Mental health continues to be one of the top priorities for Logan County residents, particularly concerns surrounding youth.
According to the 2023 Community Health Assessment, community members also ranked obesity and healthy lifestyle choices as a moderate or very serious issue.
In response, the Mary Rutan Foundation has awarded Community Wellness Grants totaling $21,039 to eight local programs and initiatives that focus on youth mental health and healthy living.
The funded programs include:
- Bellefontaine City Schools – $5,000: Behavioral Leadership program
- Benjamin Logan Middle School – $700: ROX (Ruling Your eXperiences)
- Indian Lake High School SADD – $800: There’s a Place at the Lake for Every Boat
- Indian Lake Middle School – $1,689: Smart Indoor Garden
- LifeCare Alliance – $5,000: Camp Hamwi Diabetes Camp for Kids
- LoCo Art – $1,500: Stress Less Workshops
- The Reach Community Resource Center – $3,850: Healthy Youth, Healthy You Room
- Where the Church Meets – $2,500: Mentoring Youth Program
“Providing funding resources to area schools and organizations to develop programs that promote healthy lifestyles and improved mental well-being for youth is an impactful investment in our community,” said Tammy Gump, Chief Operating Officer of Mary Rutan Foundation. “We were pleased with the variety of programs submitted and the positive effects expected from each initiative.”
Since launching its community grant program in 2014, the Mary Rutan Foundation has awarded over $505,000 to local organizations dedicated to making Logan County a healthier place to live.
For more information about the Foundation’s wellness initiatives or to contribute, contact Tammy Gump at (937) 599-7003 or [email protected].