City Schools’ Food Program to benefit from Kasich inauguration leftovers

Organizations focused on the health and well-being of children, including the Marion City Schools, will share $182,000 that remained in Gov. John Kasich’s re-election coffers after settling the final bills for the governor’s inauguration events.

First Lady Karen Kasich announced Tuesday the money would be split among several groups that work with children on issues like after-school academics, fitness and health and nutrition.

Kasich’s committee raised $1.17 million for his second inauguration, which included a swearing-in ceremony in the Southern Theatre and a gala at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Columbus.

By law, any unused money must either be returned to donors or be donated to charity. As was the case four years ago, money left over was donated to charity.

Most of the recipients of the residual money from the Kasich-Taylor New Day Committee play a role in trying to help children eat well and regularly.

Here’s a breakdown of the donations:

• After-School All-Stars (ASAS) Ohio will get $55,000. The organization is part of a national effort that provides after-school academic support, mentoring, and fitness activities in a safe environment. Karen Kasich is a statewide ambassador for ASAS Ohio.
• Live Healthy Appalachia will get $55,000. The Athens-based organization will use its donation to expand its Live Healthy Kids program, a which teaches students about healthy eating and gives them hands-on experience preparing and cooking healthy foods.
• Local Matters will get $22,728. The Columbus-area organization teaches Columbus-area adults and children about healthy food, how to grow it, how to cook it, and how to get it affordably.
• Five school-year weekend backpack programs will share $50,000. The organizations send non-perishable meals home with children at the end of the school week to combat hunger. The five programs are Ashtabula County Educational Services/Building Bridges, Edgewood Ministerial Association in Butler County, the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development/RSVP of the Ohio Valley in Jackson County, Marion City School/Mid Ohio Foodbank and the West Ohio Foodbank in Allen County.

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