Children’s Home Society is now accepting applications for the 2025 Ruth Eden Bailey Scholarship Award.
About the Scholarship
In 2022 the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia (CHSWV) established the Ruth Eden Bailey Scholarship Fund to assist in the educational advancement of foster and adopted children. The Ruth Eden Bailey Fund was created in honor of Ruth and her lifelong work finding loving and caring families for children.
The Ruth Eden Bailey Fund was initiated through a gift from the 2021 Annual Ruth Eden Bailey Adoption Advocacy Award winner Robert (Bob) Noone and his wife, Beth Hughes-Noone. The fund has grown through donations made by Ruth’s family and those whose lives she touched.
One or more award winners will be selected annually and presented with an award of up to $1,000. The annual awards will be given on or around August 3rd prior to Fall semester enrollment.
Youth attending the following institutions are eligible to apply for the scholarship funds:
• Trade School or Technical School
• Community Colleges or University
The funds awarded are to supplement or provide for:
• Tuition Assistance
• Equipment – Laptop/Computer
• Books/Educational Materials
About the Honoree
Ruth Eden Bailey dedicated her life to helping children find lifetime families. She was a determined advocate and worked tirelessly to find foster and adoptive homes. Ruth loved working with her families and the children that came into care, she was mission driven and her passion inspired many. Ruth began her journey with Children’s Home Society in 1993 and spent the following three decades changing the lives of hundreds of West Virginia’s children. Ruth was always looking for ways to help support foster and adoptive families and thus she initiated the first CHSWV Foster Family Support Group. The foster family support group became significant in that it brought families together to share experiences, to be supportive during struggles and most importantly to celebrate with each other. Today CHSWV foster family support groups are organized across the state thanks to a special woman that was creative, passionate and enthusiastic. Ruth left a legacy of encouragement, love and kindness.
Application Process
• Eligibility: Any current or former CHSWV foster or adopted youth may apply. Children’s Home Society staff shall provide the applications to CHSWV current or former foster or adopted youth by the end of May annually.
• Eligible individuals should complete the application and return it to; Children’s Home Society 1596 Kanawha Blvd. East, Charleston WV 25311, attention Carna Metheney-White, or email to [email protected].
• Applications must be submitted to Children’s Home Society by June 30th annually.
• All applications will be reviewed by the scholarship committee in early July with award recipients being notified shortly after committee meeting.
• The committee is responsible for the determining the number of awards annually and the award amount. The scholarship winner/winners will be presented with their award on or around August 3rd in honor or Ruth’s birthday.