Celebrating the Legacy of Mr. Donald R. Myers
Those blessed to work with Don Myers through his service as the executive director of the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Alliance (OMEGA) and president of the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance (EODA) will always be encouraged by remembering the fiery way he championed the needs of our communities in the government halls of Washington, D.C. Don Myers’ advocacy garnered countless financial investments to support Appalachia’s progress in meeting basic needs, such as gaining the infrastructures necessary to quality of life and economic progress.
As we celebrate Don Myers’ legacy of leadership, we cherish memories of time spent with him in the banquet halls of eastern Ohio. We remember jokes he told and unbeatable Amish food. And we reflect that as he called us together, he provided the opportunities that enabled our region’s leaders, organizations and communities to work as a team in moving eastern Ohio and the broader Appalachian region forward.
Remembering Don Myers’ passionate concern for basic, often overlooked needs will always serve as a source of refreshment for our own individual commitments to make a difference with the opportunities we’ve been given. While we celebrate the significant difference made by such a very special person, we also realize many basic needs remain and the potential to make a difference through regional partnership and learning is endless.
Celebrating the legacy of Donald Myers is a call to pick up and advance his many dreams for progress and the Donald R. Myers Legacy Fund is a meaningful way to join together in making a significant difference – today and, through the power of endowment, far beyond our life spans.
Grant distributions from the fund will make a difference in the areas Don Myers worked so passionately to promote, including education, regional networking opportunities, support for community leaders and fulfillment of basic needs. The fund’s investments are advised by representatives from Appalachian Ohio’s local development districts, the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance, Appalachian Ohio’s private sector and Don Myers’ family.
The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) especially thanks Columbia Gas of Ohio for its leadership in making this avenue of support available to our region through a contribution of $10,000 to ensure the Donald R. Myers Legacy Fund became a reality. The fund is a tremendous resource for our region, and we at FAO look forward to its continued growth and development.
Previous grant recipients
- Eastern Local School District in Meigs County for supplies for new calm spaces, where elementary school students can learn self-regulation skills and emotion management.
- Steps for Success in Ashtabula County for summer workshops focused on time management, financial literacy and interpersonal skills held in partnership with After-School Discovery, a local organization that provides enrichment opportunities to underserved youth.
- Project Noelle, serving Hocking County, to purchase kids clothing, shoes and diapers for children who have suffered due to the opioid epidemic, including those who have lost parents to overdose death.
- The Buckeye Ruritan Club in Jefferson County to support the development of the Free Little Lending Library that will serve the Village of New Alexandria, which has no public library.
- The Lawrence County Commissioners to support the Civic Scholars Fellowship program, which provides high school students in Lawrence County the opportunity to participate in roundtable discussions, training and job shadowing that allows them to explore career paths, interact with mentors and enhance their understanding of local government.
- Urban Mission Ministries in Jefferson County to support the Next Steps for Homeless Shelter Residents program, which will enable shelter residents to acquire documents essential to gaining employment, housing and other life advancements, including copies of birth certificates and Social Security cards as well as state-issued photo IDs.
- The Village of Chauncey in Athens County to support its new Party in the Park Series by providing funding for meal vouchers for the events, making these community gatherings more accessible for low-income families.
- Hubbard Friends of the Library received funding for its Reading Pals program, a five-week summer book club that created intergenerational connections between families with young children in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties and residents of the Elmwood Senior Care Facility.
- Ohio’s Appalachian Country receive funding to purchase memberships in the Destination Development Association and provide training to promote local communities for its members in 30 Appalachian Ohio counties.
- The John Gee Black Historical Center, Inc. of Gallia County received funding to support building improvements that will expand community access to educational and cultural programming opportunities.
- Vinton County High School received funding to support the Menstrual Equity project, which provides menstrual hygiene products to students who may not have access to personal care items.
- Craftsmen for Kids received funding to purchase supplies to create sensory writing boxes that help children master letter and number formation through tactile learning.
- The Pregnancy Distress Center of Coshocton received funding to purchase layettes, which consist of onesies, sleepers, bibs, blankets and diapers, for newborns.
- East Liverpool City Hospital of Columbiana County received funding to support its Summer Skills program, which provides 3- to 12-year-old children living with autism and development delays in Columbiana County with continued learning opportunities over the summer months.
- The Scioto Valley Local School District of Pike County received funding to support its “Magic Closet,” where pre-K through third-grade students at Jasper Elementary can go to access basic needs.
- Hope House Christian Counseling Center of Highland County received funding to support its Children’s Counseling Suite.
- The Junction Elementary School library, part of the New Lexington City School District in Perry County, received funding to support its Passion Projects initiative and updates to the school library.
- W4C Recovery Ministries of Jackson County received funding to support its Hope Totes program that provides toiletries and other personal items, along with notes of encouragement, to teens and children impacted by addiction who have trouble meeting their basic needs.
- Oasis Food Ministry, a ministry of the First Christian Church of Columbiana in Columbiana County, received funding to support its School Backpack Program, providing breakfast and lunch on the weekends for Joshua Dixon Elementary School students in need.
- The Belmont County Health Department received funding to expand its Cribs for Kids initiative, providing portable cribs for WIC-eligible parents in Belmont County who would not otherwise have a safe place to put their newborns to sleep.
- Harrison North Elementary School, part of the Harrison Hills City School District in Harrison County, received funding to support its Vocabulary through Music and Fun program.
Support the Donald R. Myers Legacy Fund
Gifts to the Donald R. Myers Legacy Fund to Support Partnership in Appalachian Ohio are tax-deductible and can be made in many ways, including cash, bequests, stock, real estate, royalties, insurance beneficiaries and qualified charitable distributions from IRAs.
To mail your donation, please designate the fund and mail to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, 35 Public Square, Nelsonville, OH 45764.
Donations can be made online by designating the Donald R. Myers Legacy Fund to Support Partnership in Appalachian Ohio when donating.