Catholic Charities West Virginia (CCWVa) announced the recipient of its 2024 Charity in Action Award: the Life Hub.
The Life Hub is a 501c3 nonprofit organization created as a program of the Wheeling Housing Authority partnering with the City of Wheeling. The goal of the Life Hub is to acquire and operate a spacious, year-round shelter for those who are homeless.
“The Life Hub serves as a way to join community partners with city government in a cooperative effort to solve a complicated problem,” said Mark Phillips, CCWVa President and CEO. “Collapsing the divide between nonprofit entities and public services benefits both the community and those individuals who are most in need.”
Melissa Adams serves as the Interim Executive Director of Life Hub and as the City of Wheeling’s Homeless Liaison.
“It’s a huge honor and a blessing to receive this award. It’s been a very challenging year and to see the efforts of the Life Hub and what we have done to get to where we are today to be recognized means the world to us. I am blessed, grateful, and thankful for the support, love, and recognition to be seen…it just speaks volumes,” said Adams.
The Life Hub currently operates an overnight shelter from December through March.
“In one of her first days as the City’s Homeless Liaison, Melissa Adams came to us to ask what we thought would be the most effective area for her focus. We said emergency shelter,” said Phillips. “Melissa recognized this as an unmet need, and has been determined to find a solution.”
CCWVa will present the Charity in Action Award at its Hope Gala on Saturday, March 2, at the newly renovated White Palace in Wheeling. The gala will feature live music by the band Eli and the Mojo Kings.
The event is presented through the generosity of major sponsors: The Health Plan; N.F. Mansuetto & Sons, Inc.; WVU Medicine; and the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate our work and the work of Life Hub at our annual gala,” said Phillips. “It’s always a fun and inspiring evening with our community.”
Tickets for the gala are $125 per person and can be purchased at ccwva.org/event/hope-gala-2024/ or by calling 304.905.9860.
Funds raised through the gala support CCWVa’s programs and services in northern West Virginia, including the Catholic Charities Neighborhood Center in Wheeling.