Gulfport Energy Fund Awards Over $40,000 to Area Nonprofits Working in Health & Human Services and Environmental Stewardship
Gulfport Energy Fund Announces Nine Grant Recipients for Second Grant Round of 2018
Nelsonville, OH – Nine organizations serving Belmont, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, and Noble counties will have greater support for their projects because of more than $40,000 awarded from the Gulfport Energy Fund at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO). The Fund’s final grant round of 2018 focused on projects from nonprofit and public organizations related to health and human services as well as environmental stewardship.
“Ensuring that the communities of Appalachian Ohio are healthy and have access to pristine natural environments and robust human services are major priorities for Gulfport Energy,” said Courtney Dickens, External Relations Coordinator. “We are proud to support such an incredible group of grantees, who are working hard day in and day out to achieve those priorities.”
The Gulfport Energy Fund at FAO was created to support nonprofits, schools, and communities through projects that increase quality of life, create access to opportunities, or identify and implement a solution for a community need in the counties where Gulfport Energy operates.
Second round grantees in 2018 include:
Helping Appalachian Rural Peoples, which serves Noble, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, and Belmont counties, received a $10,000 grant to support its Living in Hope and Just the Basics programs, which help low-income seniors, veterans, disabled adults, and individuals or families who have experienced life-disrupting events by providing furnishing assistance, home repairs, and temporary housing. This assistance ensures that these families and individuals have access to safe, accessible, and sanitary living conditions. The grant from Gulfport will allow H.A.R.P. to purchase a reliable pick-up truck to transport donations and materials to clients.
The Monroe County Animal Shelter, which serves Monroe and Noble counties, was awarded a $10,000 grant to build a walking trail, a pavilion, benches, and dock signs around a pond on the animal shelter’s property. The walking trail will be used to support education for seniors, disabled adults, victims of domestic abuse, and troubled youth, while also serving as a location for 4-H, Head Start, and Ohio Division of Wildlife programs.
The G.M.N. Tri-County CAC, which serves Guernsey, Monroe, Noble, and Belmont counties, was awarded a $7,250 grant to support its Homeless Prevention program. The program helps individuals at immediate risk of homelessness by providing financial aid to cover the cost of security deposits and rental assistance.
The Cambridge Area YMCA Gymnastics Team, which serves Guernsey County, was awarded a $6,530 grant to support the purchase of new gym equipment for its gymnastics classes and its gymnastics team, which is made up of 51 gymnasts ages 5-15. The gymnastics program encourages youth to maintain healthy living habits, and new equipment will help gymnasts train safely and effectively.
The Powhatan Point Revitalization Association, serving Belmont and Monroe counties, received a $1,500 grant to fund the occupancy certification for the new Powhatan Community Center. The community center will support programs for infant and senior day-care, youth after-school gatherings, physical wellness, and more.
The Monroe County Suicide Coalition, which serves Monroe County, was awarded a $1,380 grant to assist the organization in reaching more young people. The grant will specifically fund placemats which area restaurants will use to educate the community about suicide prevention and materials for a campaign in four Monroe County high schools that will raise awareness about mental health struggles among young people.
Harrison Hills City Schools and Help Me Grow were awarded a $1,200 grant for the Warm Feet Thinking Minds project, which seeks to ensure that all the children of Harrison County have protective and warm shoes, contributing to overall well-being and the ability of children to concentrate at school.
The Salvation Army was awarded a $1,000 grant to host healthy cooking classes in Guernsey County. The classes will teach 15 low-income individuals with children to prepare low-cost, healthy meals, and will also provide participants with cooking essentials.
Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry was awarded a $500 grant for its “Meating the Need: Venison for the Food Challenged” program, serving Guernsey, Harrison, and Noble counties. The program encourages the harvesting of deer to control the deer population by allowing hunters to donate the deer, which are processed free of charge to provide needed protein for those without regular access to food.
The Gulfport Energy Fund will open its first grant round for 2019 on Tuesday, March 5. The first round of 2019 will support education projects. Please sign up for the Foundation’s e-newsletter on FAO’s website, www.AppalachianOhio.org, for the latest news on when grant opportunities become available.
For more information about the Gulfport Energy Fund and past grant recipients, please visit www.AppalachianOhio.org or call 740.753.1111.
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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.
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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