Harrison County Residents to Benefit from Two New Funds at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio
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locally-focused charitable giving and investments
Cadiz, OH –The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) announced the creation of two funds to support Harrison County on December 7th at the Puskarich Public Library in Cadiz. Both funds have been established as permanent funds at FAO, providing Harrison County with a long-term resource for giving back to a much-loved community.
Founded to assist Harrison County residents and friends in growing permanent philanthropic resources, the Harrison County Community Foundation Fund has been created to provide grants to advance charitable projects of benefit to Harrison County residents while also establishing a collective resource for all those looking to support Harrison County’s current and future opportunities through charitable giving.
With an initial, generous donation from anonymous donors with hearts for Harrison County, the Fund was established at FAO, a regional community foundation serving the thirty-two counties of Appalachian Ohio. Additionally, the donors created a complementary school system endowment fund, the Harrison Hills City School District Fund, to support educational activities of the Harrison Hills City School District. This fund will serve as a permanent vehicle for alumni, friends and supporters of academic excellence to provide contributions outside traditional funding sources to ensure permanent resources for programs and activities that enhance and enrich the educational experience of students and teachers.
“This is an excellent opportunity for the Harrison Hills City Schools community, past and present, to support the education of our students,” said Dr. George Ash, Superintendent of Harrison City Schools.
Community members including residents, alumni, friends, businesses and volunteer groups, will be able to jointly grow Harrison County’s fund as well as the school system endowment fund to make opportunities available that might not otherwise be possible. The funds are endowed, which means the principal investment will never be spent and grants will be made from the funds’ interest and earnings. Because the fund is flexible in mission, it can adapt to meet the changing needs and opportunities of Harrison County to have an impact today and far into the future.
“The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio is honored to welcome the Harrison County Community Foundation Fund and the Harrison Hills City School District Fund,” said Cara Dingus Brook, FAO’s President and CEO. “We have seen what community funds can do in other counties and look forward to working with Harrison County and its fund committees in growing resources to support your residents, students and educators.”
Gifts to each fund are governed by a committee. Serving on the community fund committee are Amy Clelland, Dirk Harkins, Lori Milleson, Dr. Scott Pendelton, Bob Positano, Matt Puskarich and John Tabacchi. The education fund committee consists of Todd Dunlap, Joyce Lannum, Kris Puskarich, Mike Sliva and Sandi Thompson. The committees will advise FAO on grants awarded from the funds.
“This is a very timely development for Harrison County,” said Mike Sliva, Vice President and Branch Manager of PNC Bank in Cadiz. “With new economic opportunities expanding in our community, we are glad to know there will be a tool for giving back designed to ensure Harrison County’s resources will benefit its residents for years to come.”
Contributions to the funds can be made in a variety of ways, including: outright gifts of cash or long-term appreciated securities; memorial gifts of cash or assets in memory or in honor of someone special; and deferred gifts through bequests, gift annuities, life insurance, and charitable remainder trusts and are fully tax deductible. Donations for the Harrison County Community Foundation Fund or the Harrison Hills City School District Fund can be sent to PNC Bank Attn: Mike Sliva, 235 South Main Street, Cadiz, Ohio 43907 or to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, 36 Public Square – PO Box 456, Nelsonville, Ohio 45764. Donations can also be made online at www.appalachianohio.org. For additional information, please call FAO at 740.753.1111.