Sugar Bush Foundation awards nearly $390,000 to support Appalachian Ohio partnerships

The Sugar Bush Foundation, a supporting organization of the Ohio University Foundation, distributed $386,266 in funding for seven University-community projects benefiting Appalachian Ohio during the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

The gifts reflect the Foundation's continued commitment to supporting partnerships between Ohio University and regional nonprofits that create lasting impact on local food systems, socio-economic development and the environment of Appalachian Ohio.

Projects funded during the 2026-2027 fiscal year include

• Acceleration of the Circular Economy in Appalachian Ohio— $50,000. A partnership among Rural Action and the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service to upcycle OhioHealth hospital sterilization wrap fabric into tote bags, clothing and other products, engaging OHIO and Hocking College students and individuals facing employment barriers.
• Appalachia Ohio Zero Waste Initiative— $80,000. Now in its 17th year, this collaboration between Rural Action and the Voinovich School focuses on medical equipment redistribution, recycling at OHIO athletic events and composting in local schools.   
• Athens County Independent Environmental Reporting— $51,825. A partnership between OHIO's Scripps College of Communication and the Athens County Independent online newspaper that supports coverage of environment-related stories such as flooding, deer disease and fracking. 
• Building Workforce Capacity for Land Protection in Southeastern Ohio— $49,000. A collaboration among the Athens Conservancy, OHIO's Honors Tutorial College and the Voinovich School to expand land conservation capacity and create student internship and coursework opportunities in conservation practice.
• Foodways Innovation Partnership for Southeast Ohio— $47,720. A partnership between Community Food Initiatives and the OHIO Student Farm that sustains farm operations and expands access to fresh, locally grown produce for community members facing food insecurity.
• Maximize Solar, Minimize Waste— $50,000. A collaboration between the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development and OHIO's Mechanical Engineering Program in the Russ College of Engineering and Technology to research the reuse of lightly damaged solar panels, reducing waste and expanding solar access for nonprofits and low-income housing providers.
• The OHIO Rural Teacher Partnership— $57,721. A partnership between OHIO Regional Higher Education and Building Bridges to Careers that supports rural educators in developing community- and career-connected learning projects for middle school students.

Since its founding, the Sugar Bush Foundation has awarded more than $5.1 million to projects that engage OHIO students in partnerships between the University and area nonprofits across the region

The Sugar Bush Foundation is accepting Letters of Inquiry for fiscal year 2027-2028, due Nov. 30, 2026. To learn more, visit https://give.ohio.edu/advancement/sugar-bush/funding. 

For additional information or questions, contact Erin Rennich at sugarbushfoundation@ohio.edu.