Gulfport Energy Fund Announces Grant Recipients
Ten Grants Awarded to Organizations in Eastern Ohio
St. Clairsville, OH – The Gulfport Energy Fund at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) has awarded nearly $40,000 in grant awards to 10 organizations in the second grant round of 2017. The recipients are nonprofit and public organizations in Belmont, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, and Noble counties. The second grant round of 2017 focused on projects related to health and human services and environmental stewardship. The first round of 2017 focused on education related projects, awarding over $40,000 in education-related grant dollars. Nearly $80,000 was awarded to public and nonprofit organizations in the communities served by the Gulfport Energy Fund in 2017.
“Gulfport is privileged to partner with local nonprofit and public organizations that work to improve the quality of life across the six counties where we operate,” said Mike Moore, CEO and President of Gulfport Energy. “By funding health and human services and environmental stewardship projects, we are able to contribute to the growth and success in these communities.”
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 2017 include:
The Barnesville Hospital Association received a $150 grant to support its Road to Recovery program, specifically the creation of brochures and other educational materials sharing available resources for those experiencing addiction. Residents of Belmont, Harrison, Guernsey, Monroe, and Noble counties will benefit from the materials created as a result of this grant.
Cambridge Middle School, part of the Cambridge City School District in Guernsey County, received a $5,255 grant to support the purchase of supplies for a school greenhouse project.
The City of Steubenville Parks and Recreation Department in Jefferson County received a $5,422 grant to support the purchase and installation of a climbing wall at the Belleview Pool.
The Eastern Gateway Community College Foundation received a $5,000 grant to support the purchase of supplies and updated equipment for the Eastern Gateway Community College Dental Clinic which serves low-income clients in Jefferson County.
Farmers and Hunters Feeding Hungry received a $500 grant to support its Meating the Need program which supports the processing of locally hunted deer to provide sources of protein to local food banks. Citizens suffering from food insecurity in Guernsey, Noble, Harrison, and Belmont counties will benefit from this grant.
The Graysville & Community Volunteer Fire Department in Monroe County received a $8,976 grant to support capital improvements to its community space to allow community groups to better utilize the shared space.
The Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center – Meals on Wheels received a $4,000 grant to support its More Than a Meal – Reporting Changes of Condition Technology & Going Green! Project. This grant will support the purchase of technology to track health and well-being metrics of people served by the Meals on Wheels program in Guernsey County with limited services to citizens in Belmont, Harrison, and Noble counties.
The Harrison Hills City School District in Harrison County received a $2,178 grant to support the purchase of bike racks to encourage students to bike to school at the new Harrison Hills campus scheduled to open for the 2019-2020 school year.
The Ohio Valley Health Center, serving patients from Jefferson and Harrison counties, received a $5,076 grant to purchase an EKG machine with spirometry to better serve patients by providing in-house testing and diagnostics.
The Switzerland of Ohio Local School District, which serves students from Monroe, Noble, and Belmont counties, received a $2,450 grant to support the Blessings in a Backpack program. Blessings in a Backpack provides weekend meals to students in need during the academic year.
The Gulfport Energy Fund will once again open two grant rounds in 2018 serving nonprofit and public organizations in Belmont, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, and Noble counties. The first grant round, opening February 13, 2018, will accept education related projects; the second round, opening in late summer, will support health and human services and environmental stewardship 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.
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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