The Osteopathic Heritage Foundation of Nelsonville (the Foundation) approved a funding award of up to $140,000 over three years to continue its partnership with the Rocky Community Improvement Fund (RCIF), in support of programs serving vulnerable populations in Nelsonville and surrounding communities. “RCIF is pleased to continue our collaboration with the Foundation, which helps us invest more funding in the community for greater impact. This partnership helps organizations reach two funders through one application,” said Stephen Crook, RCIF Chairperson.
Since 2013, the Foundation has partnered with RCIF to match charitable contributions made by Rocky Brands employees. More than $550,000 in total funding has been awarded through the partnership to date, supporting organizations in the Nelsonville area focused on healthy food access, children’s welfare and education, human services and community improvement projects.
The following organizations received funding through the Foundation and RCIF in the fall 2019 grant cycle:
- Amesville Elementary: $4,000 to provide students experiencing food insecurity with food for the weekends.
- Athens County Department of Job and Family Services: $5,000 to implement Operation Full Belly, an emergency food program.
- The Gathering Place: $1,000 to provide outreach and bus passes for Nelsonville residents to participate in agency programming.
- Health Recovery Services: $2,215 to provide clothing and personal care items to youth at the Bassett House youth treatment center.
- Hocking County Board of Developmental Disabilities: $3,434 to support the Hocking County Diaper and Formula Bank.
- Logan-Hocking Local School District: $3,000 to provide food at Project SAFE before and after school care program sites for K-8 students.
- Lutheran Social Services: $5,000 to provide holiday food distributions at mobile food pantries in Athens County.
- Southeast Perry Food Pantry: $2,000 to purchase food for the pantry.
- Sojourners Care Network: $1,500 to support the Transitional Living Program for homeless youth.
- Susan G. Komen Columbus: $3,000 to support mammography screenings and diagnostics in southeastern Ohio.
- Tomcat Bridgebuilders: $2,000 to support youth and community substance use prevention in Trimble Township.
- Trimble Local Textbook and Supplies Foundation: $3,000 to purchase smart boards, Spanish textbooks and a camera for Trimble High School.
- Truth Food Pantry: $2,851 to complete freezer and truck repairs supporting pantry operations in Vinton County.
- Village Productions: $2,000 to support kitchen upgrades at the Amesville Senior Center.
Grant applications will be posted to the RCIF website in early 2020 for the spring funding cycle.
The Foundation will also continue support for Fare on the Square, a farm-to-table fundraising event, held in Nelsonville and led by RCIF, to support the Southeast Ohio Foodbank and food pantry network. The successful first annual event in June 2019 raised $20,000, which was matched by the Foundation. Funds were directed to capital needs at the Foodbank and supported food purchases for 27 pantries in Nelsonville and the surrounding area. The Foundation has again pledged matching support, up to $20,000, in support of Fare on the Square 2020.
Follow the RCIF Facebook page for updates on Fare on the Square 2020.