Regional awards program recognizes unsung heroes for service to others
NELSONVILLE, Ohio – Mike Workman of McConnelsville is one of six Appalachian Ohioans selected to receive a 2024 Jenco Award.
The Jenco Awards, a partnership between the Jenco Foundation Fund and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO), recognize and celebrate Appalachian Ohio residents who go and above beyond in service to others outside their paid positions. Each recipient, nominated by fellow community members, exemplifies the difference we can all make when we give time, talent and passion to helping our neighbors and building community.
“Through their service, visionary leadership and caring nature, all of these individuals make the lives of others, their communities and our world better,” said Michelle Shively MacIver, Jenco Foundation committee member. “Their impact will be felt for generations and inspires each of us to make a difference in our daily lives.”
Workman’s dedication to Morgan County and the greater Appalachian Ohio community shines through his everyday interactions, his unwavering service and the foundations he has built for the future of our region.
Workman was instrumental in the founding of the Morgan Community Fund (MCF), an FAO geographic affiliate foundation. After volunteering several years as the executive director of the Morgan County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) and successfully recruiting a large business to the community, the CIC board voted to reward Workman with a one-time $50,000 bonus. Workman declined the payment personally but proposed it be used to start a community fund for Morgan County, which he co-founded, chaired for many years and continues to support with his time, talent and treasure. Today, MCF stewards more than $2.1 million in assets across 12 funds benefiting the people of Morgan County and is led by the next generation of community builders who Workman actively inspires and mentors. He is also a former member and chair of the FAO board.
Passionate about helping future generations thrive, Workman has supported numerous educational programs through MCF and assists young entrepreneurs in finding success in our local communities. In addition to mentoring entrepreneurs in Morgan County, he is a volunteer mentor in Marietta College’s Entrepreneurship and Career Development Center.
The Jenco Foundation and the Jenco Awards uphold the legacy of Father Lawrence Martin Jenco, a Roman Catholic priest who dedicated his life to serving others. In 1985, Father Jenco was kidnapped while serving as director of Catholic Relief Services in Lebanon and spent 19 months in captivity. Even in confinement, Father Jenco continued to serve, providing a listening ear for other detainees, including journalist Terry Anderson.
In 2001, Anderson founded the Jenco Foundation to honor the legacy of his friend. In 2011, the Jenco Foundation joined FAO as an endowment, ensuring that Father Jenco’s legacy would live on in perpetuity. The Jenco Awards celebrate individuals who, like Father Jenco, have made a difference through community service and visionary leadership.
Joining Workman as 2024 Jenco Award recipients are Margaret “Peggy” Adams of Guernsey County, Robert Black of Scioto County, Holly Johnson of Adams County, Patty Summers of Mahoning County and Shannon Yochum of Highland County.