"We're honored that the Clay Foundation would choose the YWCA as the recipient of this significant gift," Sergi said.
In March, Charles Avampato, president of the Clay Foundation, announced the foundation would close after 23 years of philanthropy in West Virginia. Clay Communications, the former owner of the Daily Mail and other media interests and owned by the late Lyell and Buckner Clay, was sold in 1987. The Clay Foundation was established with a $32 million donation from that sale. The foundation has granted millions to area organizations, including major underwriting of the Clay Center, the United Way, the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the former Business and Industrial Development Corp., the University of Charleston and the Fund for the Arts. Avampato, 71, will retain an office in the building.
"Chuck will stay there for a couple of years to finish out their grants," Sergi said. "He's moved his office to the back of the building."
Sergi worked in the Kanawha Boulevard office as administrator and campaign manager of the Clay Center while the center was being designed and built. While she was quite familiar with the stately Boulevard home-turned-office, the YWCA board still did their homework before accepting the building.
"We've been doing our due diligence," Sergi said. "We had the building appraised, we had an inspector go in. And, knowing Lyle [Clay] as we did, it was no surprise that it is in great shape."
The YWCA is considering the best use of the building. The YWCA's Board of Directors has not yet decided what purpose this building will serve, but is fully examining all possibilities with regards to how the organization can better serve the community.
"We are going to maintain our Quarrier Street facility, and maintain the health promotion services there," Sergi said. "The community has let us know they want those services downtown."
(Excerpts were taken from the article in The Charleston Gazette dated August 26, 2010, written by Sara Busse.)