Fisher Titus grants aid schools

Fisher Titus Medical Center's (FTMC) Health Education Grant program was established to fund innovative educational programs in the areas of math, science and health for schools in the Fisher-Titus service area.

Since 1996, 129 grants have been awarded through this program. Every year, FTMC awards local school districts health education grants. During a luncheon ceremony on Jan. 4 at Fisher-Titus Medical Center, the Medical Center awarded this year's grants to 10 local school districts, totaling $49,988.

More than $633,000 has been distributed in the 14 years the program has been in existence, according to Tom Bleile of FTMC's board of directors.

"Our vision is to enhance the quality of life of each person we serve. Our board, medical staff and employees believe that enhancing the educational foundation of our schools makes the entire region a better place to live, work and worship," Bleile said. "We take our job seriously as a community resource and we feel that anything we can do to enhance the educational process benefits our entire community."

This year, $49,988 was distributed to the Berlin-Milan Local Schools, Monroeville Local Schools, New London Local Schools, Norwalk City Schools, Norwalk Catholic School, North Point Educational Service Center, South Central Local Schools, Wellington Local Schools, Western Reserve Local Schools and Willard City Schools.

McCormick Middle School is requesting this $5,000 grant to improve the quality of life by teaching skills necessary to improve health and promote wellness of each student.

Last year the Fisher-Titus grant purchased part of the health textbooks and workbooks needed to replace the outdated Glencoe health books. The grant will be used to complete the order for the rest of the books.

Last year, fifth grade health was added to the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade health program.

The program is a study of various Ohio animals, water, recycling and care of the environment. It also includes food webs, mapping skills, habitats and cooperative team building. Additional books are needed to enhance the learning for this program.

Applicants were required to submit a grant proposal to Fisher-Titus that included a detailed explanation of the project to be funded.

Grants were approved by the Fisher-Titus Medical Center board of directors. Under this program, school districts may receive grants up to $5,000.

During the luncheon, each recipient presented a brief summary of the program last year's grant funded.