In Columbus, Ohio, Republican vice presidential nominee U.S. Sen. JD Vance is making headlines as he prepares to dissolve a charitable effort associated with his bestselling memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” According to the Trump-Vance campaign, Vance launched two nonprofits in 2016 aimed at addressing issues in Ohio and other “Rust Belt” states, such as creating jobs, improving mental health services, and combating the opioid crisis. However, the organizations did not meet expectations and faced criticism during Vance’s Senate campaign.
One of the nonprofits, a foundation, recently filed paperwork to reinstate its corporate status after allowing it to lapse in 2022, signaling Vance’s intention to wrap up the foundation’s operations. The remaining funds will be distributed to causes benefiting Appalachia. Records show that approximately $11,000 is still in the foundation’s account.
Vance’s first nonprofit, Our Ohio Renewal, was established as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization in 2016, with the goal of raising $500,000 annually for its work. A year later, the Our Ohio Renewal Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable group, was created to attract tax-deductible donations. Unfortunately, both organizations struggled to gain traction and were eventually shut down, with the foundation raising and spending only about $69,000 from 2017 to 2023.
A residency funded by Vance’s charitable efforts for Dr. Sally Satel in Ironton, Ohio, raised concerns due to her ties to the American Enterprise Institute and Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin. These ties were highlighted in reports from ProPublica, prompting questions about the ethical implications of Satel’s research. Despite these controversies, Vance’s Senate campaign stands by the candidate’s commitment to addressing the opioid crisis in Ohio.
As Vance closes the chapter on his charitable endeavors, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for the former nonprofits and how their legacy will impact future initiatives in Appalachia and beyond.
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