Edwards Champions Cause for Youth Development
Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville)
Edwards Champions Cause for Youth Development
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Today State Representative Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) emphasized legislative efforts to support leadership development for Ohio’s young student leaders. The work prioritizes a continued effort to support access to free Summer development programs across parts of the state.
Earlier this year, Representative Edwards of Ohio House District 94 worked to draft legislation that would benefit students across Southeast and Appalachian Ohio. Edwards introduced a line item earmark to allocate $400,000 over the span of the biennial budget currently drafted as House Bill 166. If passed, the legislation would fund the opportunity for hundreds of students to attend leadership development programs organized by The iBELIEVE Foundation.
“The iBELIEVE Foundation does a great job of working with young people throughout the Appalachian Region,” said State Representative Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville). “Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders and these programs will help them develop the skills they need to be successful.”
The iBELIEVE Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to “provide Appalachian youth opportunity.” iBELIEVE develops and facilitates a variety of youth development programs provided expense free to students living in Appalachian communities. This year, the foundation expects to host over 1,000 students in a series of Summer Leadership Workshops planned at colleges and universities across four states (OH, WV, KY, TN). The organization reports that the average expense per student is $350. With help from the State of Ohio, over 1,000 students from Appalachian Ohio will be funded to attend the programs through 2020.
