Cole Supports Growth in Harlan County
Charley Cole serves as President of the Robert E. Frazier Tri-City Area Charitable Foundation, Inc., an organization that has funded more than $2.3 million in charitable grants to Eastern Kentucky.
Michelle Dykes from Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College received their grant funds from Frazier Foundation Board Members Chris Hogue and Alma Cornett in a special “drive-up” ceremony.
Sturgill Turner Member Charley Cole left Harlan County in Eastern Kentucky to attend the University of Kentucky 25 years ago, but he continues to give back to the area where he grew up. As President of the Robert E. Frazier Tri-City Area Charitable Foundation, Inc., he leads an organization that has funded more than $2.3 million in grants to qualified non-profits and governmental entities in Cumberland, Benham and Lynch since its creation in 2012.
The Frazier Foundation funds grant money biannually, and this spring is no exception, even though the Foundation had to make some adjustments due to COVID-19 restrictions. On June 25, the awards ceremony was held in a special “drive-up” program, where recipients were presented with their checks.
More than $188,500 in grant money was presented to the City of Benham ($20,000 to purchase trucks for the maintenance and water departments), the City of Cumberland ($26,333 for new pump equipment and $7,619 for a drive thru window), Cumberland Elementary School ($54,125 for multiple reading and math programs, volunteer teachers/tutors, sports equipment and 32 new Chromebook computers), the City of Lynch ($32,895 for a sewer jetter), Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College ($29,400 for 50 Chromebooks, 20 calculators, charging carts and a laptop lending specialist), Sleepy Hollow Golf Course ($12,500 for clubhouse needs), and Heritage Ministries, Inc. ($5,770 for home repair supplies for seven families with urgent housing issues).
The Frazier Foundation is the legacy of the late Cumberland businessman Robert E. “Bob” Frazier, whose insurance agency, founded in 1946, is still open for business today. As a dedicated community leader, Bob established the Robert E. Frazier Tri-City Area Charitable Foundation, Inc. to support domestic 501(c)(3), governmental, and educational organizations that benefit the cities and citizenry of Cumberland, Benham and Lynch.
The mission of the Frazier Foundation is meaningful to Charley in a number of ways. Charley’s father, Vernon J. Cole, was president of Guaranty Deposit Bank in Harlan, where Bob was a shareholder. Charley has multiple ties to the Tri-City area—he was born at the International Harvester Clinic in Benham, spent his early years in Cumberland, then moved to Harlan where he attended school and met his wife, Renae. Charley frequently travels to Harlan to visit family, represent clients in the area, and further the mission of the Frazier Foundation.
“Harlan County has changed greatly since I lived there and it a blessing that Mr. Frazier made such a generous contribution to the Tri-City Area, especially at this time of need,” said Charley. “I’m humbled to participate in his lasting generosity that will have an impact for years to come.”
Charley’s Eastern Kentucky roots and dedication to the Frazier Foundation demonstrate why he excels in his municipal law practice. He is a passionate advocate for cities, with a focus on helping cities prosper and protecting them from risk. Charley enjoys working with mayors, city officials and police officers, and it’s clear that they like working with him, too, because he genuinely cares about them and the success of their communities.
For more information on the Frazier Foundation, please visit www.robertefrazierfoundation.org. Requests for grants are submitted to the Robert E. Frazier Tri-City Charitable Grant Foundation, LLC, c/o Bobbie Gothard, Grant Administrator (www.robertefrazierfoundation.org/contact).