MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A $50,000 gift from Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia (YCF) is giving Animal Friends of North Central West Virginia new momentum in its long-running effort to build a modern animal shelter to replace its aging facility on Brewer Road.

A ceremony was held on Thursday at the Animal Friends Thrift Shop location in the Mountaineer Mall, a store which uses its proceeds to benefit the shelter.

The donation is the first distribution from the Betty R. Lynch Endowment for Animals, a fund established in 2023 through Lynch’s estate to support animal welfare efforts in the region. In recognition of the gift, the lobby of the future shelter will be named in her memory.

“Ms. Lynch cared deeply about the well-being of animals,” said YCF President Patty Shower

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