Schooler Family Foundation celebrates 40 years of grant making

Established Dec. 27, 1985, the Schooler Family Foundation celebrates 40 years of grant making in the communities of Coshocton, Frazeysburg and Perryton and in other parts of Ohio and the United States.

Endowed by Seward D. and Edith I. Gardner Schooler, the Schooler Family Foundation has, for four decades, continued their legacy of care in the areas of education, religion, recreation, health and human services, arts and culture, and historic preservation, awarding 444 grants totaling more than $9.6 million.

As lifelong citizens of East Central and Appalachian Ohio, the Schoolers lived their early married years in Frazeysburg in Muskingum County, where, in his youth, Seward Schooler worked alongside his father in the family’s ice and egg delivery business. He then started his career in banking as a bookkeeper and cashier for Coshocton National Bank's Ohio State Bank in Frazeysburg.

In 1940 the couple moved to Coshocton, where they raised two sons and where Seward Schooler continued his employment with Coshocton National Bank, becoming president in 1945 and chairman in 1973. The Schoolers lived the remainder of their lives in Coshocton, leaving behind a legacy of care for the communities from which they came.

In celebration of its 40th year, the Schooler Family Foundation made grants in 2025 totaling $594,184 to local, state and national nonprofit and government agencies:

—Red Cross East Central Ohio Chapter, Newark: $22,000 for Coshocton County emergency, armed forces and blood donation services.

—Ashbrook Center, Ashland: $15,000 for a Teaching American History Seminar for Coshocton County educators.

—Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, Nelsonville: $25,000 for the Friends of FAO Endowment.

—Grace United Methodist Church, Coshocton: $90,000 for replacement of a stained-glass window in the church sanctuary.

—Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum, Coshocton: $6,600 for the free admission Sundays program for three years.

—Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, Canton: $5,000 for Coshocton County schools programs.

—Kids America, Coshocton: $100,000 for replacement of the HVAC system.

—Leadership Coshocton County, Coshocton: $1,750 for retreat costs.

—Muskingum Valley Council Chapter of the Boy Scouts of America, Zanesville: $2,500 for sponsorship of the Scout Leadership Dinner.

—Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center, Zanesville: $43,000 for the Coshocton Elementary School Growing Educated and Responsible Students before-school, after-school and summer programs.

—Ohio Dyslexia Center, Coshocton: $10,450 for scholarships and computers.

—The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges, Westerville: $42,500 for the Ohio Scholars Program benefiting Coshocton County scholars.

—Ohio State University Foundation, Columbus: $50,000 for a Coshocton County Extension community-development program.

—Perryton United Methodist Church, Perryton: $15,000 for window replacement and parking lot repair.

—Philanthropy Ohio, Columbus: $1,820 for Nonprofit Summer Learning Series Scholarships for the Coshocton County nonprofit community.

—The Piney Woods School, Piney Woods, Mississippi: $75,000 for a scholarship program.

—River View Local School District, Warsaw: $25,000 for renovation of the River View High School auditorium.

—Roscoe Village Foundation, Coshocton: $3,000 for the Loom Loft Weaving Workshop program.

—The Salvation Army Coshocton Corps, Coshocton: $18,000 for the Emergency Social Services Program.

—Village of Frazeysburg, Frazeysburg: $42,564 for replacement of the community pool liner.

A complete listing of grants and grant application guidelines is available by written request to schoolerfamilyfoundation@gmail.com.