Foundation for Appalachian Ohio Announces the Dale Hileman Legacy Fund
New Fund Honors a Lifetime of Service to the Region
St. Clairsville, OH – At the July 17 Eastern Ohio Development Alliance (EODA) board of directors meeting, Executive Director Jim Schoch and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) announced the creation of the Dale Hileman Legacy Fund by the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance. The Fund is one way to celebrate Hileman’s legacy and further invest in the economic development of the region to which he committed so much of his life.
Executive Director Schoch stated, “My number one priority in taking over the executive director position in March was to create a legacy fund in honor of Dale. I’m not only proud to announce the creation of the Dale Hileman Legacy Fund, but also that the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance is contributing $10,000 to officially open the fund.”
“We are so pleased to be able to honor the memory of our friend Dale Hileman who gave so freely of his time and talents throughout his life to those in eastern Ohio,” said Tracy Drake, president of EODA. “It is a small token of our appreciation for all that he did during his life to support projects contributing to community and economic growth through the Dale Hileman Legacy Fund.”
Mr. Hileman passed away in February of this year after a lifetime of service to eastern Ohio. He worked for Columbia Gas of Ohio for 40 years, but even though he retired, that did not stop him from continuing to serve the region he loved. When he and his wife, Evelyn, stayed in Cambridge, Ohio in Guernsey County upon his retirement, Mr. Hileman remained committed to improving quality of life while steadfastly promoting his community.
Known to take an active role in whatever community he called home, Mr. Hileman is described as a humble man who had a great gift for networking to bring people together for the greater good, while remaining behind the scenes and away from public praise or recognition.
The new fund that bears his name will promote the same cause he promoted throughout his life, economic development and growth. The Dale Hileman Legacy Fund will support charitable, scientific, or educational activities of organizations working to promote economic growth within the counties served by EODA, an organization Mr. Hileman helped found.
Counties served by EODA and future grants from the Dale Hileman Legacy Fund include Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Tuscarawas, and Washington.
“Dale Hileman made such a difference by bringing people together to learn from and support each other, especially economic and community development leaders,” noted Cara Dingus Brook, president and CEO of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio. “The Dale Hileman Legacy Fund will celebrate Dale’s legacy of leadership by providing support to community and economic development efforts for generations to come.”
The mission of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio is to create opportunities for Appalachian Ohio’s citizens and communities by inspiring and supporting philanthropy. A central part of this work is to support communities across five areas essential to community and regional quality of life. Called the Pillars of Prosperity, these areas include arts and culture, community and economic development, education, environmental stewardship, and health and human services.
“This Fund is a way for all those who knew Dale to recognize all that he meant to us as well as continue his life’s work,” added executive director Schoch.
Gifts to the 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.
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.
About the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance (EODA)
The Eastern Ohio Development Alliance (EODA) was established in 1990 and is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2015. EODA is an independent, nonprofit organization consisting of sixteen counties in Eastern and Southeastern Ohio. The mission of EODA is to stimulate the economic growth of the region through the initiation, coordination, and promotion of sound development programs resulting in the steady improvement of the quality of life for people in Eastern Ohio. EODA is regarded as the leading organization for economic development in Eastern Ohio. Its membership represents a broad spectrum of influences from economic development, government, business, industry, education and non-profit sectors. For more information about EODA, please visit www.eoda.org, email eodadirector@gmail.com, or call (740) 432-7902.
