Honorees

Bob Evans

"As a former member of the Ohio Board of Regents, I know the importance of education to open the minds of our youth in Appalachia. A college education is crucial to their future job success."

Gov. Ted Strickland

"When you grow up in small town southern Ohio, you see what people are capable of every single day. While there’s never been any shortage of ability in the place I call home, we have to make sure there’s no shortage of opportunity."

Corporate Partnerships

We especially thank the following partners, who join FAO in creating educational opportunities with gifts to support FAO’s growth while also growing resources within FAO to assist our communities in educational access and success. Members of our ICAN! Corporate Partnership include:

ICAN! Corporate Partners at the Foundation's 2008 10th Anniversary Celebration

American Electric Power, establishing the AEP Access to Environmental Education Endowment, which will provide unprecedented opportunities for youth to learn about environmental stewardship and local natural assets.

AK Steel, establishing the AK Steel Scholars program, which will provide scholarships and grants to encourage and enable students to pursue careers in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

Duke Energy is invested in supporting FAO as well as the region’s efforts to develop STEM partnerships and opportunities to assist in equipping our students with the 21st century skills necessary for success while arming our region with the skilled workforce necessary to impact Appalachian Ohio’s economic competitiveness.

Diagnostic Hybrids, Inc., a Quidel Company, is leveraging the resources of I’m a Child of Appalachia to encourage young people to pursue careers in science, especially the bio sciences.

ED MAP Inc. has joined the ICAN! Corporate Partnership with a three year commitment to providing the region's students with access to educational science experiences to encourage their curiosity while supporting FAO's capacity to deliver resources to the region.

JPMorgan Chase Foundation is supporting FAO’s efforts to create a regional collaborative of partners that will together design an agenda to track the region’s educational progress and guide the investments made in the region’s educational strategies.

Ohio CAT, an Ohio-based company with locations and employees in Appalachian Ohio, has committed a quarter million dollars to the Foundation over the next five years through 2013.  Ohio CAT’s gift will support FAO’s educational initiatives by building FAO’s capacity to serve the region and through the expansion and development of educational opportunities for our region’s students.

Oxford Mining has committed to supporting FAO's I'm a Child of Appalachia programming as well as the region's students through a five-year pledge to the ICAN! Corporate Partnership.

Peoples Bank has donated its former office space on the Public Square in Nelsonville to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio to assist FAO in creating an office space to fit its needs while also providing community convening space for the region’s nonprofits. Peoples Bank’s gift to FAO is a true investment in both FAO and the community.

Rocky Brands has invested in the future of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio by contributing to the renovation of its newly donated office space on the Public Square in Nelsonville. Rocky’s gift will allow FAO to grow its capacity to serve the region and will increase its ability to provide meeting space and build regional partnerships.

Tata Sons Ltd. and the Tata group of companies in North America are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the communities they serve. With a three-year pledge, Tata is helping to empower the region with exciting new educational opportunities for the region\'s students and to support FAO's I’m a Child of Appalachia programming.

Walmart has joined the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio in empowering teachers. Teachers inspire their students every day and with Walmart’s support the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio is helping teachers encourage students. The Walmart Foundation awarded FAO a $300,000 grant to support FAO's I'm a Child of Appalachia® Writing Contest and Walmart Strive for Excellence Mini-Grants for the 2010 - 2011 academic year.

Partners Helping FAO provide the Child of Appalachia Awards Program:

The Graham Family, for a three year pledge to support FAO’s I’m a Child of Appalachia awards
program and celebration.

McNational, Inc, for a three-year pledge to support FAO’s I’m a Child of Appalachia awards program
and celebration.