Honorees
Leona Hughes
"If these students are given a chance, they will surprise us. There is talent, interest and willingness to give back. It’s the ones who succeed you have to pay attention to because they can make the beginning of a change."
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."
FAO's ICAN! Business Council
We especially thank the following partners, who join FAO in creating educational opportunities with multi-year gifts that support FAO’s growth while also growing resources within FAO to assist our communities in educational access and success. These partners include:
FAO's ICAN! Business Council 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 provides scholarships and grants to encourage and enable students to pursue careers in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
CSX, one of the nation’s leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services, is supporting the Foundation’s work to enhance the educational opportunities available to the region’s students to increase educational achievement.
Duke Energy, supporting planning and organizational activities of FAO to engage the corporate sector and leverage the I’m a Child of Appalachia program.
Diagnostic Hybrids, Inc., supporting a three-year pilot project to leverage the resources of I’m a Child of Appalachia to encourage young people to pursue careers in science, especially the bio sciences.
Grange Insurance has committed to a second year of
partnership with the Foundation and its ICAN! Business Council through an
in-kind gift of printing services. With Grange’s support, the Foundation is
better able to share its mission, spread the word about the opportunities that
it provides to the region and its partners, and support FAO funds. Their work
can be seen in the 2009 I'm a Child of Appalachia Writing Contest booklet, as well as in last year's 2008 I’m a Child of Appalachia Essay Contest booklet.
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 Company 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! Business Council.
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 to recognize and pursue the many post-secondary opportunities available to them. Having funded $500 curriculum enrichment grants to all teachers of winning students in the 2009 I’m a Child of Appalachia® Writing Contest, the Foundation will roll out Walmart Strive for Excellence Mini-Grants for teachers soon.
WesBanco’s membership in the ICAN! Business Council supports the Foundation’s work on I’m a Child of Appalachia programming, including the I’m a Child of Appalachia Writing Contest, Awards and Celebration, to spur regional pride and pursuit of educational opportunities.
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.