Our Impact
While every community has its challenges, ours belong to us. We see them. We live them. And we are here to do something about them. Since 2018, Bloomington Health Foundation has committed over $15 million in support of solutions to help the people of Bloomington lead healthier lives and advance the future of healthcare in our region.
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PHILANTHROPY IN ACTION
Listed below are just some of the areas where we have focused our philanthropic efforts.
CANCER
POWERING CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA – $1.5 MILLION
In Collaboration with Cancer Support Community Indiana, BHF has granted funds to establish a regional location in Bloomington to expand the variety, frequency and number of cancer patients and their families who receive support with needs beyond clinical care through the 11-county region. It also includes funding to allow patients to access virtual services. No one should have to face cancer alone. For more information go to: https://cancersupportindy.org/programs/bloomington/
PREVENTING SKIN CANCER – $60,000
Partnership with the City of Bloomington and the Bloomington Parks Foundation for five years to offer free sunscreen at both Bryan Park Pool and Mills Pool. Sunscreen is a proven way to prevent skin cancer, the most common type of cancer. An additional grant was awarded to replenish the sunscreen supply as well as purchase large-scale umbrellas to provide further cover from harmful rays.
FOOD SECURITY FOR CHILDREN
REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IMPACTED BY FOOD INSECURITY IN MONROE COUNTY – $26,500
Supporting the nutritional needs of children attending The Nest daycare program at New Hope Family Shelter by providing food, infant formula, food packs, and education about how to grow and prepare healthy foods.
HEALTHCARE ACCESS FOR MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED
IMPROVING HEALTHCARE ACCESS FOR THE MEDICALLY-UNDERSERVED – $67,000
Partnership with HealthNet Bloomington to purchase dental equipment, patient medication assistance, fee assistance, and more. With the Local Council of Women and City of Bloomington, created HelpingBloomingtonMonroe.org, a free local database of free or reduced-cost services like medical care, food, job training, and more.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE EQUIPMENT
CRITICAL UPGRADES TO HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE EQUIPMENT – $30,000
Looking to the health of our children and the staff that care for them, we are proud to have partnered with the Monroe County Community School Corporation and Richland Beanblossom Community Schools to provide AEDs and Stop the Bleed kits. In partnership with the Local Council of Women and St. John Associates, purchased high visibility coats to protect the firefighters of the Bloomington Fire Department.
CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT
SUPPLYING HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS AND EDUCATION TO LOCAL WOMEN, INFANTS, CHILDREN, AND SENIORS – $80,000
In partnership with the Bloomington Community Farmers Market and the Bloomington Parks Foundation, our grant supported the tripling of food vouchers for seniors and WIC (Women, Infant, Children) populations at the Farmers Market for the next two years. Studies show healthy food incentive programs are an evidenced-based method to increase both healthy food access and consumption, leading to increased prevention and better management of chronic disease.
SCHOLARSHIPS
SUPPORTING OUR FUTURE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE – $15,000
Gifts to the Local Council of Women and IU School of Medicine for scholarships to support students pursuing their medical or nursing degrees in the state of Indiana.
REGIONAL HEALTHCARE
$11 million
A once-in-a-lifetime commitment to partnering with IU Health to advance the future of healthcare in our community and region while honoring the legacy of donors over the past 50 years who so generously gave to Bloomington Hospital Foundation.
HEALTH EQUITY
ELEVATING UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES IN HEALTHCARE – $600,000
With the Community Justice and Mediation Center (CJAM), received national funding to create Community Voices for Health Monroe County. The project works to build a stronger engagement infrastructure that involves a broad ranger of our community, especially marginalized and underserved populations, so that their voices are heard in healthcare policymaking decisions.
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RECOVERY
LEAD GIFT TO ESTABLISH THE STRIDE CENTER – $210,000
As a member of the Stride Coalition, BHF granted a lead gift to fund The Stride Center, Indiana’s first 24-hour crisis diversion center. The Center is a referral hub for those experiencing distress.
IMPROVING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RECOVERY – $92,000
Partnership with Centerstone, the City of Bloomington, and Curry Auto Group for seven months to hire 11 Centerstone clients in recovery to perform jobs for the City Parks Department. This employment opportunity is a critical part of a successful recovery process.
MENTAL HEALTH
AUGMENTING MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS – $264,000
Partnership with Catholic Charities Bloomington for three years to provide a case worker and an additional mental health therapist to increase local mental health therapy appointments by 1,600 each year. Catholic Charities Bloomington provides mental health therapy to anyone, regardless of ability to pay, which includes children as 70% of their clients.
IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH OF
LOW-INCOME CHILDREN – $181,500
Partnership with Monroe County United Ministries for three years to provide a full-time early childhood mental health therapist for pre-K children in their high-quality affordable daycare, which has 84% low-income enrollment. Poverty is a major risk factor that pre-disposes children to developing mental health conditions that can have a life-long impact.
NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST – $105,000
Gifts to Area 10 Agency on Aging for a wheelchair-accessible van and transportation vouchers for organizations who are on the front lines of helping people receive services and medical treatment: IU Health, Centerstone, Volunteers in Medicine, Amethyst House, Shalom Center, New Hope Family Shelter, Wheeler Mission, Catholic Charities, Middle Way House, and BeLoved Transportation.
INFANTS
IMPROVING INFANT MORTALITY RATE – $80,000
Partnership with the Monroe County Public Health Clinic, a joint venture of the Monroe County Health Department and IU Health Bloomington, to provide 1600 free cribs to families of infants who otherwise cannot afford a crib. Caregivers must participate in a one-time Safe Sleep education class to receive a crib, which then teaches the caregiver how to prevent sleep-related deaths, the #1 cause of death in infants.
