All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

HomeOwnership Center, Inc. awarded grant to boost credit counseling services

HOC Executive Director Kate Somers and Huntington Bank Branch Manager and HOC Board Vice President Brad Schumacher are presented with a check of $10,000 from The Huntington Foundation.

HomeOwnership Center, Inc. is pleased to have been selected for grant funding by The Huntington Foundation. HOC was awarded $10,000 and will use the funds toward its credit counseling services that are available to all.

The award announcement comes after The Huntington National Bank colleagues across West Virginia celebrated the bank’s Colleague Appreciation Week by voting for a nonprofit to receive additional funding from The Huntington Foundation.

“Homeownership can be transformational for West Virginia’s families,” said Chad Prather, Huntington’s regional president in West Virginia. “The HomeOwnership Center helps make the dream of owning a home achievable, and that’s something our colleagues are passionate about supporting.”

The Huntington Foundation has supported HOC for nearly a decade, and Branch Manager Brad Schumacher currently serves as vice president for HOC’s Board of Directors.

“We are thrilled to have been awarded these funds from The Huntington Foundation, and we thank them for their generosity and support,” said Kate Somers, HOC’s Executive Director. “Our credit counseling service has allowed us to financially empower folks of all income levels. Oftentimes, this service is the gateway for folks to reach homeownership or become more stable in their finances.”

Credit counseling is designed to help a customer understand their credit report, inspire effective budgeting and financial management and help folks realize financial goals. Since 1998, HOC has assisted over 4,400 individuals and families with its credit counseling and financial education services.

To get started with credit counseling, visit www.hocwv.org or call the office at 304-636-9115.

HOC also offers financial education opportunities to the communities in its service area, including offering financial education courses to area high school students and teaming up with local agencies for educational workshops.

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