Skip to content


Monroe County Community Foundation Reflects on a Successful 2015, Looks Forward to 2016

Woodsfield, OH – The end of the year is a time for reflection, celebrating the successes of the past year, and looking forward with great anticipation at the year to come. The Monroe County Community Foundation is doing just that thanks to the tremendous generosity of the Monroe County community in 2015 and invites others to take part with a gift to advance Monroe County for generations to come.

The Monroe County Community Foundation was created in November 2014 so that the Monroe County community would have a place to come together and grow a powerful asset for the county and its residents for many future generations. The Monroe County Foundation is a local foundation that was created in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) to grow resources that can be used to support current and future needs of the community while developing new opportunities. In only a year, the Monroe County Community Foundation has grown its assets to over $370,000 in eight funds to serve Monroe County residents.

“We are so inspired and grateful for the generosity of the Monroe County community over the past year,” said Gwynn Stewart, a committee member with the Monroe County Community Foundation. “When we first started the Foundation, we wouldn’t have thought it could grow so quickly. We hope many others will join us by making a gift to our community’s foundation so we can continue to grow the resources and opportunities available today and for future generations.”

The Monroe County Community Foundation added three new funds in 2015 that will support the community’s needs both now and in the future.

The Lewisville & Community Volunteer Fire Department Fund was established in January 2015 with the Monroe County Community Foundation. The Fund supports the mission, service, and programs of the Lewisville Volunteer Fire Department as it supports the welfare and safety of those in Lewisville and the surrounding communities.

The Kiwanis Coats for Kids Fund was established with the Monroe County Community Foundation’s Family of Funds in April 2015 by the Woodsfield Kiwanis Club. The Fund will support the Kiwanis Club’s Coats for Kids program which provides winter coats to children in Monroe County and the Switzerland of Ohio School District.

The Hoops for Heart VFD Fund was established in November 2015 to support the activities of Hoops for Heart and their work to provide free health care screenings to promote heart health. Established following the unexpected deaths of two local firemen from cardiac events, Hoops for Heart was created to educate Monroe County citizens on heart health and to provide essential health screenings to those in the community for free. In addition to advocating for heart health and providing free health screenings to local residents, the Hoops for Heart VFD Fund also supports local fire departments.

As you reflect on your 2015, consider doing something that will have an impact for years to come. A gift to the Monroe County Community Foundation will not be spent, but rather, invested, allowing the interest and earnings from your gift to support the community through grants for years to come. By doing this, your gift will be used to grow resources that can be used to support current and future needs, and develop new opportunities for Monroe County. For more information about how you can support the Monroe County Community Foundation, please contact a committee member. Committee members include Nikki Baker-Lude, Ryan Moyer, Karena Reusser, and Gwynn Stewart.

Gifts to the Foundation are tax deductible and can be made in many ways, including cash, bequests, appreciated securities, and life insurance. Gifts postmarked by December 31, 2015 will be included in the current tax year and will create additional momentum for the Monroe County Community Fund as it kicks off 2016. To mail your donation, please designate the Monroe County Community Foundation and mail to PO Box 494, Woodsfield, OH 43793. To learn more, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org.

About the Monroe County Community Foundation

The Monroe County Community Foundation was created so that the Monroe County community would have a place to come together and grow a powerful asset for the county and its residents for many future generations. The Monroe County Community Foundation is a local foundation, created in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, and is designed to grow resources that can be used to support current and future needs and develop new opportunities.

About the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio

The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) is a regional community foundation serving the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio. A 501(c)(3) public charity, the Foundation creates opportunities for Appalachian Ohio’s citizens and communities by inspiring and supporting philanthropy. For more information about FAO, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org.

###