GALLIPOLIS — Recently a reception was held for the recipients of the OVBC Employee Community Fund donations for 2012. The employees and directors of Ohio Valley Bank and Loan Central set a new record by distributing a total of $14,904 to 67 local charities.

Fund Chairperson Chris Petro commented, “The employees of these two companies continue to be aware of the struggles and needs that exist in our communities, and that we take these issues very seriously. Food pantries, clothing banks, senior citizen and mental health care continue to be a vital source of survival to many families in our own backyard.”

Since the program’s inception in 1985, employees of Ohio Valley Bank and Loan Central have personally raised and donated $215,655 through the Fund.

Among the local organizations that received funding this year by the OVBC employees were: Abbyshire Place, Arbors at Gallipolis, Buckeye Community Services, Children’s Center of Ohio, G.A.H.S. Key Club, Gallia County Meals on Wheels, Gallipolis Police Department Hat Drive, GDC Adopt-a-Cottage Program, Gift of Love Foundation, Holzer Hospice of Gallia County, Holzer Senior Care Center, Living Water Church Food Pantry, Middleton Estates, Outreach Center/Gallipolis Food Pantry, Serenity House, Vinton Baptist Church Food Pantry, Wednesday Night Kids Program at Christ United Methodist Church, Bend Area Children’s Share-A-Christmas, Mason County Homeless Shelter, Mason County Community Action Food Bank, Mason County Toys for Kids, Pleasant Valley Hospital Hospice, Pleasant Valley Nursing and Rehab Center, Point Pleasant Fire Department, Point Pleasant Junior Senior High School Community Dinner, Snow Buddies, WVU Children’s Hospital, Meigs Cooperative Parish, and Meigs County Council on Aging.

Many similar organizations in Jackson, Pike, Ross, Scioto, and Lawrence counties in Ohio and Cabell County in West Virginia also received funding this holiday season.

Pictured are representatives from the Gallia and Mason County organizations receiving donations from the Community Fund. The Fund is managed by a committee of volunteers that work at Ohio Valley Bank and Loan Central. The 2012 committee consisted of Chairman Chris Petro and members Cindy Angel, Emily Conway, Diana Parks, Anita Good, Frieda Greathouse, Brenda Henson, Cindy Johnston, and Angie Kinnaird.

The Fund is gearing up for its first fundraiser of 2013, the annual Formal Dress Sale. The Sale will be held on two consecutive Saturdays, January 26 and February 2, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. Organizers are excited about the sale which will be held at the Ohio Valley Bank Annex located at 143 Third Avenue in Gallipolis.

Last year’s event drew in more than a couple hundred lightly-used prom, bridesmaid, and wedding dresses. Sellers can register their dresses for the sale starting January 22. Sellers pay only a $10 entry fee for their first dress, $5 for each additional dress. The seller then keeps all the proceeds when the dress is sold. Donations of dresses will also be accepted. For more information on the OVBC Employee Community Fund Formal Dress Sale, go to www.ovbc.com/go/dress, email formalsale@ovbc.com, or call Ohio Valley Bank at (740) 446-2631 and ask for Brenda Henson or Angie Kinnaird.