UC Med Mentors is an affinity group under the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative (CYC), which provides mandatory training for medical students to become effective physician leaders. The mission of UC Med Mentors is multifold: To be involved in the academic and intellectual growth of the mentees; to enrich the lives of the mentees; and to encourage the mentees to be computer literate.

UC Med Mentors provides disadvantaged children one-on-one mentoring lunches/cultural events such as tickets to FC Cincinnati games, Reds games, UC Men’s Basketball games, UC Women’s Basketball games, the Aronoff Center and Playhouse in the Park. While the youth benefit from mentors, cultural events, and becoming computer literate, the program also builds University of Cincinnati medical students into strong and compassionate physician leaders.

The outcomes for all involved are incredibly meaningful. About 75 children from Cincinnati Public Schools participate per year and have shown improvement in grades, school attendance and behavior. The UC medical students grow in cultural competency and in understanding of the challenges of children in impoverished families.

Grants made in May:

Adopt A Class Foundation, $30,000.  Employee groups at companies and other organizations adopt a class/classroom and provide nearly 10,000 elementary students with monthly mentoring support and field trips.  More than 4,000 volunteers participate.

Freestore Foodbank, $75,000.  The Power Pack Childhood Hunger Prevention Program distributes over 200,000 carry-home meals at 110 sites for nearly 6,000 children in low-income families to ensure they will have food over weekends and during holidays when school meals are not available.

Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, $20,000.  The Girl Scout Leadership Experience will focus on providing a place where participating girls feel a sense of belonging.  The nearly 8,000 local girls who belong include over 2,500 in lower socioeconomic neighborhoods who benefit from a free program led by staff and volunteers.

Price Hill Will/MyCincinnati, $25,000.  The MYCincinnati program uses music to promote social change and youth development in Price Hill through a free, daily orchestra program for students during the school year.  The free four-week summer camp program serves about 50 young people and will feature a joyful performance for the entire Price Hill community.

University of Cincinnati Foundation – U.C. Med Mentors, $25,000.  See above.

University of Cincinnati Foundation – Urban Health Project, $25,000.  About 20-25 University of Cincinnati medical students spend their only open summer working full-time in internships at non-profit organizations, where they gain an increased understanding of the social factors that impact healthcare.

YWCA of Greater Cincinnati, $40,000.  The Domestic Violence Shelter Program provides safe, secure and emergency shelter to children and youth forced to flee their homes due to life-threatening abuse.

The Dater Foundation makes grants to non-profit organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area to carry out programs that benefit young people and focus in the areas of arts/culture, education, healthcare, social services and other community needs.  Information about the grantmaking process and guidelines and links to an online grant application website are available at www.DaterFoundation.org.

The private foundation was established by fourth-generation Cincinnatian, businessman and philanthropist Charles Dater (1912-1993) to ensure that his resources would continue to fund worthwhile community programs after his death.  The foundation has made more than 3,700 grants totaling over $77 million since its inception in 1985.

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For additional information regarding this news release, contact Roger Ruhl (513/598-1141).

The Charles H. Dater Foundation, Inc. is located at 700 Walnut Street, Suite 301, Cincinnati, OH 45202.