Third grant cycle supports maternal, infant, and children’s health with $100,000 toward regional programs

Nov. 20, 2025 -- Residents across the region will benefit as 14 nonprofit organizations receive $100,000 to support maternal, infant, and children's health through Reid Health's Community Engagement Grant Program during the final cycle of the year.

The organizations reach residents across Fayette, Franklin, Henry, Randolph, Union, and Wayne counties in Indiana, and Preble County, Ohio.

Jess Przybysz, Community Health and Engagement Director at Reid, said supporting maternal, infant, and children's health is helping to build a stronger, healthier region.

"This grant allows our community partners to expand and enhance services and programs to address the needs and reduce disparities affecting families," Przybysz said.

"Through these programs, Reid is helping ensure women, children, and families have the resources and support they need for lifelong health and well-being."

After the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) identified three priorities, the grant program expanded from two cycles to its current three. The first focused on mental health and substance use while the second was on physical activity, nutrition, and weight.

Altogether, the Community Engagement Grant Program distributed $300,000 this year.

During this cycle, the focus was on improving maternal and children's health by expanding support for families and reducing disparities.

Requests were evaluated on indicators for improvement, including the ability to impact the child abuse rate, single-parent households, families living below poverty level, and mothers who smoke during pregnancy. Consideration was also given to requests with the ability to increase services for mothers who receive early prenatal care or lower the teen birth rate.

"This third cycle reflects our commitment to investing in programs that positively impact women and children's health in the communities we serve," said Katie Stephen, Community Engagement Specialist.

"These organization's play an important role by improving access to care for women, children, and families and creating healthier futures."

The third grant cycle awards are:

• $10,000 to Birth to Five Inc. for staffing for its Healthy Families program
• $10,000 to Children's Justice and Advocacy Center for supplies and materials for child and adult safety programs
• $10,000 to Circle U Help Center to purchase items for mothers, infants, and children in need
• $10,000 to Firefly Children and Family Alliance to support staffing and its emergency aid fund for community-based programs
• $2,900 to Friends of the Union County Public Library for family workshops, library materials, and supplies
• $9,750 to From The Heart International Inc. for curriculum, supplies, and program materials for its outreach initiatives
• $10,000 to Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana for staffing and to purchase supplies for school-based pantries
• $10,000 to Hope Center for curriculum for parenting and life skills class and supplies for its boutique
• $1,200 to Imagination Library of Franklin County to support 40 additional children in the Imagination Library program
• $6,500 to Meridian Health Services and The Nest for supplies for groups, transportation, housing, and emergency expenses
• $10,000 to Natco Community Empowerment Center - Love Makes Cents Inc. (NCEC) for software, supplies, and materials for its financial hub
• $10,000 to Preble County YMCA for staffing, supplies, and program materials for child water safety classes offered through schools
• $9,736 to Pregnancy Care Center of Randolph County for curriculum, staffing, and supplies for its outreach initiatives
• $8,000 to Randolph County YMCA for its Creating Positive Relationships program including staffing, curriculum, and program materials

Community benefit is the basis for the tax-exempt status of not-for-profit hospitals. It's defined as programs or activities that improve access to health services, enhance public health, advance health knowledge through research and education, and/or relieve the burden of government to improve health.

In 2010, the Affordable Care Act added new requirements for tax-exempt hospitals in the areas of CHNA, implementation strategy, billing and collections, and reporting. In 2014, the IRS issued final rules implementing these requirements. The goals of these provisions are to ensure tax-exempt hospitals are meeting the health needs of their communities and to ensure greater transparency and accountability.

Grants, along with other specific outreach and requirements to meet Reid Health's not-for-profit status, have put more than $168 million back into the community in the past five years. A committee of Reid's governing board and community members reviews grant requests. The grants are awarded as part of the health system's efforts as a mission-driven, not-for-profit organization.

The 2026 grant cycles will be announced at a later time.

More information about the Reid Health Community Engagement program, the health needs assessment, and the implementation strategy can be found at ReidCommunities.org.