An organization that works closely with the Ohio University Foundation board approved a $40,000 grant that will fund a new coordinator position for Live Healthy Appalachia.
Live Healthy Appalachia promotes health and wellness in Appalachia. The grant, awarded by the Sugar Bush Foundation, will provide salary and benefits for an employee to coordinate initiatives such as a “Food is Elementary” program, which educates kids about healthful eating, and a localized “Coronary Health Improvement Project.”
“The most difficult fundraising aspect is something for a position, and that’s why we wanted to fund it,” said Kelli Kotowski, executive director of development and Live Free Appalachia liaison.
The Sugar Bush Foundation works closely with the Ohio University Foundation to support sustainability efforts in the Appalachian region.
In 2009, almost 35 percent of the Athens County lived below the poverty level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
This is Live Free Appalachia’s second year of operation, and the organization gained recognition after a three-day health summit last year that brought well-known doctors and health professionals to Athens.
“We are really excited to see the positive effects that this project has had in its first year in the community, and we look forward in seeing what we can do as we expand into the community,” Kotowski said.
In Athens County, 29 percent of adults are obese and 8.3 percent have diabetes, according to the 2011 Live Healthy Appalachia annual report. The report also said 13.9 percent of low-income preschool students are obese and 28.1 percent of individuals are low-income and live more than a mile from a store.
These statistics encouraged Sugar Bush to help fund the creation of the Live Healthy Appalachia program, Kotowski said.
Live Healthy Appalachia encourages healthful lifestyles for both kids and adults.
“Employees with healthier diets are more likely to be on time and be more productive,” Kotowski said.
Bryan Benchoff, president and CEO of the Ohio University Foundation, said he has supported Sugar Bush since learning about it when he arrived at OU.
“It’s a wonderful group that is all about sustainability in Athens,” Benchoff said.
At this weekend’s Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees meeting, a resolution was passed to re-appoint three trustees to the Sugar Bush Foundation’s board.
Both Linda Clark, former director of the Ohio University Innovation Center, and Arthur Trese, associate professor of plant biology, have terms that will end in February 2014. The term for Ed Newman, OU’s refuse and recycling manager, will end in July of next year.
“I believe stagger terms work best so people all don’t rotate off at once,” Benchoff said.
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