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AZARK AWARDED $25,000 ARC READY NONPROFITS GRANT
Our Mission
Our Mission
Partnering across Central Appalachia to build individual and organizational capacity—optimizing the education, health, and wellbeing of the region’s young people.
Partnering across Central Appalachia to build individual and organizational capacity—optimizing the education, health, and wellbeing of the region’s young people.
Our Vision
Our Vision
Rural Appalachian communities strengthened through increased capacity, sustainable development, and equitable access to resources—fostering long-term resilience while eliminating geographic and systemic barriers across state lines.
Rural Appalachian communities strengthened through increased capacity, sustainable development, and equitable access to resources—fostering long-term resilience while eliminating geographic and systemic barriers across state lines.
Service Area
Service Area
Based in Kingsport, TN — Serving Central Appalachia
Based in Kingsport, TN — Serving Central Appalachia
150-mile operational radius across Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky.
Operating from Kingsport, Tennessee, the Azark Foundation serves communities across a 150-mile radius spanning Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Western North Carolina, and Southeast Kentucky. Across state lines, these rural Appalachian communities share deeply interconnected economic, educational, and healthcare ecosystems.
Rather than viewing state borders as boundaries, our geographic position allows us to foster cross-state collaboration—delivering shared, regional solutions that supplement state-specific initiatives and build long-term capacity.
Leadership
Leadership
Dr. Richard Kitzmiller
Dr. Richard Kitzmiller
President/CEO
President/CEO
Former Superintendent of Kingsport City Schools, consistently recognized as one of Tennessee's top-performing public school districts.
Veteran manager of complex regional initiatives housed by the Niswonger Foundation, including Project On Track, AP Access for All, and Career Connect.
Proven administrator of two federal Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant awards.
Dr. Andy Kitzmiller
Dr. Andy Kitzmiller
Vice President of Healthcare Operations
Vice President of Healthcare Operations
Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC/MHSP).
Former Healthcare Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director overseeing 30 multi-state branch locations across Tennessee and Virginia.
Specialist in value-based care models and navigating multi-state Medicaid and regulatory compliance.
Institutional Growth & Capacity Milestones
Institutional Growth & Capacity Milestones
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Grant Awardee:
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Grant Awardee:
The Azark Foundation was selected for a $25,000 capacity-building award through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s READY Nonprofits initiative. This award followed 10 weeks of intensive executive training covering governance, financial stewardship, multi-state operations, and program evaluation.
Key Capacity Initiatives Underway:
Key Capacity Initiatives Underway:
Multi-State Compliance:
Multi-State Compliance:
Completing formal legal and regulatory registrations across Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky to dismantle state-line barriers for regional programs.
Digital Infrastructure Buildout:
Digital Infrastructure Buildout:
Securing specialized software and learning management systems (LMS) to host asynchronous certifications, including trauma-informed care and educator health coaching.
Regional Opportunity Hub:
Regional Opportunity Hub:
Developing an open-access resource directory connecting educators, behavioral health providers, and community partners.
Feasibility & Delivery Study:
Feasibility & Delivery Study:
Conducting a comprehensive evaluation to validate our regional delivery model and prepare the foundation for large-scale implementation funding.
Regional Ecosystem & Collaborative Partners
Regional Ecosystem & Collaborative Partners
Our work is deeply integrated into Central Appalachia's economic and educational ecosystem. We actively align with and support:
Our work is deeply integrated into Central Appalachia's economic and educational ecosystem. We actively align with and support:
K-12 School Districts:
K-12 School Districts:
Partnering with Communities in Schools of Appalachian Highlands, regional superintendents, and school systems to deliver teacher support and mental health frameworks.
Rural Health & Treatment Clinics:
Rural Health & Treatment Clinics:
Providing technology and professional development support to regional healthcare clinics serving high-need rural populations.
Higher Education & Research Centers:
Higher Education & Research Centers:
Collaborating with regional centers such as REL- Appalachia, Appalachian State's Office of Rural Promise, the NC Rural Education Collaborative and regional higher education institutions.
Regional Economic Development
Regional Economic Development
Directly supporting the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) across seven Local Development Districts (First Tennessee, LENOWISCO, Mount Rogers, Cumberland Plateau, High Country, Land of Sky, and Cumberland Valley)
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