ISSUED: 5 September 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: Hans Fogle
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — The Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications shared good news during a dinner held on September 5, 2024, when Executive Director Ashley Horst announced a $6.2 million endowment from the institute’s founders, Bonnie and Bill Stubblefield.
Horst said the gift will enhance the mission of the Institute, and ensure it continues for years to come.
“Since the beginning, the Stubblefield Institute has worked toward helping each of us learn to respect and understand differing viewpoints as we work to solve our common problems,” Horst said.
The institute opened offices in the Frank Center at Shepherd University in 2019, with a mission to serve as an active center for the study and promotion of civil political discourse.
Bill Stubblefield said their latest gift is about maintaining that mission into the future.
“We’ve seen how destructive political polarization can be,” Stubblefield said. “Bonnie and I wanted to make sure that the Institute can operate and expand their work in perpetuity to help increase opportunities for civil discourse and real solutions.”
The Stubblefield’s established the endowed fund at the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation, where Foundation Executive Director Susan Caperton said it will have a tremendous impact for the Institution and beyond.
“By endowing the fund at the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation, they [Bonne and Bill Stubblefield] will also be supporting the many diverse non-profits we have across the Eastern Panhandle,” Caperton said. “This generous support will enable us to provide education and grant-making opportunities for everything from human welfare organizations to youth education and veterans programs.”
The Stubblefield Institute facilitates constructive debate and idea sharing from diverse voices and different perspectives through a forum for the civil discussion of the issues.
The work being done through the institute recently gained national recognition with the Newsweek-Stubblefield Institute Civility Awards to celebrate the people and organizations who work to foster good-faith debate and bridge political and cultural divides.
Other prominent initiatives include the Year of Civility being done in collaboration with Shepherd University, and their ongoing American Conversation Series.
You can learn more or contribute to the institute by visiting www.stubblefieldinstitute.org.
— 30 —
