CareSource Foundation Awards $1.6 Million to Ohio Nonprofit Organizations in 2015

DAYTON, Ohio, Dec. 21, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The CareSource Foundation has announced the final grant awardees for the fourth quarter of 2015, totaling $250,000 distributed to 37 organizations in Ohio. The fourth quarter awards brings the year-end investment to $1.6 million statewide. In 2015, 143 Ohio nonprofit organizations received awards from the CareSource Foundation in amounts ranging from $3,000 to $250,000, the latter representing the company's Signature Grant.

The CareSource Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations in health and human services areas with a focus on children's health, issues of senior adults, community health, special needs populations and strategies to address the medically uninsured throughout the state of Ohio.

CareSource is a leader in cultivating partnerships that enhance and improve health care and life services for consumers. In 2015, the CareSource Foundations investments helped to provide affordable housing through Habitat for Humanity, comprehensive behavioral health services to children statewide, legal and social advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and abuse and research on the causes and prevention of premature childbirth through the March of Dimes.

Since launching in 2006, the CareSource Foundation has invested more than $11.4 million in organizations that support underserved populations.

"The mission of the CareSource Foundation has always been to positively impact the health of our consumers and our community," said Cathy Ponitz, Executive Director of the CareSource Foundation. "We're proud that by partnering with more than 500 nonprofit organizations throughout Ohio, CareSource is helping to strengthen that important health and human services safety net."

CareSource Fourth Quarter Foundation Grants Highlights:

• Clothes that Work (Dayton) has become an invaluable resource in our community and to CareSource's Life Services consumers and coaches. The CareSource grant of $10,000 will provide greater access to professional clothing and coaching services to under resourced job seekers.
• Cherry Street Mission Ministries (Toledo) Cherry Street provides services for homeless men and woman to help them transition toward self-sufficiency including health and wellness, mental health, family financial stability, housing and education. The CareSource grant of $10,000 will support this program's operation.
• Eastside Community Ministry (Zanesville) supports basics needs of low-income individuals and families in the Zanesville area. The CareSource grant of $7,000 will support their food pantry.

Funding by City

Dayton / Sidney / Urbana, Ohio - $74,000

• Access Center for Independent Living
• Caring Kitchen, Inc.
• Christ Child Society of Dayton
• Clothes That Work
• Compassionate Care of Shelby County
• The Northgate dba Dayton Circles Messengers in Mercy
• Neighborhood Housing Partnership of Greater Springfield
• Owen's Place
• Pink Ribbon Girls
• Project Woman of Springfield & Clark County
• Youth Entrepreneurship of Dayton

Cincinnati / Oxford, Ohio - $38,500

• Freestore Foodbank
• Hearing Speech & Deaf Center of Cincinnati
• Oxford Free Clinic
• Shelterhouse Volunteer Group
• Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky

Cleveland / Northeast, Ohio - $52,000

• Cleveland Society for the Blind
• Eliza Bryant Village 
• Families Moving Forward 
• Feeding Medina County 
• Inspiring Minds 
• Joseph's Home 
• Victim Assistance Program 
• YWCA of Youngstown 
   

Columbus / Coshocton / Millersburg / Newark / Zanesville, Ohio - $50,000

• Coshocton County Maternal & Child Health
• Eastside Community Ministry 
• Faith Mission 
• Good Neighbors of Central, Ohio 
• Love Center Food Pantry 
• St Vincent De Paul Housing Facilities 
• Scioto County Health Coalition 
• SE Ohio Food Bank & Kitchen 

Toledo / Bowling Green, Ohio - $35,500

• Bethany House 
• Cherry Street Ministries
• East Toledo Family Center 
• NOW Apraxia Support 
• Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio 

About CareSource

CareSource, a leading, member-centric, regional nonprofit health plan headquartered in Dayton, Ohio. One of the nation's largest Managed Medicaid plans, CareSource serves more than 1.4 million consumers in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. CareSource is living its mission to make a difference in our members' lives by improving their health and well-being. CareSource understands the challenges consumers face navigating the health system and works to put health care in reach for those it serves.

For more information about the CareSource Foundation, visit www.caresourcefoundation.com

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