More than 160 nonprofit leaders from across the state attended the Third Annual West Virginia Nonprofit Leadership Summit in Charleston on Oct. 12 and 13 hosted by the West Virginia Nonprofit Association (WVNPA) in partnership with Volunteer West Virginia.

The theme for the Summit, “How to Survive in Challenging Times: Preparing for Change,” was designed to provide attendees with resources and tools to help them think outside the box and transition from surviving to thriving.

For the second year in a row, the West Virginia Nonprofit Excellence Awards were presented to three nonprofits recognized for their outstanding accomplishments based on WV Principles & Practices for Nonprofit Excellence.

The winning organizations were the Pocahontas County Family Resource Network, Consumer Credit Counseling of the Mid-Ohio Valley, and Covenant House. The Pocahontas County Family Resource Network works to better meet the needs of children and families in Pocahontas County. Consumer Credit Counseling of the Mid-Ohio Valley is dedicated to helping its community achieve financial independence through exceptional education and proven counseling programs. Covenant House, based in Kanawha County, is dedicated to working for justice by offering direct services for people in need while creating social change through advocacy and education.

WVNPA Executive Director Laura Lee Haddad was impressed with the field of applicants for this year’s awards. “Everyone on the selection committee was excited about the caliber of applications we received this year,” Haddad remarked. “It’s just a small example of the great work that nonprofits do in this state. Sponsored by the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation, representatives from each organization were announced during the opening session of the Summit.

With a growing membership of more than 290 nonprofit organizations, the WVNPA was founded in 2012 in order to serve nonprofits in the Mountain State. Membership in the WVNPA is open to all 501(c)3 West Virginia nonprofit organizations. The WVNPA is a member of the National Council of Nonprofits and serves as a clearinghouse for a wide range of benefits, services, best practices, and planning that strengthen the nonprofit organizations that make up a valuable part of West Virginia’s economic and community fabric.