The Cardinal Health Foundation and United Way of Central Ohio recently approved $150,000 in grant funding for 16 nonprofits that support student success in central Ohio. Recipients of this round of funding include many organizations that are new, smaller in size and/or provide culturally-specific opportunities. Of the 16 organizations selected, 63% are led by people of color:
● All THAT: Build and encourage healthy relationships and provide an open forum for students to design their own solutions to their challenges.
● Columbus Literacy Council: Support an academic enrichment program for youth in low-income households.
● Community For New Direction Incorporation: Fund a program that ensures kids who are most at-risk receive the most effective interventions.
● Community Refugee and Immigration Services: Non-intrusive youth mentoring program that provides one-on-one mentorship for new Americans.
● Foundation for Families: Youth empowerment program that provides mentorship and evidence-based curriculum.
● Girls On The Run of Central Ohio: Inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a curriculum that creatively integrates running.
● Hardy Center: Program that focuses on literacy, life skills and leadership for students in grades kindergarten through 8th.
● King Arts Complex: Empower young people to use their creativity and lived experiences to craft visual stories.
● My Project USA: Addresses life skills, academics and social needs of refugee and immigrant youths.
● One Linden Schools Initiative: Support students’ success and focus on preventing and mitigating the negative effects of traumatic life events.
● Partnership4Success: Build a community of equity-driven practitioners focused on strengthening social, emotional and academic outcomes for children.
● Remember Us Urban Scouts: Provide life skills, employment and academic enrichment programming to youth ages 14 to 18 years old.
● Ruling Our Experiences Inc.: Prepare girls for success in school and life by ensuring academic engagement, achievement and support services.
● See Kids Dream: Offer school-based, service-learning programs developed specifically to support youth and communities facing poverty.
● The Starfish Alliance: Provide community supports, foundational skills training to youth enrolled in high schools lacking resources.
● We Amplify Voices: Empower underrepresented voices through songwriting by creating a safe space for students to share their experiences and emotions.
“Improving health outcomes is a strategic focus of the Cardinal Health Foundation, and statistics show that, on average, students who attain a high school diploma have significantly better outcomes than those who don’t,” said Jessie Cannon, Vice President of Community Relations at Cardinal Health. “That’s why we issue grants to help develop the skills and behaviors needed for students to graduate from high school prepared for success.”
In 2020, The Cardinal Health Foundation committed $500,000 over two years to support the youth-serving organizations funded by United Way of Central Ohio. By combining funds, the organizations are able to make a greater impact toward improving student success, particularly as children and families continue to weather the long-term impacts of the pandemic. The grants announced today complete this investment.
“Partnerships with companies like Cardinal Health afford us the opportunity to strengthen social impact strategies, improve equity and make a real difference in central Ohio,” said Lisa S. Courtice, President and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio. “We are grateful for their generosity and commitment to helping students succeed.”
