. “WesBanco continues to be a strong partner, and this financial gift enables us to reach underserved members of our community.”