We will gather to develop or restore individual capacity among the staff of nonprofits in the area while fostering cohesion to strengthen our network and collaboration. Thanks to the support of the Athens County Foundation, this retreat is open to up to 2 executive leaders of every nonprofit organization in Athens County, with all materials, refreshments, meals, and services provided free of charge.
Pull up a Chair: May Newsletter
Emily Prince • May 13, 2026
Strength and Spirit of our Community
As another school year comes to a close in Athens County, we’ve been watching the familiar rhythm of transition unfold outside our windows at the Athens Armory—moving trucks lining the streets, couches and mattresses waiting on sidewalks, and long hugs between friends and families celebrating what comes next. It’s a season that reminds us how many lives intersect here. For some, it is a temporary chapter. For others, it becomes home, a place where friendships deepen, purpose takes shape, and people discover ways to contribute their time, talents, and care to something larger than themselves. It is this constant weaving together of journeys, old and new, that continues to shape the strength and spirit of our community.
For some of us at the Athens County Foundation, we also started our journey at OHIO or Hocking College, expecting only a season of life, and found a community that gave us room to grow and contribute. It became the place where we discovered how our strengths could serve something larger than ourselves and where we found opportunities to help build a stronger community alongside our neighbors.
Maybe that is why this season feels so personal. Watching students pack up reminds us how meaningful even a short season can be when you’re welcomed, seen, and invited to contribute. At the Foundation, our work is rooted in making changemaking accessible, so that every person who finds this community has the chance to participate, contribute, and belong.
With Appreciation,
Athens County Foundation
Leadership Athens County: Celebrating 20 Years
Since 2006, LAC has connected many leaders to the County, to other leaders, and to their own sense of purpose. In its 20th year, LAC has only gotten bigger and better with more leaders involved, including the youth and alumni, co-learning and co-creating futures together.
20 Years of Proven Outcomes
- 87% of alumni use LAC tools to strengthen Athens County
- 81% feel more hopeful about their work and community
- 71% feel more connected to Athens County after participating
Please join us for the LAC 26 Graduation and 20-year celebration on
May 21, 2026, at the Athens Armory.
Your Giving, Connected to Community Impact
At the Athens County Foundation, we work alongside donors to connect generosity with real community needs.
We believe giving works best when it is informed, flexible, and rooted in relationships. That is why we invest in data, partnerships, and local insight to help guide where resources can make the greatest difference.
Through our collaboration with Ohio University’s Voinovich School, we continue to deepen our understanding of the systems shaping life in Athens County. These insights help ensure that your giving supports not only immediate needs but also long-term solutions.
Just as important, we serve as a connector. We bring together individuals, nonprofits, and partners working on issues like housing, food access, and economic opportunity. When people come together, ideas strengthen, and impact grows.
Starting with a Love of Humanity
Philanthropy means a love of humanity. It is personal, and it looks different for everyone.
At the Athens County Foundation, our role is to help you shape that instinct into action. Often, it starts with a conversation. Together, we will:
- Talk about the organizations you already care about
- Learn about your experiences and what matters most to you
- Explore the needs and opportunities in our community
- Work with your advisors to structure your giving in a way that fits your financial goals
You do not need to have everything figured out. Giving evolves, and we are here to walk alongside you.
Connecting Athens Professional (CAP) events create a welcoming space for Chamber members to socialize with fellow professionals and community members while patronizing a different local business every month.
Join us on Thursday, May 14, from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm, for an evening of networking and connection at the Athens Armory Building.
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A community is built through relationships.
Stronger Together
On Thursday, May 21, community members gathered at the Athens Armory to celebrate the graduates of the 2026 Leadership Athens County Flagship and Youth cohorts, honor 20 years of Leadership Athens County, and officially launch the Leadership Athens County Alumni Association. Hosted by the Athens County Foundation, the evening reflected the program’s long-standing commitment to cultivating local leadership rooted in connection, collaboration, and service. Over the past two decades, Leadership Athens County has brought together emerging and established leaders from across the region to deepen their understanding of Athens County, strengthen relationships, and develop the skills needed to create meaningful community impact. In her opening remarks, Athens County Foundation Executive Director Kerry Pigman reflected on the program’s origins and enduring purpose. “Leadership Athens County exists because people chose to invest in each other and in this community,” Pigman shared. “Tonight may represent the end of your program, but it is also an invitation. An invitation to stay engaged.” Throughout the evening, speakers returned to a common theme: leadership in Athens County is built through relationships, trust, and a shared commitment to community. Communications and Engagement Manager Emily Prince, a member of the very first Leadership Athens County cohort in 2006, reflected on how the program shaped her own leadership journey and deepened her sense of belonging in Athens County. “Leadership Athens County helped me to find the opportunities I needed to be who I want to be,” Prince said. “I want to be a person who forges a path, clears the rocks, and levels the roots. I want the next generation’s road to be smoother than mine so that they can run farther.” Graduates from both the adult and youth cohorts shared personal introductions of one another throughout the ceremony, highlighting the relationships, growth, and mutual support developed over the year. Their reflections emphasized the diversity of leadership styles and experiences represented across Athens County, from educators, nonprofit professionals, artists, healthcare workers, and advocates to students already stepping into leadership roles within their schools and communities. Leadership Athens County facilitator Dani Esperanza reminded attendees that the program is grounded in an asset-based approach to leadership. “The leaders we need are already here,” Esperanza said during the commencement ceremony. “We don’t need a ‘hero’ leader who will save the day and come up with all the solutions. We need to identify our individual and collective strengths, harness them to make change, and support one another throughout the process.” The event also marked the official launch of the Leadership Athens County Alumni Association, an initiative designed to strengthen connections among the program’s more than 400 alums and create opportunities for continued collaboration, mentorship, service, and learning. Speaking during closing remarks, Leadership Athens County alumna Mallory Swaim reflected on the importance of sustaining those connections long after graduation. “The greatest strength of Athens County has never been a building, an institution, or a single organization,” Swaim said. “It has always been the people. The people are willing to invest in one another. The people willing to stay engaged.” The evening also included fundraising efforts to support the Leadership Athens County Fund, which is helping to seed an endowment dedicated to supporting Leadership Athens County Youth in perpetuity and to ensuring that future young leaders can participate fully regardless of financial barriers. As the evening concluded, graduates, alums, families, and community partners celebrated not only the accomplishments of the 2026 cohorts but also the growing network of leaders who continue to shape the future of Athens County together. Nomination forms are open for both the Flagship and Youth Programs:
