PRESS RELEASE

July 13, 2005
Contact: Benjamin J. D'Angelo
(614) 224-4950, ext 313

Health Policy Institute of Ohio Receives $100,000 Grant from the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, the United Way of Central Ohio, and the United Way of Greater Cleveland

Columbus, OH - The Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) announced today that it has received a one-year grant of $100,000 for operational support from three United Way organizations.  The grant will be used to fund the Institute’s general activities, which include forecasting health trends, analyzing key health issues, and communicating current research to Ohio policymakers, state agencies and other decision makers.

“We are very happy to receive such a notable endorsement,” Dr. William Hayes said, President of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio.  “The United Way has made tremendous contributions to our community, and their generous help will allow us to better serve Ohioans.”

The grant is being provided through a joint effort of the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, the United Way of Central Ohio, and the United Way of Greater Cleveland. Each United Way is independently governed and operated by local volunteers.  Their mission is to “improve people’s lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities.”

“This is an exciting grant because it is the first time the United Way organizations in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus have come together to lay the groundwork for better health policy in Ohio,” said Bernadette Kerrigan, Vice President for Community Investment at the United Way of Greater Cleveland. “By enabling the Health Policy Institute of Ohio to provide policymakers with reliable and impartial information on which to base their decisions, all Ohioans will benefit.”

HPIO is an independent, nonpartisan organization. In addition to its work on analyzing and forecasting issues, HPIO also convenes discussions on important health issues for Ohio by bringing together representatives from various sectors with a keen interest in health matters, including policymakers, providers, media representatives, employers, advocates, health plans, consumers, state agencies and researchers.

The following foundations have already provided up to five years of funding for HPIO:

• The Anthem Foundation of Ohio (based in Cincinnati)
• The Cleveland Foundation
• The George Gund Foundation (based in Cleveland)
• The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati
• The Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation (based in Cleveland)
• Saint Luke’s Foundation of Cleveland
• Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton with the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland