Gulfport Energy Announces $500,000 Gift to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio
Gulfport Energy Fund Celebrates the Work of Schools and Nonprofits at Grantee Dinner
Gulfport Energy President & CEO Mike Moore presents Cara Dingus Brook, president and CEO of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, with a $500,0000 gift to support the Gulfport Energy Fund and FAO’s work throughout the region.
Cambridge, OH – Those attending the Gulfport Energy Fund dinner last night were treated to stories of what grants from the Fund have made possible over the last year. Grantees spoke about the ability to provide vision screenings and to lead a school-age suicide prevention effort. Community members, elected and community officials, past grant recipients, and Gulfport Energy employees were all inspired by the stories and excited by Gulfport Energy’s CEO and President Mike Moore’s announcement of a half a million dollar gift to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO).
This new contribution will build upon Gulfport Energy’s existing partnership with FAO through the Gulfport Energy Fund at the Foundation. The Gulfport Energy Fund serves the Ohio counties where Gulfport operates. Grants from the Fund support projects that increase quality of life, create access to opportunities, or identify and implement solutions to community needs. Over $300,000 of the new gift will be invested in the Gulfport Energy Fund for grantmaking in these communities.
“We established the Gulfport Energy Fund at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio to support our strong commitment to the communities where we operate,” said Moore. “We have witnessed the passion and hard-working spirit of the people making a difference in each community and today, we are pleased to increase our investment in Appalachian Ohio with this gift to further encourage and support the region.”
Because of the additional investment in the Gulfport Energy Fund, Gulfport is expanding the service area of the Fund to include two more counties. With the addition of Jefferson and Noble counties to the previous four counties of Belmont, Guernsey, Harrison, and Monroe, the Gulfport Energy Fund will now serve six counties in Appalachian Ohio. Throughout the year, tax-exempt organizations are invited to apply for Gulfport Energy Fund grants. For updates on when grant applications are open and the latest news from the Fund, interested nonprofits, schools, and community organizations should visit www.AppalachianOhio.org/Gulfport and sign up for the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio’s e-newsletter.
Though the Gulfport Energy Fund is specifically designed to serve the communities where it operates, Gulfport has also made a significant investment in the broader Appalachian region. Of its half-million dollar gift, $192,000 of it will be invested in the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio.
The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio’s mission 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. Gulfport’s gift to FAO will be used to support the development of and grantmaking from these five Pillars over the next five years.
“We are so grateful for Gulfport’s unwavering commitment to the local communities Gulfport operates within,” said Cara Dingus Brook, president and CEO of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio. “Gulfport’s gift is especially significant given the current economic conditions of the energy sector. It will make a huge difference not only today, but for generations to come. We could not be more excited or appreciative.”
For more information on the Gulfport Energy Fund and how it supports the communities where it operates, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.AppalachianOhio.org/Gulfport. To learn more about how you can help the Foundation identify bright spots in our region and contribute to transforming generational poverty into generational prosperity, please contact the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio at 740.753.1111.
About Gulfport Energy:
Gulfport Energy Corporation is an Oklahoma City-based independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company with its principal producing properties located in the Utica Shale of Eastern Ohio and along the Louisiana Gulf Coast. In addition, Gulfport holds a sizeable acreage position in the Alberta Oil Sands in Canada through its 25% interest in Grizzly Oil Sands ULC and has an equity interest in Diamondback Energy, Inc., a NASDAQ Global Select Market listed company.
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.
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