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All for the Kids Awareness Day would be May 15
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
A special day to draw attention to families with children suffering from chronic or life-threatening injuries would be established starting next year under legislation that’s headed to Gov. John Kasich’s desk for final enactment.
HB 580 would designate May 15 as All for the Kids Awareness Day.
It passed the Ohio Senate on Thursday night, and the Ohio House concurred on amendments not too long thereafter.
The bill would take effect 90 days after the governor adds his signature, which would be in time to be in place in 2017.
The language was included in HB 580, which also created a state commission to study malnutrition in older adults and designated November as Ohio Health Awareness Month.
Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, offered companion legislation establishing All for the Kids Awareness Day at the request of the Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley.
“There are many great organizations working to support sick or injured children in our state,” Schiavoni said in a statement Friday. “Increased awareness will hopefully motivate the community to donate or volunteer for these organizations. Their generosity will help improve the lives of families throughout Ohio. The Hope Foundation deserves credit for bringing this important issue to my attention.”
Tony Spano, executive director and founder of the Hope Foundation and creator of the bill, said he is just humbled by the community support.
“The legislators all came together for a great bill to support chronically and terminally ill kids for our Valley and for the state, as well,” he said. “It’s a big thank-you to Senator Schiavoni and the rest of the legislators in the House and Senate. They deserve all the credit and all the support because they do care about the kids.”
Spano said he hopes that down the road there will be many other causes to support and accomplish with community support.