CBJ Foundation announces over $1 million granted to local organizations

This evening the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation announced the investment of $1.15 million in local charitable and youth hockey organizations. This year's grants push the Foundation's cumulative support of youth health and wellness initiatives in central Ohio to $13.1 million since its inception in 2000.

In addition to grants that are awarded throughout season, during a pregame reception this evening, presented by Jet's Pizza, the Blue Jackets Foundation announced grants awarded to 24 central Ohio-based nonprofit organizations making a difference in the areas of health and safety, education, pediatric cancer and the growth and development of youth hockey.
"We are thrilled to be once again granting out more than $1 million this year. We know there's no shortage of needs in our community and we are pleased to have the opportunity to support so many incredible organizations that make Columbus a better community to work, live and play," said Blue Jackets Foundation Executive Director & Sr. Director of Community Development Andee Cochren.
In the area of health and safety, the YWCA Columbus has been granted funding to build a new Blue Jackets-themed playground at the YWCA Family Center. The playground will feature a uniquely designed play structure outfitted with themed enhancements such as hockey stick posts, puck-studded climbing walls, and Blue Jackets images. With the Foundation's support, the organization can assist the YWCA Family Shelter in helping 500 families and more than 900 central Ohio children get healthy, play safely, and stay active while overcoming barriers to obtaining affordable housing.
"YWCA Columbus Family Center has been providing housing for homeless families since 1989. We have been in our current location for more than 15 years and have not had a refresh of the grounds and play spaces in a decade. The Blue Jackets Foundation grant is part of a transformative upgrade to our outdoor space providing state-of-the-art equipment and year-round outdoor activity and play spaces to our families for toddlers to teenaged youth," said YWCA Columbus President & CEO Christie Angel. "We are grateful to the Foundation for granting us this amazing and very special gift. It will be exciting to incorporate these beautiful and fun places into the work we do and for the families we serve."
In the area of education, the Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation's grant funding will renew the virtual school help program Brainfuse, update the School Help Center in the Linden Branch and support the Winter Reading Challenge. Brainfuse offers students live tutoring Monday-Friday, a service that complements the work of the library's in-person School Help Centers during peak after-school hours and even after the library closes. The program also offers 24/7 digital access to academic skills practice and test prep.
Additionally, Ruling Our eXperiences, Inc. (ROX) has received a grant to support their 20-week Social Emotional Learning curriculum for over 100 girls in grades 5-12. The mission of ROX is to create generations of confident girls who control their own relationships, experiences, decisions and futures.
Other grant partners in education, with generous support from Ohio's 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage, include Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio, City Year, Columbus Early Learning Centers, Community Shelter Board, Junior Achievement of Central Ohio and LSS CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence.
The Foundation continues funding a variety of support programs for pediatric cancer patients and their families, including therapy through distraction, critical research projects and assistance in providing palliative care for youth, through organizations such as A Kid Again, Flying Horse Farms and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio.

Furthering the commitment to grow youth and amateur hockey and remove barriers to playing the game, the Foundation has awarded grants to 12 hockey associations and organizations that include traditional programs, sled hockey, girls' hockey, and special hockey for individuals with developmental disabilities.
The Simon Kenton Council, Boy Scouts of America received funding to bring back their Skate into Scouting recruiting campaign. And, After-School All-Stars Ohio has also received a grant for its youth hockey initiative, Hockey Heroes. Hockey Heroes serves more than 100 students by introducing them to hockey for the first time and providing unique experiences that blend character-building and leadership training with fun and engaging activities. Through weekly lessons and a camp week with ice skating and tournament games all led by caring mentors through Columbus Ice Hockey Club, Hockey Heroes' participants take away lessons in discipline, fairness, respect, teamwork, resilience, goal-setting and responsibility.
Also, in youth hockey is the previously announced $250,000 investment with the City of Whitehall to fund the building of a community street hockey rink. In addition to funding the rink, the Blue Jackets will provide the City of Whitehall with resources to establish hockey programming in their community through free clinics, staff training, curriculum and equipment. This project is set to be completed in the first of the year.
About the Blue Jackets Foundation
As the charitable arm of the National Hockey League club, the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation leverages its unique resources - players, coaches, staff and fans - to partner with and invest in local charities to support the health and wellness of children in central Ohio. Since the team's inception in 2000, the Foundation has provided more than $13 million to our community in the areas of pediatric cancer, reading, health and safety and the growth and development of youth hockey. For more information, visit
www.BlueJackets.com/foundation
.