Highmark West Virginia Charitable Fund for Health approves $50k grant for Crittenton Services

President of Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia Jim Fawcett (right) presents a $50,000 grant to Crittenton Services President and CEO Richard Royse (left) and Director of Residential Services Laura Smith (center) for Crittenton’s Nurturing Parenting Education Program on Thursday, December 2, 2021, in Wheeling, West Virginia.

The Highmark West Virginia Charitable Fund for Health, a fund of the Highmark Foundation that supports initiatives and programs aimed at improving community health, has awarded a $50,000 grant to Crittenton Services to expand its Nurturing Parenting Education Program throughout West Virginia.

Headquartered in Wheeling since 1895, Crittenton Services is a licensed, nationally accredited, behavioral health provider, delivering a full-range of trauma informed services with residential care for girls, outpatient community-based counseling via the agency’s Wellspring Family Services program, trauma informed elementary schools (TIES), and Cradles to Crayons, a high-quality universal preschool, and before/aftercare program for school-aged children.

“The services that Florence Crittenton provides to this area and throughout the state are so impactful for individuals and young families,” said Jim Fawcett, president of Highmark West Virginia. “Highmark is pleased to support the Nurturing Parenting Education Program, which is incredibly beneficial to the health, well-being and long-term success that empowers so many in our communities to heal, grow and thrive.”

Crittenton Services President & CEO Richard Royse was grateful for the support of Highmark. “Our children depend on parents and guardians to be nurturing and loving,” he said.  “This grant will enable us to expand our Nurturing Parenting Education Program, which will provide parents and guardians with the tools necessary to successfully navigate the daily stressors of family life.  Our goal is for all West Virginia families to live in harmony and happiness.”

For more information on the Nurturing Parenting Education Program at Crittenton Services, contact E. J. Schodzinski, Director of Marketing & Development, at ejschodzinski@crittentonwv.org or (304) 242-7060.

The Highmark West Virginia Charitable Fund for Health is a private, charitable, organization of Highmark Inc. that supports initiatives and programs aimed at improving community health. The Highmark West Virginia Charitable Fund for Health's mission is to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for individuals who reside in all 55 counties in West Virginia.  For more information, visit www.highmarkfoundation.org.