Thousands of animals are euthanized. For most they are not vicious, behaviorally unsound or have major health issues, instead they were given up due to owner abandonment, owner surrender, pulled from high-kill shelters or strays. Colony Cats (& Dogs) offers a safe haven for the cats/kittens, dogs/puppies that come to them from varying situations. They give them respite, unconditional love and vet care to get them back on their four feet. [Read More]

Rob Emrich has been personally touched by cancer. At seven years of age he lost his two-year-old sister, Keren to neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer of the nervous system. While in college cancer struck home again taking the life of his cousin and giving his mother a cancer scare. Wanting to make a real difference, Rob made it his personal quest to try and fight this disease. [Read More]

The Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association (OEFFA) is a grassroots coalition of farmers, backyard gardeners, consumers, retailers, educators, researchers, and others who share a desire to build a healthy food system that brings prosperity to family farmers, helps preserve farmland, offers food security for all Ohioans, and economic development for rural communities.

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Mercy for Animals (MFA) was founded by Nathan Runkle in October of 1999, after an incident in his hometown in St. Paris, Ohio where a live baby piglet was violently beaten by a high school student during class. The incident caused an uproar in the small town, and Nathan took the initiative to start an organization that would fight against this and other kinds of animal abuse. Since then, Nathan has overseen the organization’s growth into a leading national force for the respectful and compassionate treatment of farmed animals. [Read More]

Central Ohio is home to international nonprofit organization Batten Disease Support & Research Association (or BDSRA). Their mission, “To be an international support and research networking organization for families of children and young adults with an inherited neurological degenerative disease known as Batten Disease.” [Read More]

For this week’s Philanthropy Friday I had the pleasure of interviewing Christy Fields, Director of the Miracle League of Central Ohio. The Miracle League cannot change or cure the medical issues life has dealt children with disabilities. But what they do is provide these children with an opportunity to experience the joy and benefits that come from playing America’s national pastime - baseball! [Read More]

Since 2007, Local Matters has been working to transform the food system in Central Ohio to make local, healthy food accessible to all.

Local Matters was formally created as an offshoot of the Greater Columbus Foodshed Project (GCFP). Executive Director Michael Jones, a trained chef, joined GCFP founder Noreen Warnock and sustainable landscape designer Susan Weber to build on a community project that was also influenced by local notables Jeni Britton-Bauer and Alana Shock. Originally formed under the umbrella of Simply Living, Local Matters gained not-for-profit status in 2008. [Read More]

Unfortunately, hate crimes, discrimination, violence, threats and intimidation are real issues for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Communities. In 1996, BRAVO was created to provide support and be a safe haven. BRAVO works to eliminate violence perpetrated on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identification, domestic violence and sexual assault through prevention, education, advocacy, violence documentation and survivor services, both within and on behalf of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities. [Read More]

Kinder, meaning children in German, and Key symbolizing the unlocking of the heart, Kinder Key was founded in 1954 as a part of the Women’s Auxiliary Division of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Their name clearly portrays their goal of providing hope for young hearts through their support of the Heart Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. [Read More]

What started out as a nursery for infants and children during World War II, today has grown into a licensed, accredited early education and intervention program. The Childhood League Center began in 1945 with its first nursery in the Sullivant Gardens Housing Project. Six years later, in September of 1951, The Childhood League expanded raising funds to purchase land and build a new nursery school for children three to five years of age with development delays. True to the hopes of the League’s founders and with persistent determination, League women accepted the challenge multiple times over the years to raise capital dollars for program expansion. [Read More]