Catholic Charities West Virginia (CCWVa) is proud to name the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley as the recipient of the 2026 Charity in Action Award. This honor recognizes organizations whose compassion, partnership, and commitment to service make a real and lasting difference for individuals and families across our communities.
The United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley will be recognized at Catholic Charities West Virginia’s 16th Annual Hope Gala on Saturday, March 7, at 6 p.m. at the White Palace at Wheeling Park in Wheeling, West Virginia. The evening will include dinner, drinks, dancing, and time to celebrate the lives changed through service and partnership. Tickets are $125 per person and may be purchased at www.ccwva.org/event/gala
“Charity is shown through presence and action,” said Mark Phillips, CEO of Catholic Charities West Virginia. “When flooding devastated the Upper Ohio Valley, United Way stepped forward to help organize recovery, connect families to support, and stay with the work long after the initial response. That kind of commitment is what real compassion looks like.”
Following the June 2025 flooding in Wheeling and surrounding communities, the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley helped guide the transition from emergency response to long-term recovery. Working with local partners, the organization coordinated recovery case management for more than 140 households and supported families with unmet needs such as home repairs, essential appliances, and basic household items. United Way also helped establish a flood relief fund and served as a trusted point of coordination for residents, volunteers, and partner agencies.
“Recovery does not end when the water recedes,” Phillips said. “It takes steady, organized work and partners who are willing to walk with families as they rebuild. United Way has done exactly that, and we are honored to recognize them with the Charity in Action Award.”
“We congratulate the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley on this well-deserved recognition,” said Katie Klug, Chief Mission Officer of Catholic Charities West Virginia. “Their leadership during flood recovery brought people together, kept resources flowing, and helped families move toward stability when it mattered most.”
In addition to the Hope Gala, Catholic Charities West Virginia will host its Annual Virtual Auction, offering supporters another way to participate and give back. The online auction opens February 23 and closes March 8 at 9 p.m., with all proceeds supporting CCWVa programs and services across West Virginia. Items may be previewed and bid on at https://e.givesmart.com/events/MfM/i/_Auction/
