More than $14,000 awarded to advance nine projects and programs
HILLSBORO, Ohio – The Highland County Community Fund (HCCF), with the support of its donors and in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO), has awarded $14,150 during its 2026 grant round to advance nine projects and programs benefiting the county’s residents and communities.
“It takes generosity paired with action to move a community forward, and our grant recipients are proof of what’s possible when those forces come together,” said Lindsay Cloud, HCCF committee member. “We are grateful for the donors who are investing in a brighter future for Highland County and for the dedicated organizations and individuals who are building that brighter future every day.”
Nonprofits, schools and public organizations serving Highland County were invited to apply for grants – made possible by gifts to HCCF’s endowment fund – to advance opportunities across five areas essential to flourishing communities: arts and culture, community and economic development, education, environmental stewardship, and health and human services. Emphasis is on supporting individuals of all ages who are spearheading projects and programs that create opportunities, meet pressing needs and unleash the potential within Highland County.
The 2026 grant recipients are:
- Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio to purchase food for its Highland County Food for All Mobile Pantry
- Greenfield Area Christian Center’s New Directions Youth Ministry to fund outings and supplies for the summer 2027 Discover Inspire Grow Groups
- Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities to help fund a backyard fence for Hopeful Horizons, which provides scheduled respite care to local youth
- Highland County Community Action Organization to support the Aging in Appalachia program, which provides no- or low-cost opportunities for seniors to participate in outings and activities throughout the region
- Highland County Homeless Shelter to purchase essential items, such as food and bedding, for the individuals it serves
- Highland Health Providers to purchase automatic home blood pressure monitors for uninsured and underinsured Highland County residents
- Hillsboro First Baptist Church to purchase diapers and pull-ups for The Diaper Depot’s distributions to families in need
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southern Ohio to support Ending the Silence mental health education and suicide prevention programs in all five Highland County school district areas
- Wilderness East to support Nature is Neat! educational programs at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary
HCCF, one of FAO’s 15 affiliate foundation partners, was established in 2020 to develop and grow permanent resources that provide continuous investment in Highland County and its nonprofits, schools and communities. Each year, earnings from charitable giving to HCCF’s endowment fund are reinvested in Highland County through grants that meet the county’s greatest needs and most promising opportunities.