Friendship forged in adversity yields legacy for Appalachian Ohio

By Sharon Hatfield
Jenco Foundation
Foundation for Appalachian Ohio 

NELSONVILLE, Ohio – Journalist. Hostage. Professor. Business owner.   

Throughout his lifetime, Terry Anderson served multiple roles. But to many in Appalachian Ohio, his greatest legacy is rooted in a little-known detail embedded in his most well-known story.

While serving as a correspondent for the Associated Press in Lebanon in 1985, Anderson was kidnapped by Shiite Muslim extremists, who held him hostage for more than six years. There, he met Father Lawrence Martin Jenco, a Roman Catholic priest and director of Catholic Relief Services in Beirut, who also was being held captive. 

Even in confinement, Father Jenco continued to serve, providing a listening ear for other detainees, including Anderson. After his release in 1991, Anderson sued Iran, sponsor of the Hezbollah militia who held him captive. Using part of the settlement he received, Anderson created the Jenco Foundation in 2001 to honor the legacy of his friend. 

Each year, the Foundation honors unsung heroes of all ages who, like Father Jenco, have made a difference in the lives of others. Through service and visionary leadership in Appalachian Ohio, these individuals exemplify the difference we can all make when we give time, talent and passion to helping our neighbors and building community.

Since 2002, the Jenco Foundation has honored more than 80 Jenco Award winners who have contributed to the quality of life in Appalachian Ohio. These individuals represent a cornucopia of passion and achievement: founders of nutrition programs for schoolchildren and hungry adults; leaders in environmental stewardship and education; champions of the arts; community organizers; individuals focused on substance use disorder awareness and prevention; directors of after-school programs; keepers of local history; and more. 

Their stories inspire others to see a need and to do something on a personal and community level. And their stories might not otherwise be told if not for Anderson and his generosity.

With Anderson’s death last month, I am reminded again how a friendship forged nearly 40 years ago, thousands of miles from Ohio and under conditions none of us can imagine, led to a legacy that will forever invest in individuals committed to improving lives throughout Appalachian Ohio. 

The Jenco Foundation is accepting nominations for 2024 Jenco Award recipients through June 3. For more information about the Jenco Foundation, previous Jenco Award winners or how to nominate a change-maker for the award, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org/Jenco. 

Sharon Hatfield is a founding board member of the Jenco Foundation, which joined the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio in 2011 as an endowment, ensuring that Father Jenco’s legacy would live on in perpetuity.