Celebration raises more than $100,000 for the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio
NELSONVILLE, Ohio – Businesses throughout Appalachian Ohio recently joined together at the Ohio Statehouse to build a bright future for the 32-county region.
The Oct. 4 event, held in celebration of Nicolozakes Trucking & Construction Inc.’s 70th anniversary alongside presenting sponsors American Electric Power, DT Midstream, Ohio CAT and Peoples Bank, raised more than $100,000 to support the Nicolozakes Trucking & Construction Inc. Environmental Stewardship Fund for Appalachian Ohio. The Cambridge, Ohio-based business established the fund at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio to support FAO’s Environmental Stewardship Pillar of Prosperity.
The Environmental Stewardship Pillar unites donors and doers working to increase public access to parks, trails and outdoor recreational spaces; funds scholarships and fellowships; and provides opportunities for children to spend time in nature, building the next generation of individuals who will appreciate and nurture the region’s natural environment. Since its inception, the Environmental Stewardship Pillar has invested $1.6 million in grants and scholarships throughout Appalachian Ohio, supporting 400 projects and students and creating more than 21 miles of new recreational trails.
“We established the Nicolozakes Trucking & Construction Inc. Environmental Stewardship Fund for Appalachian Ohio to permanently honor the region we call home and our family’s deep commitment to seeing it thrive,” said William Nicolozakes, president of Nicolozakes Trucking & Construction Inc.
“We are honored to partner with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio and generous individuals and businesses who share our passion for building not only for today but for our future,” added Dean Nicolozakes, secretary-treasurer of the company.
Since the Nicolozakes Fund was established, FAO has been able to invest in two new storybook trails for children as well as outdoor amenities and many projects that have made existing recreational spaces more accessible throughout Appalachian Ohio.
“The Nicolozakes family and Nicolozakes Trucking & Construction Inc. have always been stalwart champions for southeastern Ohio and beyond,” said Cara Dingus Brook, FAO president and CEO. “Their generosity, partnership and leadership reflect their deep-rooted commitment to community, and we are incredibly honored and grateful that they chose to use a milestone in their journeys to bring our region’s businesses together to grow even more opportunities and improve quality of life in Appalachian Ohio.”
Other event partners included Bi-Con, Dunning Motor Sales, Encino Energy, AMG Vanadium LLC, Benesch, Buckeye Tire and Service, GBQ Partners, Guernsey Power Station, RJ Wright & Sons Ltd., Roetzel, the Cara & Dominick Brook Family Fund, David R. Hill Inc., Liskow & Lewis, and Lowry Metals Recycling.
For more information about the Nicolozakes Trucking & Construction Inc. Environmental Stewardship Fund for Appalachian Ohio, visit https://tinyurl.com/NicolozakesFund, email info@ffao.org or call 740.753.1111.
Husted presents proclamation
During the event, Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted delivered a proclamation from the DeWine-Husted administration recognizing Nicolozakes Trucking & Construction Inc.’s 70th anniversary.
“Our administration is proud to celebrate Appalachian Ohio, a region that forged the very beginnings of our state and a trailblazing nation and that has been sustained by its people, entrepreneurs, innovation and sheer resilience,” said Lt. Gov. Husted. “And we are proud to join the economic drivers of this region as together we invest in a bright future for Appalachian Ohio and our entire state.”