Retired teachers Roberta and Bruce Bishop long dreamed that their land would one day support outdoor education. With a gift of 36 acres to the Hocking Soil & Water Conservation District in 2008, the Bishop Educational Gardens was established, and that dream became reality. With the creation of an endowment fund, the legacy of Roberta and her late husband Bruce will be sustained for generations to come.

The endowment is a member of the Hocking County Community Fund’s Family of Funds at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO). The Fund provides a permanent source of support to Bishop Educational Gardens and its mission to preserve the environment of the Hocking Hills while promoting environmental education. The Fund will specifically support Bishop Educational Gardens in developing educational materials, workshops, and special projects; offering scholarship assistance to students; growing and sustaining Lilyfest, the organization’s popular, annual celebration of arts, crafts, music, and gardens; and much more.

To support the Fund with a gift today, mail your donation to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, PO Box 456, Nelsonville, OH 45764, and designate the Bishop Educational Gardens Endowment Fund in the memo line. You may also give online here by designating the Bishop Educational Gardens Endowment Fund when donating. To give in other ways, including gifts of bequests, appreciated stock, IRA distributions, life insurance, and more, contact FAO at 740.753.1111.