Building philanthropy and fostering education are among the goals of the almost two-decades old Foundation for Appalachian Ohio.

Its CEO and president Cara Dingus Brook gave members of the Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce a thumbnail sketch of the non-profit at its monthly Fourth Friday luncheon.

“We want to help communities without a community foundation establish philanthropy,” Brook told the audience at the Knights of Columbus. “It is a vital building block for a healthy community. If you don’t have (a foundation) set up, you will see gifts leave. And it gives a place a sense of place.”

The foundation, created in 1998, serves 32 counties in the Appalachian portion of the state that extends from Cleveland to Cincinnati. Its success has been based on its focusing on the qualities that make Appalachia a positive force, Brook said.

“It’s our creativity, our entrepreneurship and our sense of generosity,” she said.

The foundation is also a sponsor of the annual “I’m A Child of Appalachia, open to fourth through ninth grade students. The most recent winners in Lawrence County were Kristin Boshears, Khylee Shae Keaton, Chase Jenkins and Danielle Mathes, all of the Dawson-Bryant school district, Brianna Russell of South Point schools and David Ferguson of Ironton schools.

Since its inception the writing contest has grown from 734 entries to more than 4,000.

“We have some really creative kids,” Brook said. “But educating our kids isn’t enough. We have to create a community where they can thrive in. We can envision a day that when we think of Appalachia it is of the culture we all know and love.”

Also at the luncheon Chamber President Ron Eastham welcomed three new members: SVT Body Transformation Center in Ashland, Ky., Kincaid Enterprises in South Point; and Alpha Control in South Point.

The Fourth Friday luncheons will go on hiatus until March.