GREENBRIER COUNTY W.Va. (WVDN) – A new initiative to aid local individuals with disabilities, STRIDE (Supporting and Transforming Rights, Inclusion and Disability Empowerment), began in Greenbrier County in 2023. According to Genny Freiman, Chief Operating Officer with the Disability Opportunity Fund, STRIDE was created to “fill a gap in Greenbrier County. The Disability Opportunity Fund was getting frequent calls from individuals and organizations in the area needing assistance regarding disability initiatives and didn’t know where to turn. Freiman went to say, “We are dedicated to supporting those initiatives that enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities in Greenbrier County, WV. This year, grants will be available from $500 to $3,000.”
The grant is designed to help with a myriad of potential needs related to disabilities. When discussing the potential uses, Freiman said, “We’ve kept the application open-ended because we want to be as flexible as possible. Whether that be making a regular door into an automatic door or helping a family whose daughter was recently in an accident and needs a handicap-accessible bathroom.”
During the summer of 2023, the inaugural STRIDE gala fundraiser was held at the Schoolhouse Hotel in White Sulphur Springs. Prior to the gala, Freiman spoke about Mary Thompson, the honoree of the gala. She told a WVDN reporter, “Mary has been with us since day one and by ‘us’ I mean The Disability Opportunity Fund. From the moment that we arrived in White Sulphur Springs, she’s been one of our biggest supporters,” Freiman adds. “For us, choosing her as our honoree for this year’s inaugural event was a no-brainer.”
The 2024 gala is scheduled for Thursday, June 14. It will once again be held at the Schoolhouse Hotel.
Applying for the STRIDE grant is as easy as filling out an online form. The link to sign up is https://www.surveymonkey.com/
For any questions regarding STRIDE of the grant, please send an email to info@thedof.org.
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