Dale Hileman Legacy Fund Announces 2019 Grantee
United Way of Guernsey, Monroe, and Noble Counties Receives Grant Award
The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio’s Jim Rocchi (right) presents the executive director of the United Way of Guernsey, Monroe, and Noble Counties, Stephanie Laube (center-right), with the 2019 grant award from the Dale Hileman Legacy Fund, alongside the chair of the Fund’s advisory committee, Evelyn Hileman (center-left), and the executive director of the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance, Jim Schoch (left).
Walnut Creek, OH – Dale Hileman was known for his deep commitment to economic development in Appalachian Ohio. Now, with grant awards to support economic development projects from the Dale Hileman Legacy Fund, that legacy will live on forever. The 2019 grant award from the Dale Hileman Legacy Fund at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) was announced at the April 26 annual meeting of the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance (EODA), an organization Mr. Hileman helped found.
The United Way of Guernsey, Monroe, and Noble Counties received a $1,600 grant from the Hileman Legacy Fund to support its Young Professionals Program.
Through the program, high school students in the Rolling Hills and Cambridge City school districts will have the opportunity to connect with professionals who work in the area across a variety of fields and who are under the age of 40.
By connecting with these young professionals, students are exposed to careers that would allow them to make a great living in their local community and which require varied levels of educational experience. Students also have the opportunity, through the program, to participate in mock interviews and receive constructive feedback, engage in community service, participate in leadership and life skills training, and visit a local university to explore furthering their education.
“The Young Professionals Program with the United Way of Guernsey, Monroe, and Noble Counties is exactly the sort of initiative that Dale would have championed during his life,” said Jim Schoch, executive director of EODA, and Evelyn Hileman, chair of the Dale Hileman Legacy Fund’s advisory committee. “We can think of no better way to honor Dale’s legacy than by inspiring the youth of eastern Ohio to advance the region’s economy by aspiring to greatness in their careers.”
The Dale Hileman Legacy Fund promotes economic development and growth, a cause that was close to Mr. Hileman’s heart. The Dale Hileman Legacy Fund supports organizations working to promote economic growth within the 16 counties served by EODA, comprising Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Tuscarawas, and Washington counties.
Mr. Hileman passed away in February 2015 after a lifetime of service to eastern Ohio. Mr. Hileman was a native of Columbiana County and worked for Columbia Gas of Ohio for 40 years, serving Carrollton, Jackson, and Cambridge in Appalachian Ohio. After his retirement, he remained committed to improving quality of life and steadfastly promoting his community of Cambridge in Guernsey County, where he shared his final years with his wife, Evelyn.
EODA made the initial $10,000 gift to establish the Fund to recognize and honor Dale’s legacy. Columbia Gas of Ohio also made a $25,000 gift to the Fund to recognize Dale’s years of service to the organization and to the region. The inaugural grant was awarded in 2017 to Leadership Columbiana County to support the expansion of its leadership program to youth in the county, and a second grant in 2018 supported a workforce development pilot project at the Carrollton Exempted Village School District.
Gifts to the Dale Hileman Legacy Fund are tax deductible and can be made in many ways, including cash, bequests, and life insurance. To mail your donation, please designate the Dale Hileman Legacy Fund and mail to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, PO Box 456, Nelsonville, OH 45764. Gifts can also be made online at www.AppalachianOhio.org by selecting the Dale Hileman Legacy Fund when donating.
For more information about the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio and ways you can honor the legacy of others making a difference in our region, please visit www.AppalachianOhio.org or call 740.753.1111.
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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.
