Harrison County Commission rejects nonprofit’s request for funding

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — During Wednesday’s Harrison County Commission meeting, commissioners made decisions on a number of grants, including rejecting a request for $30,000 from a West Virginia-based nonprofit.

The request came from GameChanger , a nonprofit that hires teachers at schools to be coaches in promoting healthy choices and preventing drug use. Officials with the nonprofit told 12 News that it’s doing awareness and education to “save every kid that we can save in West Virginia” amid the opioid crisis.

Harrison County Superintendent Dora Stutler advocated for GameChanger during the meeting, saying that it’s currently in 12 schools, and she hopes to put it in every school based on the results of the past three years.

Rather than grant the funds to GameChanger, the commission instead chose to accept the request for a grant meant to help animals get adopted at Harrison County Animal Control. The commission also decided to apply for a grant sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security to purchase stronger body armor for law enforcement, as well as a grant to help pay for prevention resource officers in Harrison County schools.

Commissioner David Hinkle told 12 News that the money for these grants would come from the state opioid settlement money, and while the commission ultimately decided not to provide GameChanger the requested money, he believes that the nonprofit is well within its intended use.

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