Lily’s Place Awarded Momentum Initiative Grant from West Virginia First Foundation
Huntington, WV (January 2026) – Lily’s Place is proud to announce its selection as a recipient of the Momentum Initiative Grant (MIG) from the West Virginia First Foundation (WVFF).
The grant, totaling $125,000, will support the Lily’s Place youth mentorship program, MERGE, strengthening efforts related to prevention services in Region 5 of West Virginia, and the surrounding areas. This investment aligns with the mission of Lily’s Place to create healthy families and help end the cycle of addiction.
“Our efforts in youth prevention and engagement are rooted in a desire to see healthy families thrive,” said Olivia Meade, Executive Director of Lily’s Place. “With support from the West Virginia First Foundation, we can expand our growing mentorship program, make lasting impact for at-risk youth and better serve our community.”
“We’re incredibly thankful to the West Virginia First Foundation for supporting our mentorship program. Their generosity allows our mentors to show up in the community, meet young people where they are, and build the kind of trusting relationships that help at-risk youth see new possibilities for their future,” added Ryan Massie, Director of Prevention Services at Lily’s Place. “We know many young people who cannot simply change communities, so our goal is to show them they can play a part in helping the community change. Our inside-out approach to mentoring is bringing happiness and hope to sometimes-forgotten places. The ripple effect of this will be seen not just in our homes, but also our neighborhoods, our city, and our state.”
The Momentum Initiative Grant reflects WVFF’s continued commitment to responsible stewardship of opioid settlement funds and to supporting projects and organizations that strengthen systems of care across West Virginia.
“The Momentum Initiative Grant was designed to support organizations that are ready to scale, collaborate, and deliver lasting results,” said Jonathan Board, WVFF Executive Director. “The work of Lily’s Place reflects the kind of leadership and local insight needed to move this effort forward.”
Through MIG, WVFF is advancing nearly $18 million to support projects across the state that address prevention, treatment, recovery, and workforce needs; building on lessons learned and focusing on accountability, sustainability, and long-term impact.
To learn more about West Virginia First Foundation, visit wvfirst.org. To learn more about Lily’s Place, visit lilysplace.org.
About West Virginia First Foundation: The West Virginia First Foundation (WVFF) is a nonprofit organization established to address the opioid crisis and its lasting impact across the state. Created under the terms of the West Virginia First Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), WVFF was designed to receive and distribute opioid settlement funds. Guided by the principles outlined in the MOU, the Foundation operates as a private 501(c)(3) entity to support prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction efforts. Through strategic funding and community collaboration, WVFF is committed to creating sustainable solutions that improve the health and well-being of all West Virginians. For more information, visit wvfirst.org.
About Lily’s Place: Lily’s Place is a 501(c)(3) with five locations: the NAS Center is a medical facility for infants affected by substance use in utero; the Residential Treatment Center serves pregnant and parenting women with substance use disorder and their children; the Children’s Center provides behavioral health and prevention services to youth ages 3 to 18; the Family Center provides behavioral health services and educational classes to adults; and the newest location in the Highlawn neighborhood will be providing prevention services, opening late 2026