Community Engagement awards second grant cycle for physical activity, nutrition, and weight

Local nonprofits, schools, and community groups are receiving support for their efforts to promote healthy living through nearly $100,000 in grant funding from Reid Health Community Engagement.

As part of the second of three grant cycles this year, 21 local organizations have been awarded funding. This cycle focuses on physical activity, nutrition, and weight by improving community health, encouraging healthy choices, and reducing disparities related to activity and nutrition.

Jess Przybysz, Reid Health’s Community Health and Engagement Director, said the grants are important to the health and well-being for residents across the region. 

“By supporting programs that improve access to nutritious food and physical activity, we’re empowering local organizations to make lasting, positive change in our communities,” Przybysz said.

Requests were evaluated based on their ability to improve access to exercise opportunities; adults 20+ who are obese or sedentary; child food insecurity rate; food insecurity rate; and adults who frequently cook meals at home.

The Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) identified three priorities – mental health and substance misuse; physical activity, nutrition, and weight; and maternal, infant, and children’s health. As a result, the Community Grant Program awards $300,000 over three cycles to address significant health needs annually.

Katie Stephen, Community Engagement Specialist, said each grant cycle aligns with the priorities identified in the CHNA. 

“This cycle’s focus on nutrition and activity helps address real, measurable disparities that impact the daily lives of children and adults,” Stephen said.

Applications for the third cycle focusing on maternal, infant, and children’s health will close on Friday, Aug. 8. 

The awards for the second cycle include:

• $4,000 to Abilities Richmond Inc. to purchase supplies and materials for its nutrition program.
• $4,500 to Circle You Help Center to purchase food supplies for evenings and weekends for children in Wayne County.
• $4,210 to City of Eaton for the purchase of outdoor fitness equipment.
• $2,000 to Council on Rural Service Programs Inc.: Gateway Youth Programs to purchase supplies for its youth running program.
• $4,000 to Cross Road Christian Recovery Center to purchase supplies for its garden and greenhouse.
• $6,775 to Dublin Community Club to purchase new skates.
• $4,000 to Franklin County School Corporation to purchase food for the backpack program for students in need over the weekend and holidays.
• $5,000 to Friends of the Union County Public Library to purchase supplies for the community walking club.
• $4,500 to Gateway Hunger Relief Center to purchase food supplies for its pantry initiatives.
• $5,000 to Girls Inc. of Wayne County toward program materials, personnel, and food for programming.
• $5,000 to Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana for its Produce Hope Initiative in Fayette, Franklin, Union, and Wayne counties.
• $5,000 to Housing Authority of the City of Richmond to purchase supplies, program materials, and equipment for exercise space at Merle Henderson Apartments.
• $5,000 to Mount Zion Baptist Church toward personnel, supplies, and the continued development of its food pantry initiatives.
• $4,000 to Oak Park Church Inc. to purchase a large shipping container to increase food outputs.
• $5,000 to Pathway to Damascus Inc. to purchase gym memberships and supplies for wellness and nutrition empowerment initiatives.
• $7,000 to Petra Projects Inc. to purchase food supplies for its meal program.
• $5,000 to Richmond Community Schools’ Hibberd Program Building to use toward supplies to enhance nutrition education and cooking initiatives for its life skills program.
• $5,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana toward personnel and supplies for its Big Idea program.
• $5,000 to Soldiers in the Army of the Lord Ministries to purchase diabetic food supplies and a commercial refrigerator.
• $5,000 to Start with Art to purchase supplies, program materials, and other expenses for its Creative Nutrition program.
• $5,000 to The Common Good of Preble County to purchase shelving, racks, and other supplies for its pantry and community classes.

Community benefit is the basis of the tax-exempt status of not-for-profit hospitals. Community benefit is defined as programs or activities that improve access to health services, enhance public health, advance health knowledge through research and education, and/or relieve the burden of government to improve health.

In 2010, the Affordable Care Act added new requirements for tax-exempt hospitals in the areas of community health needs assessment (CHNA), implementation strategy, billing and collections, and reporting. In 2014, the IRS issued final rules implementing these requirements. The goals of these provisions are to ensure tax-exempt hospitals are meeting the health needs of their communities and to ensure greater transparency and accountability. 

Grants, along with other specific outreach and requirements to meet Reid Health’s not-for-profit status, have put more than $168 million back into the community in the past five years. A committee of Reid’s governing board and community members reviews grant requests. The grants are awarded as part of the health system's efforts as a mission-driven, not-for-profit organization.

More information about the Reid Community Grant Program, the health needs assessment, and the implementation strategy can be found at ReidCommunities.org/.