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Lifetime Achievement

Snowshoe Foundation honors Elkins businessman

The Inter-Mountain photo by Bayli Helmick Frank Santmyer, left, is awarded the first Lifetime Achievement Award by the Snowshoe Foundation. He receives the award Friday from Jessica Stump, executive director of the Snowshoe Foundation, and Voras Haynes, Snowshoe Foundation board member

The Inter-Mountain photo by Bayli Helmick Frank Santmyer, left, is awarded the first Lifetime Achievement Award by the Snowshoe Foundation. He receives the award Friday from Jessica Stump, executive director of the Snowshoe Foundation, and Voras Haynes, Snowshoe Foundation board member

SNOWSHOE — The Snowshoe Foundation’s Annual Winter Gala Dinner featured honors for several community members, including a surprise award for a well-known Randolph County businessman.

Frank Santmyer went home Friday with the Snowshoe Foundation’s first Lifetime Achievement Award.

Santmyer, the owner of Gino’s Pizza, serves as president of the Snowshoe Foundation, director of the Mountain State Forest Festival, president of the Forest Festival Board of Directors, is a member of the Board of Directors of Citizens Bank of West Virginia, is part of United Methodist Men and serves as chief financial officer of the Polecat Rampage.

Santmyer frequently sponsors fundraiser events throughout Randolph and Pocahontas counties, and donates to many schools and nonprofits in the surrounding area.

Snowshoe Foundation board member Voras Haynes spoke of the impact that Santmyer has had on the foundation, stating, “Since Frank has joined our board in 2007, our foundation has gone from raising roughly $35,000 per year to approximately $250,000 annually.”

Afterward, Santmyer said he was completely shocked and unaware of the award.

He added that it’s a pleasure to serve in any way he can.

“If you give to the community, the community gives back,” he said.

Friday’s benefit dinner also highlighted the following honorees:

• Elkins track and cross country coach Matt Lewis earned the Randolph County Volunteer of the Year Award for his devotion and service to the local community.

• Kenny Woods won the Pocahontas County Volunteer of the Year Award for his service to the community, as well as his willingness to assist with Treasure on the Mountain raffle tickets any time, including evenings and weekends.

• Fairmont Printing was honored with the Business of the Year Award for supporting the foundation and printing all Treasure on the Mountain raffle tickets.

• State Farm Insurance Agent Darren Jackson was awarded the Pocahontas County Business of the Year Award for supporting the foundation and assisting with the Treasure on the Mountain fundraiser.

• Zandra Kelley was presented with the Davis & Elkins College Highlands Scholar Award. Kelley graduated from Elkins High School and is now a sophomore at D&E.

The Snowshoe Foundation is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to the financial support of local community organizations whose activities provide benefit to the people of Pocahontas, Randolph and Webster counties of West Virginia.

The foundation gave more than $212,000 through grants and scholarships to local communities last year. In total, the organization has given more than $2.2 million back to community organizations.

This year, the group received a record number of attendance for the Winter Gala Dinner, said Jessica Stump, executive director of the Snowshoe Foundation. This event is one of three main fundraising events for the organization, including the Foundation Golf Tournament and Treasure on the Mountain.

More information about the Snowshoe Foundation is available online at snowshoefoundation.org or by calling 304-572-5671.

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