The Arc of the Mid Ohio Valley has been the premier advocacy organization for children and adults with intellectual, cognitive and related developmental disabilities. A local chapter of The Arc of the United States and the Arc of West Virginia, The Arc of the Mid Ohio Valley is committed to helping individuals with disabilities achieve their greatest potential..

To advocate and support its mission, The Arc of the Mid Ohio Valley created a fund at the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation, known as The Arc of the Mid Ohio Valley Endowment Fund. The fund supports the Arc's scholarship program, which assists students pursuing education related to the field of mental disabilities.

The fund was made possible through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Nobles. Mrs. Nobles had a long-time friend who had a daughter with mental retardation. Watching the challenges of this young woman motivated Mrs. Nobles to contact The Arc of Wood County about expanding what was a very minimal scholarship program.