Donor Spotlight

Donor Spotlight

Jo Ellen Diehl Yeary | Generosity rooted in pride, remembrance, dedication to home

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Community Foundation for Perry County

Matching funds available! The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio is providing a 50-cent match for every $1 given to any endowment within the Community Foundation for Perry County’s family of funds. Matching funds can also be used to help start a new endowed fund and for new documented planned gifts. A total of $300,000 in match funding is available on a first-come, first served basis through Nov. 8, with up to $100,000 in match available per household.

For more information on the 2024 match opportunity, click here.
For information on ways to give to Perry County, click here.


The Community Foundation for Perry County is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the Perry community, both now and for generations to come. Established in 2012 by past and present residents, the goal of CFPC is to establish permanent funds and resources to make a direct and lasting difference for Perry County. CFPC is an additional avenue of support for residents to give locally, ensuring Perry County resources benefit our community and citizens.


2022 Annual Report

To view the Community Foundation for Perry County’s 2022 annual report, click here.


Grant Opportunities

The Community Foundation for Perry County is partnering with FAO’s I’m A Child of Appalachia® Fund to provide a grant opportunity to nonprofits, schools, and public organizations working to benefit Perry County residents.

2023 grant applications closed on September 12, 2023.

Helpful Links and Documents:


Grant Recipients

The Community Foundation for Perry County has awarded 16 grants, totaling $37,740, to support initiatives benefiting the county’s residents and communities, including two youth-led projects.

Capabilities Charitable Fund to provide mini grants to Perry County residents with disabilities to support or expand their employment or promote independence and integration in the community

Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio to support a home build in New Lexington for a family in need

Hardbarger Impact Ministries to help install a concrete floor at God’s Garage, which serves those in need by providing vehicle maintenance and repairing donated cars

Hoofs Rescue to purchase supplies and materials for animal rescues

Ludowici Community Foundation to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Ohio

Miller High School Art Department to purchase supplies for introductory art class and to reimplement ceramics classes

Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center to purchase supplies and help fund the teacher’s salary for the 24-week Alpha School cross-curriculum art program

Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area to help fund Ohio’s Winding Road Seed Grant Program and provide mini grants that support the development, expansion and marketing of authentic experiences in Perry County

Perry County District Library to provide shelf-stable breakfast and lunch packs to Perry County children who reside in areas not currently eligible for the USDA-funded programs for afterschool nutritional snacks

Perry County Park District to purchase equipment for the development and maintenance of hiking trails

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio to help cover overnight stays for Perry County families

Roseville Historical Society to help fund a basement repair

Sycamore Learning Cooperative to help fund a weekly farm/nature program and evening arts programs for Perry County children and teenagers

Tecumseh Theater to supports its Saturday Matinees

The I’m a Child of Appalachia® Fund provided CFPC up to $5,000 to support projects developed and implemented by local youth under age 18. The goal of this funding is to empower young leaders and inspire them to embrace greater roles in their communities. CFPC awarded youth-led project grant funding to:

Girls Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council to assist with program costs for the Girl Scout Leadership Experience in Perry County

The iBELIEVE Foundation to fund the participation of Perry County youth in the 2024 iBELIEVE Youth Leadership Workshops

Ten grants were awarded during the 2022 funding cycle:
  • Destination Shawnee to help equip Shawnee Showtime, a monthly event providing children and families access to movies and educational documentaries without the expense of tickets, refreshments and travel.
  • Perry County Cultural Arts Center to support its summer art workshops.
  • Perry County Health Department to support the creation of a pollinator garden adjacent to the New Lexington Wetlands Project.
  • Perry Soil and Water Conservation District to help fund a geophysical survey of the “squircle” area in Glenford Fort Preserve, a 63-acre site that will become an outdoor laboratory and education center.
  • Rendville Historic Preservation Society to support an urgent restoration to the front face of the Town Hall as part of the Rendville Heritage Center, scheduled to partially open in 2023.
  • Rural Action to help fund a Family Fishing Day event at Lake Tecumseh.
  • Somerset Artists’ Cooperative to help fund next summer’s Kids Creativity Camp.
  • Tecumseh Theater to support its Saturday Matinees and the creation of a community work of theatrical art.
  • Village of Hemlock to help secure veteran banners, American flags and Ohio flags to be displayed within the village.

Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio to support the 2022 Perry County Habitat Build with the next home slated for Junction City

American Red Cross – East Central Ohio for the Home Fire Campaign in Perry County toward fire safety training and assistance

Ludowici Community Foundation for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to support the expansion of this program

Perry County Job & Family Services for the Perry JFS Diaper Bank providing diapers and wipes to parents in need

Rural Action, Inc. for Family Fishing Day at Lake Tecumseh

Tecumseh Theater for the Winter Arts Camp for children, creating a community work of theatrical art, culminating in a group performance

New Lexington Schools for the Little Free Library to be established at the entrance of the New Lexington Elementary fitness trail

Perry County Cultural Arts Center for the Hansel and Gretel Musical Production Workshop, a two-week theatrical workshop for students, culminating in the production of “Hansel and Gretel”


Recent Projects

• In celebration of Perry County’s 200th birthday, CFPC launched Endow 200, a campaign to expand impact by growing permanent dollars through 200 gifts of $5,000. By growing the CFPC’s endowment to about $1 million, Endow 200 will allow CFPC to create a brighter future for Perry County by generating approximately $50,000 in grants for the community annually – more than ten times what the CFPC is currently able to give.

The Community Foundation for Perry County is partnering with GeoPartners and Perry County organizations to map broadband access, speeds, and cost in Perry County to better inform future investments in this important resource in the county.


Perry Family of Funds

The Growing Family of Funds includes:

Community Foundation for Perry County
• Ben and Alyce Shaver Scholarship Fund
• Blake Underwood Student Learning Grant Fund
• Bob and Ruth Holland Community Fund
• Bope Family Fund
• Briggs Family Scholarship Fund
• Bruce and Dolores Hannah Scholarship Fund
• Catherine Blankenship Scholarship Fund
• Charlene Joseph Scholarship Fund
• Commander Lambert Scholarship Fund
Corning Alumni Association Scholarship Fund
• Crooksville Arts Council Scholarship Fund
• Donald and Catherine Palmer Scholarship Fund
• Hazel Post Fisher Community Fund
Holy Trinity School Endowment Fund
• Jack and Clara Reho Scholarship Fund
• Janet Hursey Koehler Wade Scholarship Fund
• Jesse, Olema, & Ralph Drake Scholarship Fund
Jimmy Wood Memorial Scholarship Fund
• John and Elsie Exenkemper Scholarship Fund
• Jim and Vicki Palmer Legacy Scholarship

• Joesph and Marie Lichtenstein Scholarship Fund
Ludowici Community Foundation Fund
• Murray and Lulu Brown Scholarship Fund
• Outreach Emergency Disaster Shelter Fund
• Partners For Your Health
• Paul and Charlotte Hope Scholarship Fund
• Perry County Historical & Cultural Arts Society
• Perry County Hunger Relief Fund
Perry County Sportsman Club Endowment
Perry County Single Parent Support Fund
• Robert Woodruff and Charles & Elizabeth Woodruff Scholarship
• Shawnee Alumni Association Scholarship
Somerset Community Fund
• Somerset Horticultural Endowment
Southern Perry County Academic Endowment
• Supporting Families Fund
• The Clay Center of Ohio Endowment Fund
• Upper Rush Creek Revitalization Project
• Vincent and Gene Hope Scholarship Fund
• William and Frances Dunlap Scholarship Fund


Perry Committee Members

• Jeanette Addington
• Judge Luann Cooperrider
• Jeff Dennis
• Tony Fiore
• Theressa Kane

• Tim McLain
• Chris Mooney
• Julie Paxton
• John Winnenberg
• Kevin Wood


Support the Perry Community

Gifts are tax deductible and can be made in many ways, including cash, bequests, life insurance and charitable remainder trusts. To mail your donation, please designate the Perry Community Foundation Fund and mail to Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, PO Box 456, Nelsonville, OH 45764. To learn more, contact FAO at 740.753.1111.