Contributed INVESTMENT — Among those on hand for the announcement of the donation were, from left, front, Jim Crandall, MWCD chief financial officer; Cara Dingus Brook, foundation president and CEO; Robert S. Moorehead Jr., president of the MWCD board of directors; Joanne Limbach, MWCD board member; Holley Shelton, foundation vice president; and back, Gordon Maupin, MWCD board member; Craig Butler, MWCD executive director; and James Gresh, MWCD board member.

NEW PHILADELPHIA — Members of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District Board of Directors approved investing $5 million to create a fund managed by the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio at their meeting held on Jan. 27.

FAO is a regional community foundation serving Appalachian Ohio’s 32 counties with the mission to create opportunities for Appalachian Ohio’s citizens and communities by inspiring and supporting philanthropy. The organization has five areas of investment known as pillars of prosperity funds. The pillars are education, health and human services, community and economic development, arts and culture and environmental stewardship.

The MWCD recently completed a five-year strategic plan which focuses on key areas, including strengthening conservation and sustainability. The plan identifies ways to makes tangible progress toward improving water quality, protecting healthy ecosystems, catalyzing collaborations, and demonstrating sustainability. The investment to the foundation will contribute to the environmental stewardship pillar of prosperity, which aligns with the priorities within the MWCD strategic plan.

“We are very excited to partner with FAO as we share a commitment to improving lives and the environment in Appalachia,” said Craig Butler, MWCD executive director. “MWCD remains committed to our mission of flood mitigation, recreation, and conservation and through our strategic investments, we now have the opportunity to fund programs that will encourage and enhance environmental stewardship.”

“We are grateful for MWCD’s visionary leadership in our region,” said Cara Dingus Brook, FAO president and CEO. “MWCD’s investment will create many possibilities in the areas of environmental stewardship, not only today but for generations to come. We are excited to be partnering with MWCD and look forward to sharing information and grant applications soon.”

For information, visit www.mwcd.org or www.appalachianohio.org.