COLUMBUS, OH (January 28, 2016)—The Medical Mutual of Ohio Charitable Fund is announcing grants totaling $213,882 to support six central Ohio nonprofit organizations working with youth and their families to promote physical fitness, weight management and nutrition education to reduce and prevent obesity.
The Medical Mutual Charitable Fund, created in 2008, specifically focuses on supporting health and wellness programs for youth in Franklin County. Medical Mutual created the fund as a field of interest fund of The Columbus Foundation in 2008. To date, a total of 29 central Ohio nonprofits have received grants.
“Philanthropy plays a critical role in strengthening and improving our community, and Medical Mutual’s generosity is making a difference in the lives of young people,” said Douglas F. Kridler, president and CEO of The Columbus Foundation. “This round of grants will increase opportunities for young people to establish healthy behaviors that can benefit them for many years to come.”
The following grants were awarded:
- Girls on the Run—$25,000 to expand the program, which creatively integrates running for fitness, to seven new sites to allow 210 additional girls in grades three to five to participate in the 10 week/20 session program.
- Gladden Community House—$11,295 to fund nutrition education and cooking classes for children in preschool through grade 8.
- Institute for Active Living—$45,000 to create three new cycling clubs, develop small gardens at 10 daycare centers, and increase farmer’s markets’ ability to accept Veggie SNAPS at 12 sites.
- Local Matters—$38,000 to deliver and expand programming to reach 3,400 children who are at-risk of, or are experiencing, chronic diseases and/or hunger.
- Nationwide Children's Hospital—$55,000 to support weight management efforts within targeted primary care centers in Franklin County, prioritizing centers that serve Latinos who are at risk.
- YMCA—$39,587 to increase the capacity of the nutrition and physical activity program by 225 youth and train staff on the CATCH curriculum, both aimed at helping youth exercise 60 minutes per day.
Front to back, left to right: Joy Chivers (Gladden), Jared Chaney (Medical Mutual), Linda Day-MacKessey (YMCA), Brad Britton (The Columbus Foundation), Michelle Moskowitz Brown (Local Matters), Jessica Sparks (Girls on the Run), Melaney Wilson (Gladden) , Lisa Courtice (The Columbus Foundation), Kerry Shaw (Local Matters), Haley Dominique and Scott McKenzie, (Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation), and Barb Seckler (Institute for Active Living).
About Medical Mutual
Founded in 1934, Medical Mutual of Ohio is the oldest and largest health insurance company based in Ohio. For more than 80 years, the company has served customers with high-quality, affordable group and personal health insurance plans, and third-party administrative services to self-insured group customers. As a mutual health insurance company, Medical Mutual is unique in that it operates for the benefit of its members. Unlike publicly-traded insurance companies that must maximize their financial return, Medical Mutual does not answer to stockholders or Wall Street analysts. For more information, visit the company’s award-winning website at MedMutual.com.
About The Columbus Foundation
The Columbus Foundation is the trusted philanthropic advisor® to more than 2,400 individuals, families, businesses, and communities that have created unique funds to make a difference in the lives of others through the most effective philanthropy possible. More than 70 years strong, The Columbus Foundation is the seventh largest community foundation in the United States. The Foundation’s online giving marketplace, PowerPhilanthropy®, makes it possible for everyone to access valuable information about nonprofit organizations in central Ohio. Visit columbusfoundation.org to learn more.