Success Stories

Headquartered in Clarksburg, West Virginia, the Genesis Youth Crisis Center has been providing services to at-risk youth for nearly 40 years. Recognizing an acute local need for short-term emergency housing for young people, Genesis recently decided to purchase an existing building in Parsons, West Virginia, and renovate it into the Ridgeline Children’s Shelter. Genesis approached West Union Bank for help with financing the Ridgeline project. West Union was able to secure a $450,000 low-interest loan through FHLBank Pittsburgh’s Community Lending Program (CLP) to support the cost of the project in its entirety. 

"The Community Lending Program is a very good product to have in our financial toolbox," said Mike Hall, Senior Vice President of Business Development at West Union Bank. "It allows for longer-term fixed pricing, is complementary to our asset-liability management program and offers great benefits to our customers." 

The Ridgeline Children's Shelter opened officially with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new facility in early 2018. At any given time, the shelter will house up to 15 children ages 10-18 who are transitioning from untenable family situations. The shelter provides a therapeutic environment where children receive group interaction, life skills and behavior management. Each year, approximately 50 to 75 children will pass through the doors of the facility, which will also employ as many as 25 people from the local community. 

"As a small community-based organization, we pride ourselves on becoming a part of any community our programs serve," said Matt Rudder, Chief Executive Officer of Genesis Youth Crisis Center. “The low-interest loan secured by West Union Bank through FHLBank Pittsburgh allowed us to get the funding we required to help more children and families throughout West Virginia with services so desperately needed." 

​When society’s most vulnerable citizens need assistance, Genesis Youth Crisis Center and West Union Bank are there to help.