By Samantha Redd
Known for their benevolent and hardworking nature, West Virginians have a reputation for giving of their time, money and energy to improve their communities and the lives of their neighbors.
According to data by the Corporation for National and Community Service, even with the economic crisis in 2008, West Virginia’s volunteer rate remained constant with 370,600 adults donating 59.1 million hours of service. In addition, an extra 47,068 individuals worked with their neighbors to improve their communities, a mission of their own free wills and not required through a documented organization.
Walter Reuther, an impactful American labor union leader and a native of Wheeling, WV, once said, “There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow men. There is no greater contribution than to help the weak. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well.”
In this section, we shine the spotlight on some of the Mountain State’s altruistic locals who have given selflessly to improve the quality of life for their fellow West Virginians and make our state a better place. Whether it’s planning a charitable event from start to finish, providing a scholarship to a young boy scout or simply encouraging the weak at heart, these Mountaineers are always ready to be selfless champions for others.
Coby Brown • Snowshoe, WV
A Pocahontas County native, Coby Brown has dedicated her life to serving her childhood community. In 2003, Brown was hired by Snowshoe Mountain Resort and immediately used her position to initiate a project geared toward giving back to the community. Encouraging the resort’s management regarding the importance of service, Brown established the Snowshoe Foundation in 2004. The foundation holds three major fundraisers each year, including the Snowshoe Foundation Annual Charity Golf Tournament, to provide financial support to local organizations such as the Pocahontas County U12 Soccer League, local Boy Scout troops, Mountain Hospice, area public schools, the Randolph County Community Arts Center and 4-H clubs in Pocahontas, Randolph and Webster counties. Brown’s efforts have impacted the lives of many people while improving the quality of life in her community.
Bill Currey • St. Albans, WV
Bill Currey’s immense appreciation for the beauty of the Mountain State and passion for the natural world has yielded an environmental form of service valuable to the communities surrounding the Big, Little and Coal rivers. Currey was exploring and fishing on the 88-mile stretch of river with friend Bill Queen when the two discovered remote and unnoticed beauty marred by a troubled watershed and many sections of dead water caused by large silt deposits. Motivated volunteers who saw a need and fulfilled it, Currey and Queen co-founded the Coal River Watershed Group (CRG) in 2004. The organization is dedicated to the preservation of the Big, Little and Coal rivers while promoting the region’s economy through recreational activities. Since its creation, the CRG’s membership has grown to more than 250 members and has brought in more than $20 million in new sewer programs to the region.
Rev. Bernard Coffindaffer • Craigsville, WV
Bernard Coffindaffer was the successful owner of a coal-washing business when a higher calling found him. As an ordained Methodist minister, he founded the nonprofit Crosses of Mercy—Cast Thy Bread, Inc., and through this nonprofit he set out to install sets of three crosses along interstates in an effort to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Coffindaffer spent the last nine years of his life and approximately $3 million erecting the clusters, known as “silent witnesses,” in 29 states; Washington, D.C.; Zambia and the Philippines. At the time of his death in October 1993, a total of 1,864 clusters of crosses had been erected. Today his one-man crusade to share the gospel with the world continues under a new nonprofit called Christian Crosses, Inc. The goal is to locate these clusters every 50 miles along the 45,000 miles of interstates and major thoroughfares in the U.S.
Sharon Peters • Charleston, WV
Sharon Peters has a heart for the people that serve our state and country. Known to some as the “Wing Mother” in the West Virginia National Guard (WVNG), she founded the 130th Airlift Wing Family Support Group in 1990 at the onset of Desert Shield and Desert Storm in order to provide support services to the families of deployed service members. In 1996, she was asked to reenergize the family support group, and after writing the by-laws and reorganizing the group, she became the advisor of what was renamed the Family Information Group. While she has volunteered in many other capacities, including a 12-year stint on the West Virginia State Family Council, the family program continues to be her priority. This passion is the reason why the WVNG created a full-time position for her as manager of the Airman and Family Readiness Program, a service that supports all of the Air National Guard airlift wings in the U.S.
Dr. Heather Rose • Lewisburg, WV
Enthusiasm, drive and humility make Dr. Heather Rose the epitome of a service champion. Rose’s compassion for others has led her to maintain her successful radiology practice in Lewisburg, raise a family and still find time to spear-head a growing list of charitable events. A champion against domestic violence and an avid supporter of the Family Refuge Center (FRC), in both 2006 and 2007 she organized an art show and auction at the Harmony Ridge Gallery to benefit the center, and collectively the two auctions made $40,000. In 2009, she hosted “Girl’s Night Out” in her home, raising another $11,000 for the FRC. For the last two years, she has hand-crafted elaborate Christmas ornaments in her home to be sold at local Lewisburg stores, the profits of which have been donated to the Child and Youth Advocacy Center. Every year, Rose also donates one piece of new technology to the Greenbrier Episcopal School, further extending her generosity into her community.
Brett Wilson • Scott Depot, WV
Brett Wilson, a two-time childhood cancer survivor, has used the strength and knowledge gleaned from his struggle with cancer to help change the lives of others. In 2005, he founded walkingmiracles.org, a Web site dedicated to guiding cancer patients and their families through treatment by providing important and experience-based advice on treatments and facilities. He is also the founder of the West Virginia Oncology Patient Navigation Network, a network of patient navigators such as himself who guide cancer patients through the experience from diagnosis to treatment. The network’s Web site, wvcancersurvivorsnetwork.com, is a blog for cancer survivors and acts as a forum for addressing issues pertaining to their experiences. Wilson, who works full-time as a counselor, operates the Web site and network in his spare time. He also travels as a motivational speaker for cancer patients and survivors and serves as West Virginia’s Livestrong representative for cancer survivor services.
Dr. Bill & Arlene Kuryla • Ripley, WV
Dr. Bill and Arlene Kuryla have found dual incentive in serving their community: the rewarding feeling it brings and the opportunity to spend time together while doing it. Bill, a retiree of Dow Chemical Plant, and his wife Arlene, a retired physics teacher, have been serving the Jackson County area for over 53 years. Due to their passion for the Boy Scouts of America, the couple founded and continue to maintain two charitable funds to support low-income Boy Scouts in scouting activities in both Jackson County and the entire Allohak Council region. The Kurylas also actively support the Jackson County Community Foundation (JCCF) affiliate of the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation and both help plan the JCCF’s annual Charity Challenge, a walk/run that raises around $90,000 every year for 21 local causes. With a desire to be continually giving, Bill and Arlene have made planned giving commitments in their wills to aid the two scouting funds and the Jackson County Administrative Fund.
