Special Places Celebration

As they took the stage, Mr. Smith reflected on the couple’s motivation for investing in the creation of the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative at West Virginia University. “We’ve always believed that our natural environment… is a catalyst for quality of life and economic prosperity,” he said. “The outdoors has always been our first classroom and our favorite sanctuary.”

 

The $25 million gift in 2020 from the Smiths through their Wing 2 Wing Foundation envisions a state where all communities are vibrant and thriving. The OEDC has built an extensive network of partnerships that support groundbreaking new programs that improve the state’s economy, establish first-rate recreational infrastructure, and improve access to opportunities to explore and learn in nature.

 

It also launched Ascend WV, designed to attract and retain talent, offered in six communities around the state. Each Ascend site sponsors a cohort of professionals who can work remotely from West Virginia, offering them two years of stipend, coordination, co-working space, and programming that build a sense of belonging among its members. Since its first call for applications, the program has had an astonishing response: 58,000 individuals from across 46 states and 7 countries tossed their hats in the ring to be selected for one of 428 slots. The marketing and allure of the program prominently feature West Virginia’s outdoor spaces and recreation opportunities.

 

Some of WVLT’s conserved lands are a perfect fit with OEDC’s trail expertise. Preserves at Mammoth, Oak Hill, and Piney Creek are benefiting from the group’s skill with planning, design, and construction.

 

In addition to celebrating the Smiths (they are now the First Couple at Marshall University, where he serves as President), the 24th Special Places Celebration featured a farm-to-table dinner, specialty cocktails from Bullock Distillery, and live entertainment by Minor Swing. Celebrating the land we love and the people who protect it, this year’s event raised more than $50,000 to support WVLT’s operations.

 

The Smiths’ reflection on conservation showed a hand-in-glove fit with the Land Trust: “It’s about ensuring that future generations of West Virginians can find the same joy and inspiration in these mountains that we found growing up.”