Roscoe Foundation plan will aid preservation, secure village's future

COSHOCTON − Roscoe Village Foundation has kicked off the first phase of its Elevate the Legacy plan with a $1.9 million matching gift.

The foundation, which operates Roscoe Village, wants to boost its preservation, visitor experiences and economic impact in Coshocton County, according to a community announcement.

The new funding comes from the Robert and Carolyn Simpson Donor-Advised Fund, which was established by Robert and his late wife, Carolyn, according to the announcement. The initiative had launched with lead gifts of $500,000 from Marion Sutton, Wes and Ann Simpson and the Eugene and Marianne Lautenschleger donor advised fund at the Coshocton Foundation.

Foundation appoints executive-in-residence

To support the effort, the foundation has appointed Sharon Kinkley Bucey as executive-in-residence. She will guide the development of the master plan, lead stakeholder engagement, branding, marketing and fundraising initiatives, and help advance the foundation's preservation, programming and economic vitality goals, according to the announcement. Bucey, who grew up in Coshocton, brings experience in nonprofit leadership, branding, digital engagement, philanthropy, destination development, experiential programming and regional economic initiatives.

"As we develop the master plan, people will begin to see visible progress right away, including updates to our website and digital presence that align with this new initiative and help us showcase Roscoe Village's history and the enriched experiences we aim to create," Bucey said in the announcement. "We are also excited to gather input from a wide range of stakeholders whose perspectives will help shape Roscoe Village's future."

Public input welcomed

The master plan is designed to identify long-term investments required to secure the village's future and inform the next phase of the foundation's work.

"This initiative honors the investment and vision of our founders, Edward and Francis Montgomery," said David Brillhart, foundation board president. "These amazing gifts represent a belief in what Roscoe Village means to our community and challenges us to not only protect our heritage but also to establish a vision for the future and positioning Roscoe Village as a regional and national destination for education, history, and authentic experiences."

Over the coming months, the foundation will conduct listening and insight sessions with a range of stakeholders, including residents, local businesses, educators, tourism leaders, regional partners, legacy families and national subject-matter experts, according to the announcement.

Individuals or organizations interested in participating may contact Sharon Bucey at  SBucey@roscoevillage.com .

This story was created by Dave DeMille,  ddemille@gannett.com , with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at  cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct .

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Roscoe Village Foundation reveals master plan for future