Spencer Evening World: Local Y receives $3,000 (12.26.18)

Bloomington Health Foundation grant to help provide services for senior citizens

The Owen County YMCA is recipient of $3,000 from the Bloomington Health Foundation to provide services for senior citizens.
In the spirit of the giving season, BHF announced several gifts to various local and regional organizations at their Holiday Celebration hosted in the Indiana Memorial Union Tudor Room last week. Their investments are the result of ongoing efforts to address some of the most pressing health needs in Bloomington and neighboring counties.

Gifts were awarded to:
– Local Council of Women: scholarships for local students pursuing careers in health care
– IU School of Medicine: scholarship in support of a south central Indiana student pursuing their medical degree
– IU Health Bloomington Hospital: gifts to numerous departments including Children’s Therapy Center, Olcott Center, and the Coordinated School of Health
– Volunteers in Medicine: funds to pursue becoming a Federally Qualified Health Center
– Owen County Family YMCA: sponsorship for Free Senior Fridays for one year
– YMCA of Monroe County YMCA: a grant to purchase cardio rehabilitation equipment
– Monroe County Community School Corporation: medical emergency response kits and automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
– Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation: automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
– Susie’s Place for Children: tech equipment for medical charting, exam room equipment, and transportation assistance
– New Hope Family Shelter: food for their daycare program, emergency infant formula and emergency food packs

BHF President and CEO Jonathan W. Barada stated, “The Bloomington Health Foundation is one of the many problem solvers who join in a fight to make our community successful by making it healthy. We’re proud to join forces with these other passionate and local organizations to tackle tough problems and find innovative solutions.”

The official kick off of the new BHF was held in June at their relaunch event where they gifted over $1M to local organizations to address various health needs in the community including Monroe County United Ministries for an early childhood mental health therapist, Centerstone to provide employment opportunities to those in the earliest stages of substance use disorder recovery, the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department to provide free sunscreen at Bryan and Mills Park pools for the next five years, Catholic Charities Bloomington for a case worker and a mental health therapist, and IU Health Bloomington Hospital for beloved services like Children’s Therapy Center and Hospice House.

BHF Board Chair Angela Parker added, “We love all the quirks and qualities that make this community special. The Board voted to keep the Foundation local. We’re not going anywhere because we think keeping this place special is reason enough to stay.”

For more information, please visit BHF’s website: BloomHF.org or call (812) 558-3409.