The focus is on the health and wellness of at-risk children in Mahoning and Trumbull counties

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The William Swanston Charitable Fund recently awarded $298,200 in 2016 grants for nine initiatives focused on the health and wellness of at-risk children.

Initiatives include installing outdoor playground equipment in two well-used Youngstown parks and a comprehensive program focused on disadvantaged at-risk mothers-to-be, mothers and their children.

The Swanston Fund also announced continuing support for ongoing health and fitness programs in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

“The Swanston Charitable Fund is pleased to provide resources to assist creative and dedicated professionals who care about our [Mahoning] Valley’s children. We continue to be impressed by the initiatives these agencies are crafting to create opportunities for children to lead healthier, safer and more-fulfilling lives,” said Paul M. Dutton, chairman of the Swanston Children’s Fund.

A highlight of this year’s grant includes $75,000 to install outdoor fitness equipment at two neighborhood parks, Glenwood and Homestead, and launch regimented fitness programs in the Summer Day Camp programs administered by the city of Youngstown, Dutton said.

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. will install outdoor fitness equipment that is modeled after resistance and other machines commonly found at gyms, but designed to withstand outdoor environments and be user-friendly for youth.

YNDC will engage youth the playgrounds serve in discussions regarding physical activity and the playground improvements.

Options for using the equipment will be shared with the youth to gather feedback on preferences.

The equipment will then be installed by volunteers at a community build day with ribbon-cutting events to raise awareness after installation.

In addition to the equipment, YNDC is collaborating with Youngstown to implement fitness programming in the city’s Summer Day Camp program. Youngstown State University Campus Recreation will be engaged to institute the daily fitness activities using the equipment and increase the amount of physical activity among the children participating.

The fund also approved $25,000 to Mercy Health Mahoning Valley’s Resource Mothers, a program focused on disadvantaged at-risk mothers and their children to ensure early and consistent prenatal care, improve pregnancy outcomes and provide post-natal care and control/reduce childhood obesity.