ABOUT US!
Friends of Appalachia, Inc. (FOA) is a Trumbull, Connecticut based Public Charity 501(c)(3), and is registered with the State of Connecticut. FOA is a community organization, open to all, which strives to educate and sensitize youth and adult volunteers to address the needs of the impoverished people in Central Appalachia.
FOA's 2026 Board Members
Lisa Peters - President, T-Shirt/Trip Coordinator
Avery Peters - Vice-President, Communications Coordinator, Center Director, Trip Coordinator
Vera Dosky - Treasurer
Kyle Peters - Secretary, Construction Training Coordinator, Trip Floater
Paul Angelucci - Devo Co-Coordinator, Trip Coordinator
Katie Boland - THS Liaison, Taste of Spring Coordinator
Chris Capobianco - Coffee Coordinator, Construction Training, Trip Coordinator
John Dosky - Parent Liaison
Nicole Trommelen - Community Outreach, THS Liaison
Wynn Haslam - College Liaison
Risa Hilinski - College Liaison
Zach Parente - College Liaison
Anusha Ragupathy - College Liaison
Luke Verna- College Liaison
Katie Pollack- College Liaison
Riley Connelly- College Liaison
In the years since FOA has participated in ASP each summer. Our participation and amount of money committed to the region is growing steadily. Thank you to all!
FOA Towns/States/Counties we have served
2010 - Butler, TN - Carter County
2011 - Jackson, KY - Breathitt County
2012 - Chapmanville, WV - Logan County
2013 - Boone, NC, - Watauga County
2014 - Whiteburg, KY - Letcher County
2015 - Newport, TN - Cocke County
2016 - Huff Creek, WV, - Wyoming County
2017 - Evarts, KY - Harlan County
2018 - Clay, WV - Clay County
2019- Johnson City, TN - Washington County
2022- Floyd, KY - Floyd County
2023 - Rupert, WV - Greenbrier County
2024 - Shady Valley, TN - Johnson County
2025 - Carrie, KY - Knott County
2026 - FOA's 15th Trip - TBA
FOA Trip Volunteer Reflection & Thank You -
To all 2025 FoA’ers.
Welcome home!! It’s hard for me to explain in words how proud I am of every single one of you.
I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you... Thank you for your precious time. Thank you for all the hard work you put in pre-trip and during the trip. Thank you for making a difference, small or big. We wont ever forget that.
As most of you know this was my 18th trip. Some would think it starts to become repetitive or boring but every year I seem to learn something new about myself and how to overcome different types of issues. Teaching those responsibilities, skills and techniques to the youth is something that keeps me driven. The same that my elders taught me when I was first starting out my ASP career.
Each and every one of you should be very proud of yourselves. You changed someones life for the better. You helped built hope in a community that has suffered a lot in the last 3 years.
Whether this is your first trip or 18th, you will forever be apart of this family. Wear the FoA swag with pride and don’t ever forget the meaning behind what we do.
FoA has now helped a total of 89 families since our start in 2009. That will continue to grow for years to come thanks to all of our donors past, present and future. We couldn’t do it without your support and trust. Thank you for that opportunity to serve those in need of repair in Central Appalachia.
With that being said, we left behind $4000 to @appservproject to continue to do their mission in Knott County, Kentucky to make homes Warmer, Safer, and Drier.
Where ever we go. WE are Friends of Appalachia.
14 years of moving mountains.
14 years of serving with love.
14 years of changing lives.
With love, Floater Kyle
P.S. Anyone else ready to go back? I am !
In the fall of 2009, A group of committed and experienced individuals came together to form an independent 501(c)(3) with a simple purpose: to Help. Build. Hope. in Central Appalachia. This organization would enable us to work unrestricted for the people of Central Appalachia. Our single largest initiative was the ASP trip that many of us had made in the past, as well as some new initiatives to focus on more year-round help for this impoverished region.
FOA's 2009 Founding Board Members
Anna Henry, President John Dosky, Vice President
Lisa Peters, Treasurer Val Collison, Secretary
Doug Doyle Sandy Fraser
Joe Henry John Henry
Sean Jackson John Nigro
