Donor Spotlight

Donor Spotlight

Jo Ellen Diehl Yeary | Generosity rooted in pride, remembrance, dedication to home

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Landrum Endowment Fund

The Landrum Endowment Fund was created in 2016 after George Landrum, a lifelong resident of Ross County, left an endowment of $1.2 million to the Ross County Board of Developmental Disabilities, also known as the Pioneer Center. George’s brother, John Landrum, received over 30 years of service from the Pioneer Center.

The Landrum Endowment Fund supports projects of nonprofit and public organizations related to the Fund’s mission of improving the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities living in Ross County, Ohio. The Fund specifically focuses on the areas of advocacy, community inclusion, community employment, and parent/family support.

Past grantees from the Landrum Endowment Fund include:

  • Camp Cattail Inc. received funding to increase the accessibility and overall experience of its day camp programs. Funding allowed the camp to make restrooms more accessible and create programming to engage children and adults in activities such as walking and fishing.   
  • Easterseals Central and Southeast Ohio received funding to provide new handicap accessible doors for its entrance. Easier and safer entrances have enhanced the accessibility of Easterseals programming, including the Adult Day Program, which offers adults with disabilities opportunities to live, learn, and work as vital members of the community.
  • The Mighty Children’s Museum received funding for its instructional videos, which promote learning in and out of the classroom by offering educators and parents tools to tailor the use of museum resources for students in grades K-12.
  • Ohio University Student Success Center in Chillicothe received funding to support college-bound students with remote tutoring programs.
  • Pickaway-Ross Career and Technology Center received funding for the Driving for Success project. Through this project and with this funding, the career and technology center can support young people with disabilities by enhancing their independence and encourage participation in job shadowing, internships, and social activities with accessible transportation. Students were selected to utilize the center’s driving simulator to prepare them for driving school.
  • The Ross County Park District received funding to increase the accessibility of outdoor experiences and its nature conservation with ADA compliant sidewalks and a shelter house.

Gifts to the Landrum Endowment Fund are tax deductible and can be made in many ways, including cash, bequests, and life insurance. Donations can be made online by designating the Landrum Endowment Fund. To mail your donation, please designate the fund and mail to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, PO Box 456, Nelsonville, OH 45764.