2007 Mini-Grants Announced
Foundation Partners Award $70,000 to Area Nonprofits and Schools
View list of 2007 mini-grantees
$70,000 in funding has been awarded to area nonprofits through the Fostering Access to Education Mini-Grants Program, a partnership between the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation of Nelsonville (OHFN), the Ohio Children’s Foundation (OCF) and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO).
The program provided grants ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 for programs supporting our communities by improving access to educational opportunities for our region’s citizens. A total of 95 proposals were received from 25 counties as well as from organizations that provide service to multiple counties throughout the Appalachian Ohio region. This year, 17 projects were recommended for funding by the FAO Grants and Program Advisory Committee, which was comprised of 11 leaders from the region.
“The Committee had a difficult task as there were many worthy projects,” said Ann Day, FAO program director. “The high number of proposals received reflects the need for increased donor investment in the region.”
The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio is the managing partner for the initiative and is a 501(c)(3) public charity and regional community foundation. FAO’s mission is to enrich the current and future quality of life in the 29 counties of Appalachian Ohio by fostering access to opportunity.
“Expanding educational opportunities for our region depends on a common vision shared by people working together for positive change,” said Jennifer Simon, committee co-chair. “Education is key to leading a quality life, and this funding partnership provides access to educational opportunities for our region.”
This is the third year for the regional partnership and mini-grants program. Past distributions have focused on improving quality of life and access to opportunity in Appalachian Ohio. Since the program’s inception in 2004, more than $213,000 has been awarded to regional non-profits. Many grantees also are able to use the mini-grant dollars to leverage more funding for their programs.
The Osteopathic Heritage Foundation of Nelsonville, a partner in the mini-grants program, is a private foundation with a mission to improve the health and quality of life in southeastern Ohio through education, research and service consistent with osteopathic medicine and osteopathic principles. The Foundation advances its mission through targeted funding priorities, community responsive grantmaking and collaboration.
“The proposals reviewed by the Grants Advisory Committee reflected important projects in the Appalachian counties,” said Terri Donlin Huesman, director of programs for the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation of Nelsonville. “OHFN is pleased to be a part of impacting the educational opportunities, health and quality of life of the region’s children, individuals and families through the 2007 mini-grants program.”
The Ohio Children’s Foundation, another partner in the mini-grants program, is a grant-making public charity which provides financial support and technical assistance to enhance the lives of children throughout Ohio. The Foundation’s current areas of interest include school-readiness for entering Kindergartners, early childhood education, and the elimination of hunger and violence in children’s lives.
Barbara Miller, president of the Ohio Children’s Foundation, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to partner in the collaborative mini-grants.
“The Ohio Children’s Foundation has a long-standing commitment to Appalachian Ohio and has awarded grants in many of the 29 counties,” Miller said. “This mini-grants partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio and the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation of Nelsonville extends our reach into the region and signifies our continuing interest in Appalachian Ohio’s children and their families.”
Future grant and scholarship opportunities will be announced on FAO’s Web site at www.appalachianohio.org.
