Number of individuals in Franklin
County living in poverty*
Number of children in Franklin
County living in poverty*
The monthly income it takes for a
family of 4 to make ends meet**
* U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2014 1-year estimates
** The University of Washington, Self-Sufficiency Standard 2015
When Emi and Tia are together, an extraordinary amount of energy and joy fill the room, whether they are dancing, drawing or just hanging out. They like being together, and it shows. The teens clearly recognize and appreciate one another’s strengths, and they’re quick to point those strengths out to anyone who is listening. Tia,…
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When Allie’s son Avett was born, there were several things she was not 100% prepared for: a broken leg, surgery, a diagnosis of Down syndrome and the high cost of childcare. The young family got through those first months by deciding to just “roll with it,” she explains with a calm smile directed at Avett,…
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For as long as 18-year-old Joseline can remember, she wanted to go to college. At times, though, she didn’t feel like all her studying and hard work would be enough to get her there. Her Big Sister Zoraida, on the other hand, had no doubt Joseline would overcome any barriers she encountered, and succeed in…
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More than 20 Linden agency leaders dropped everything in the middle of a work day and enthusiastically responded to DeLena Scales’ request to join her for a quick group photo during our interview. That tells you a lot about DeLena, a passionate leader in the community, who others trust and look to for guidance. “I’m…
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After moving back to Ohio from Louisiana, Rachael was struggling to find a job that would pay her bills. After finishing a contract job running a summer youth employment program, she watched her small savings account dwindle. She knew her struggle would become insurmountable if she didn’t find help soon. “I had a couple of…
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Heath had a great paying job he loved and took pride in, providing closed captioning for hearing impaired students at a local university. When the recession hit, though, he lost his job and spiraled into a depression. He had little choice but to take several low-wage jobs that eventually crippled his self-esteem even further. “All…
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James has spent a good deal of his life watching loved ones and people around him battle drug addiction. As a boy growing up on the east side, life was “crazy” and difficult, he admits. He has lived and slept on the streets more than he cares to remember. After his mother went to jail,…
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The bone-cold night that Lamar crawled into an unlocked church van to sleep was the same night he knew he had to ask for help. At age 22, he had recently discovered a passion for politics, but he had also become homeless. His days were spent trying to find food and shelter, and he had…
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On Tuesday, May 8 at COSI, we honored our funded partners and corporate campaigns that worked with us in 2017 to reduce poverty in central Ohio. Notable successes during the 2017 campaign included DSW employee giving increasing by nearly 30% and Accenture increasing by an incredible 45%. Awards for the 2017 Campaign included: Corporate Award…
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Just like the real deal, our Knock Out Poverty bracket challenge came right down to the wire. A last second 3-pointer tossed to the skies brought one nonprofit from behind to win BIG BUCKS. That heart-stopping throw came from a donor who made an $8,000 gift at the buzzer to Columbus Early Learning Centers (CELC),…
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At age 26, Ryan Aguiar loves to hang with other passionate young professionals. But he’s also making sure he ventures outside of his daily “bubble” to focus on making Columbus a better community for everyone. “The Columbus community is doing a lot of great things in terms of community involvement,” says Ryan. “One area I…
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