This year, all West Virginia public schools will receive a $1,500 check to provide students in need with food, clothing and classroom supplies. The Keep the Ball Rolling event–named after the founder and car dealer Shawn Ball–was hosted by Marshall University and the West Virginia Department of Education on Oct. 27, 2025. At the event, special guests shared stories about the impact educators had on them growing up, celebrated the money raised for West Virginia schools, and awarded checks to county principals and counselors to help meet their students’ needs.
Brad D. and Alys Smith Contribute to $1 Million for School Pantries
Brad D. Smith and his wife, Alys Smith, contributed to the fund through their Wing 2 Wing Foundation and were among three donors at the event who together donated more than $1 million. With an estimated one in five children facing hunger in West Virginia and a recent lapse in government funding for programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the need for food assistance in schools is substantial.
In 2024, the Keep the Ball Rolling event helped fund 248 public school pantries in West Virginia. In 2025, every school in West Virginia received a donation from the organization.
A Crucial Time of Food Insecurity
Public school staff often face a lack of resources and witness the needs of students who are struggling. Using the Keep the Ball Rolling donations, every school in West Virginia received funds to support students’ personal needs, so families can focus more on their child’s education and less on fulfilling basic life necessities.
“When we think about a child that shows up to school cold or hungry, they’re not just missing the opportunity to have clothing and food, they’re missing the opportunity to learn, to dream and to thrive,” Brad said.
Continuing to Combat Hunger in West Virginia
The founders and donors to the Keep the Ball Rolling event hope to continue addressing food insecurity in West Virginia by finding additional partners for the project and increasing the amount raised in coming years.
To follow Brad’s ongoing charitable initiatives, find him on X, Instagram and YouTube.