What does it mean to be “WV proud?” For us at Woodlands in Huntington, being WV proud means a lot. It’s about honoring the fine people who live here, it’s about representing our state and it’s about being an organization with deep roots in the community. We’ve served generations of Huntingtonians, even some who may have been introduced to us when we were still the Foster Memorial Home on Madison Avenue that opened nearly 100 years ago.
A lot has changed since then. Today, Woodlands is proud to be the state’s only Continuing Care Retirement Community offering comprehensive LifeCare. This distinction sets us apart from other retirement communities in West Virginia—and across the entire tri-state region. But what makes us even prouder is our legacy as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. We’re especially WV proud that we can continue to enhance the lives of people living here, while giving back and reinvesting in the Huntington community and in our state of West Virginia.
How a not-for-profit retirement community benefits everyone
The not-for-profit Foster Foundation, established in 1922 by Bradley W. Foster, continues to support Woodlands and ensures that even those who outlive their financial resources will always have a home here. We’re humbled that we can provide security and peace of mind to West Virginians, and our not-for-profit status also provides benefits to everyone living here.
Woodlands, like most not-for-profit organizations, is guided by its board of directors who oversees how the community fulfills its mission—providing the highest level of quality residential senior services. Every dollar earned by the community gets reinvested back into the community and the people living here, which also aligns with how most not-for-profit organizations operate.
Woodlands is always focused on maintaining and improving the quality of life provided to all residents. Each day, this focus is demonstrated through the amenities, services and activities that are enjoyed by people throughout our 171-acre campus. And at the end of the day, it makes us WV proud to know that the people here are the priority, not a group of shareholders at a large corporation somewhere far away.
We are WV proud: Marshall and making a difference
Woodlands has deep local roots, and members of our community also maintain quality connections with many organizations in Huntington. We are proud to be involved in the greater Huntington community, and you’ll find many of our residents saying, “We are WV proud!” along with “We are Marshall!”
The proximity of the Marshall University campus to Woodlands (just a four-mile, 10-minute drive) offers its own perks to anyone living here, such as NCAA Division I sporting events, artistic presentations and continuing education opportunities.
With a large number of our residents being either alumni or retired staff from the school, you’ll find the Woodlands shuttle bus making frequent trips to Marshall for all of the above and more.
Plus, we frequently arrange visits from some of Marshall’s musical ensembles, guest speakers and student groups to bring part of the school pride to our doorstep. While being located in a university town brings those benefits, we also invite guests from all over the Huntington region whose appearances and presentations you can find on our monthly events calendar.
What makes us even more WV proud is how members of our community make a difference with the work they do for important organizations in Huntington. For example, resident John Anderson has supported the local Boys and Girls Clubs for decades; resident Dan Ingram volunteers at the Hershel “Woody” Williams VA Medical Center; resident Betty Barrett serves on many local boards; and our Director of Dining Services, Ron Smith, supports the local Ronald McDonald House through his ChiliFest event.
With all of this in mind, you can see why Woodlands is WV proud; our history, our community and our people make us proud to call West Virginia home. If you’d like to learn more about why we share this special sense of local pride, we invite you to get in touch with a member of our team. Simply click here or call 304-697-1620 today. We look forward to hearing from you!