Grant from Franklin County Public Health helps further the nonprofit’s mission of hope, happiness and healing for kids with life-threatening conditions and their families
Columbus, Ohio: A Kid Again was recently awarded a $1 million grant from Franklin County Public Health to help the nonprofit expand its work with Franklin County families of children with life-threatening conditions.
The organization serves children with life-threatening conditions and their families through ongoing, cost-free Adventures, giving families the opportunity to “give illness a time-out” and create meaningful, joy-filled memories. These Adventures also provide peer-to-peer and community connections for kids with life-threatening conditions, their parents and siblings.
“At A Kid Again, we know that hope, happiness and healing is so important to the physical and mental health of kids with life-threatening conditions and their families. That’s why we’re on a mission to serve as many eligible families as possible,” said Oyauma Garrison, President and CEO of A Kid Again. “In Franklin County alone, there are 50,000 families of children battling life-threatening conditions. This grant is helping us reach these families and give them a chance to give illness a time-out at our cost-free Adventures.”
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted on Sept. 21, 2021 to authorize the grant for A Kid Again through the Franklin County Public Health’s COVID-19 Recovery Funds. These funds were created to support the physical, mental and behavioral health of Franklin County residents impacted by healthcare costs and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Adventures from A Kid Again are completely cost-free to participants, regardless of household income.
“As the administrator for the Children with Medical Handicaps Program for our community, Franklin County Public Health is honored to provide the opportunity for fun and adventure to the more than 6,000 children with chronic, fragile medical conditions who participate in this program,” said Alexandria Jones, Franklin County Public Health Assistant Health Commissioner.
“We hope this provides at least some time for these children and their families to escape life’s struggles, if only for a few moments. Every child deserves happiness and time to be carefree,” added County Administrator Kenneth N. Wilson. “This is just one of many programs where we assist our residents in need because a child’s happiness and wellbeing shouldn’t be limited by their differences, whether that is their current health difficulties, race, economic status, zip code, or gender. The COVID-19 pandemic has stressed so many families in this community especially those providing love and care for children with life-threatening health conditions.”
More information about A Kid Again can be found at www.akidagain.org.