Maier to receive Spirit of the Valley Award

The Charleston Area Alliance has an energetic Board of Directors. One of those members is Mr. Ed Maier. Earlier this year, Ed was the recipient of the Lewis McManus Hi-Y Community Service Award and now he is being honored with the YMCA Spirit of the Valley Award. Congratulations to Ed Maier! The article below from the Charleston Gazette highlights the details of this honor.

Maier to receive Spirit of the Valley Award


By Jessica Legge
Staff writer

Charleston businessman and philanthropist Ed Maier is this year’s recipient of the YMCA Spirit of the Valley Award.

The YMCA of the Kanawha Valley will present Maier with his award at an Aug. 16 luncheon. The award recognizes an individual who contributes to the greater Charleston community in a positive way.

The Spirit of the Valley is a campaign to raise money for the YMCA Community Assistance Scholarship Fund.

This program helps low-income individuals and families join the YMCA. People are encouraged to participate in the fundraising effort by donating in honor of Maier.

Last year, the YMCA collected $193,000 for the fund. This money allowed more than 2,700 children and families to become YMCA members and participate in camps and programs.

This year, part of the Spirit of the Valley proceeds will go to the Clay Center Education Access Fund, which works to give all West Virginia children the chance to experience the Clay Center. Maier and his family chose this fund.

The honoree selection committee includes Charleston Mayor Danny Jones, Jim Sutherland of the United Way of Central West Virginia, and the YMCA’s Bill Slack.

Others on the committee are Mary Anne Michael of the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, Capital Area Development Corp.’s Jack Rossi, and previous recipients.

Last year’s winner was the late John M. Wells Jr., and Betty Schoenbaum received the 2004 award.

For more information on donating, call 340-3540.

To contact staff writer Jessica Legge, use e-mail or call 348-5100.