Pictured from left to right: Susan Beaudry – Director of Programs, Osteopathic Heritage Foundation of Nelsonville, Sister Molly Bauer – Program Officer, Sister’s Health Foundation, Katie Schmitzer – Director, Southeastern Ohio Foodbank, Jesse Stock – Program Director, Athens Foundation, Micah Covert – Marketing & Development Director, Athens Foundation. Photo credit – Laura Alloway.
Athens, Oh, December 15, 2016 – The Athens Foundation in partnership with the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations and the Sisters Health Foundation awarded $90,000 today to the Southeastern Ohio Foodbank and Kitchen, a division of HAPCAP. The funds are a result of the fourth Bounty on the Bricks Fundraiser held in Athens on August 13th, 2016.
Southeastern Ohio Foodbank will use the funds raised through Bounty on the Bricks 2016 to seed accounts for 45 local food pantries in a ten county area. The Foodbank determines the distribution of funds, by determining the number of people in poverty for each county and then how many individuals in poverty each agency serves.
Katie Schmitzer, Director of the Southeastern Ohio Foodbank says this “The Bounty on the Bricks gift shows how caring and supportive our community is. Putting together such an amazing event to help feed the over 50,000 food insecure individuals in our service area is something to be proud of. Our member agencies and the Southeastern Ohio Foodbank could not be more grateful for the support.”
Over the last four years, the Bounty on the Bricks signature event has raised over $315,000 to fight food insecurity in Southeast Ohio. The brainchild of Athens native and small business owner, Cheryl Sylvester, Bounty on the Bricks grew in popularity and impact since its conception five years ago. When asked about the project, Cheryl said “Bounty has allowed our community to come together for four years, raise money for food insecurity and really bask in all that is our Athens. It was hard work yet I wouldn’t trade it for anything as I worked with and met so many caring community members. Thank you to each and every committee member, chef, farmer, volunteer, sponsor, and diner.”
Funds raised through the Bounty on the Bricks were matched 1:1 by the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation of Nelsonville and Sisters Health Fund to continue this program called “Bounty in the Pantries” to enhance the capacity of local food pantries and feeding programs to serve more and healthy foods to those in need.
“The significance of Bounty on the Bricks extends well beyond an evening with friends – it represents a community, philanthropy and a dedicated group of volunteers coming together to provide greater access to healthy foods for vulnerable families and children in the region” commented Terri Donlin Huesman, Vice President, Osteopathic Heritage Foundation. The Osteopathic Heritage Foundations advance programs and services designed to improve health and quality of life in southeastern Ohio through strategic funding priorities, initiatives, and collaboration.
“The Sisters Health Foundation is pleased once again to partner with the Athens Foundation and the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation of Nelsonville to aid hungry families in the Southeast Ohio region through the Southeast Ohio Food Bank Purchasing Program. This program increases access to healthy foods, especially for low-income vulnerable populations. Funds provided through Bounty in the Pantries strengthen the pantries ability to purchase a variety of vegetables, meats, proteins, pasta and fruits and to introduce new items like kids packs for those providing backpacks. The Purchase Program has resulted in more than 500,000 pounds of food being distributed to those in need!” – Sister Molly Bauer. Sisters Health Foundation promotes healthy and sustainable communities by providing resources, strengthening collaborative relationships, and supporting initiatives that impact people in the Mid-Ohio Valley.
The Athens Foundation provides administrative leadership for the program. “as a part of a unique partnership with the community and other funders in the region, we have come together to support local food pantries and feeding programs. This funding complements larger community effort to measurably increase access to healthy foods, especially for low-income vulnerable populations” said Susan Urano, Executive Director.
At the Athens Foundation we invest in local strategies to empower Athens County residents and build on the strengths of our region, now and for generations to come.