Be The Village

A Challenge to Multiply Impact

In November 2025, we invited others to join the Be The Village Match Challenge. Through this effort, every gift was matched dollar for dollar, up to two hundred thousand dollars. The goal was clear. We aimed to double the impact, strengthen the work, and expand the reach.

Now, we are grateful to share an important update.

The match has been fully met.

From Generosity to Momentum

Donors, partners, and friends responded with remarkable generosity. As a result, two hundred thousand dollars has become four hundred thousand dollars invested directly into the work of The Village across West Virginia.

This moment represents more than a milestone. Instead, it marks meaningful momentum.

Expanding What Is Working

From the beginning, The Village has guided, equipped, and connected churches so that vulnerable children and families never walk alone. That vision remains unchanged. However, the scale of what can now be accomplished has grown significantly.

Because of this investment, The Village can strengthen its operational foundation, expand its regional presence, and deepen support for families, churches, and child welfare partners. In turn, more churches can engage, more families can receive support, and more communities can move toward a future where there is more than enough.

Proven Impact in Communities

Already, we have seen what happens when churches step into this work with clarity and support. Families stay in the fight, and children experience greater stability. As these efforts continue, communities begin to change in lasting ways.

This impact is not theoretical. It is happening across West Virginia.

A Shared Accomplishment

Every person who gave, prayed, encouraged, or supported this effort played a role in reaching this goal. Because of that collective effort, this work continues to grow in both reach and effectiveness.

Although the match has been met, the mission continues.

Looking Ahead

There is still work to do, and families still need support. At the same time, churches continue to step forward with willingness and purpose.

For now, we pause with gratitude.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Because of you, families caring for vulnerable children do not walk alone.

Restoring hope to children and families continues because of your faithful support.

We were excited to announce the launch of our Be The Village Match Challenge in November 2025. For six months, every financial gift to The Village will be matched dollar for dollar, up to two hundred thousand dollars. The generosity of donors will immediately double in impact and help strengthen and expand The Village’s work across West Virginia.

• Be The Village and Double Your Impact online at THIS LINK.
• Double Your Impact by mail HERE.

Four years ago, The Village began with a simple idea. Most West Virginia churches want to help children and families connected to foster care. Many simply do not know how or where to begin. The Village stepped into that gap with a clear purpose. Guide, equip, and connect churches so that vulnerable children and families never walk alone.

West Virginia continues to have the highest rate of children in foster care per capita in the nation. There are not enough foster families. Families who do step forward often lack the steady support they need to remain in the work. Yet something unmistakable has become clear. It is working. When churches are guided, equipped, and supported, families stay in the fight, children receive stability, and communities begin to change.

Foster families describe this reality with honesty and gratitude.

• “We could not continue to do this without the people around us. Their support is the only reason we are still in it.”
• “Support has kept us in foster care. Without it, I do not think we would still be here.”
• “The community of people surrounding us was vital in helping us walk through that season and come out on the other side saying we would not change a thing.”

Support is not theoretical. It is meals. It is respite. It is prayer and encouragement. It is a ride, a moment of relief, or a volunteer showing up with something small that becomes something significant. It is the church saying to a family, “You will not face this alone.”

The evidence of progress is unmistakable. Nearly sixty churches across seventeen counties have been involved. More than 100 families are being supported, have been supported, or are otherwise in the process of receiving support through Care Communities. More than six hundred volunteers have stepped forward. CarePortal and other activities have strengthened cooperation between churches and child welfare staff, and collaboration across counties continues to deepen.

Pastors and ministry leaders see the change.

• “It has been a profound blessing for us as a church because it really does work.”
• “The ministry brought order to all of the hearts of the people so that everyone had a place to do the thing God had called them to do.”
• “It is not that hard to make a world of difference.”

Volunteers share the same experience.

• “When you provide a meal or a ride or babysit for a night, it may seem small, but it is the difference between a family making it or giving up.”
• “Being part of a care community means you get to be the light for families who are in the darkness. That is powerful.”
• “It is not just helping kids. It is helping families stay in the fight and not quit.”

The Village vision looks toward a future where trained team members serve in communities across every region of West Virginia, working alongside churches and local partners. They will guide and equip churches to confidently support foster, adoptive, kinship, and vulnerable families in meaningful and sustainable ways. Using activities and infrastructure like CarePortal, these team members will strengthen partnerships with state and local agencies so churches can respond quickly in moments of crisis. As this presence grows and collaboration deepens, communities will move from not enough families and support to more than enough for every vulnerable child. This unified statewide network will enable West Virginia churches to care for children and families with clarity, connection, and lasting impact.

As of today, The Village presence and impact is strong in several regions. Families are receiving support, churches are stepping into their calling, and cooperation with child welfare partners continues to grow. Now it is time to accelerate, expand, and strengthen this work so that every community in West Virginia has access to the support that is already proving effective.

This is what the Be The Village Match Challenge makes possible.

Matched gifts will strengthen the operational foundation, expand the team, and increase our presence across the state while deepening what is already in place.

As this year concludes and as we enter 2026, we invite you to consider a matched financial gift to The Village. When you give, you are joining a movement of churches, volunteers, and partners determined to ensure that families caring for vulnerable children never walk alone.

We humbly ask that you prayerfully consider participating in this Match Challenge. You will equip more churches. You will support more families. You will help move West Virginia from not enough to more than enough families, support, resources, and connection for vulnerable children.

To participate in the Be The Village Match Challenge you can:

• Give and double your impact online at THIS LINK.
• Double your impact by mail HERE.

Thank you for being on this journey with us!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Campaign offers dollar-for-dollar match to provide churches with training and resources for foster, adoptive and kinship families

Morgantown, W.Va. – [DATE] – Chestnut Mountain Village (The Village), a ministry equipping West Virginia churches statewide to support foster, adoptive and kinship families in their communities, announced the launch of a $200,000 matching gift challenge. Beginning immediately, every dollar donated to The Village will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $200,000, doubling the community’s impact and bringing the total potential support to $400,000.

West Virginia continues to face one of the highest per-capita rates of children in foster care in the nation. Many local churches throughout the state desire to respond but aren’t sure where to start. The Village bridges that gap by providing training, coaching and support systems that enable congregations to serve families year-round.

“This is an invitation,” said Greg Clutter, director of The Village.“Ifyou’ve ever wondered how to help children and families in your own community, this is a way to start. Every donation you make immediately multiplies.”

The “Be The Village” Match Challenge aligns with The Village’s growing mission of reminding individuals, congregations, and communities that when children and families face crisis, West Virginia churches can be tangible sources of care, stability and hope. Funds raised during this match challenge will expand The Village’s partnerships with churches across the state, equipping them to offer practical support to the families in their congregations and neighborhoods who are caring for vulnerable children.

How the Match Works:

• Every donation made to Chestnut Mountain Village from now until May 1, 2026, will be matched 1:1.
• Gifts can be made online at cmvwv.org/be-the-village or by mail.
• The challenge continues until May 1, 2026, or until the full $200,000 match is met.

“When families step forward to foster or adopt, they should never have to do it alone,” said Clutter. “This match gives us a tremendous opportunity to strengthen and grow the network of churches ready to wrap around these families with meals, mentoring, respite care, transportation, and ongoing encouragement. Everyone can do something — and right now, every gift goes twice as far.”

About Chestnut Mountain Village

Chestnut Mountain Village is a statewide initiative of Chestnut Mountain Ranch. The Village guides, equips, and connects West Virginia churches to support foster, adoptive, kinship, and vulnerable families by providing practical tools, community building, and long-term care strategies. The Village believes the call to care for children is not the responsibility of one family, but of an entire community of believers working together. Everyone can do something. Learn more at https://cmvwv.org/be-the-village.

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