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Giving Tuesday celebration includes announcement about new matching funds<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n NELSONVILLE, Ohio<\/strong> \u2013 The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) presented its 2023 awards to several donors and doers who are improving lives and communities throughout the 32-county region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The awards were presented Nov. 28 during FAO\u2019s Giving Tuesday virtual celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are proud and honored to recognize those who are planting seeds of love and generosity whose harvests will ripple across generations,\u201d said Ron Strickmaker, FAO Board chair. \u201cEach of these champions of our region reaffirms what we already know: The people of this region are the heart of Appalachia, and there is no limit to what we can achieve together and the good we can do for others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Child of Appalachia<\/em><\/strong> Honoree<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n FAO\u2019s newest Child of Appalachia<\/em> Honoree is Dr. John Kopchick, a distinguished professor of molecular biology at Ohio University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Child of Appalachia<\/em> honor recognizes an individual or individuals whose stories are exceptional examples of what Appalachian Ohioans can achieve and those whose commitment to the region has paved the way for remarkable achievements by the people who live here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Born into a coal-mining family in western Pennsylvania, Kopchick was called home to Appalachia by opportunity and has been building opportunities in the region ever since. One of Ohio University\u2019s first eminent scholars, Kopchick\u2019s ground-breaking discovery of a growth hormone antagonist has made him a world-renowned scientist, has opened doors of opportunity for students in Appalachian Ohio and beyond, and has literally saved lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kopchick\u2019s scientific breakthrough became a life-saving drug used to treat acromegaly, a rare condition caused by excess growth hormone, that also shows remarkable promise for the treatment of other diseases, including cancer. He has received numerous awards and has used the royalties he\u2019s earned to create scholarships that are nurturing future scientists and innovators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI just encourage other children of Appalachia to go with your passion. Go where your heart leads, and do something that may change the world,\u201d Kopchick said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch Dr. Kopchick\u2019s award acceptance video at https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/faoKopchick<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Chaddock Philanthropist of the Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Chaddock Philanthropist of the Year Award, celebrating those who have made an outsized difference in Appalachia through philanthropy, was presented to the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District Board of Directors for its transformative gift and partnership that will forever protect the environment and natural beauty of Appalachian Ohio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier this year, the district\u2019s board invested $5 million to create the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District Fund for Environmental Stewardship, which is managed by FAO. The new fund will advance the district\u2019s and FAO\u2019s commitment to enhancing conservation efforts throughout the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re exceptionally proud to receive the Chaddock Philanthropist of the Year Award,\u201d said Craig Butler, executive director of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District. \u201cIt\u2019s a reflection of our entire team and our ethic around how we want the organization to not only be a part of the community but to uplift the community. We are excited to witness the transformative impact this investment will contribute to the region\u2019s communities for years, if not decades, to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District\u2019s award acceptance video at https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/faoMWCD<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Changemaker of the Year Award<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Changemaker of the Year Award, given to those who are advancing transformative changes in the region, was presented to the Ohio Optometric Association and Foundation, Vision To Learn and the Ohio Treasurer of State\u2019s office\/ResultsOHIO \u2013 the visionaries and collaborators behind FAO\u2019s iSee with Vision To Learn program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n iSee with Vision To Learn provides students with free vision screenings, eye exams and prescription glasses through mobile vision clinics at schools. To date, the program has enabled more than 5,800 students to receive vision exams, and more than 4,600 students have received glasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The program is the first project to successfully complete the Treasurer of State\u2019s ResultsOHIO pay-for-success model, and the Ohio Legislature has appropriated funds to expand the mobile vision clinics statewide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re well on our way to the day when all children in Ohio will have access to essential vision care, and it\u2019s happening because of the innovation and partnership that began here in Appalachian Ohio,\u201d said Cara Dingus Brook, FAO president and CEO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch the Changemaker of the Year Award acceptance video at https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/faoVTL<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Special announcement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another highlight of FAO\u2019s Giving Tuesday celebration was the announcement of two matching fund opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through Dec. 31, FAO is matching 50 cents on every $1 given to any endowment at FAO, including those that support local communities, nonprofits or scholarship programs. Matching funds also are available for new endowments. A total of $500,000 in match funding will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, with up to $25,000 in match available per household. <\/p>\n\n\n\n FAO is also matching $2 for every $1 given to its Pillars of Prosperity funds, which support programming and grants for arts and culture, community and economic development, education, environmental stewardship, and health and human services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To see highlights from FAO\u2019s Giving Tuesday celebration, to watch the event in its entirety and for more information about the matching funds available, visit https:\/\/appalachianohio.org\/give\/givingtuesday2023\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information about FAO and how you can create opportunities for the people and communities of Appalachian Ohio, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org<\/a>, email info@ffao.org<\/a> or call 740.753.1111.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Giving Tuesday celebration includes announcement about new matching funds NELSONVILLE, Ohio \u2013 The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) presented its 2023 awards to several donors and doers who are improving lives and communities throughout the 32-county region. The awards were presented Nov. 28 during FAO\u2019s Giving Tuesday virtual celebration. \u201cWe are proud and honored to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"3215,8308,5367,4700,3111,3873","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18,24,21],"class_list":["post-97","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-affiliates","category-donor-stories","category-impact-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n