Social Venture Partners (SVP) Cincinnati announced today it has selected Skyward to receive a $60,000 grant and professional consulting worth thousands of dollars to implement LiveWell NKY, an initiative to improve the health of Northern Kentucky residents.
Skyward will receive the grant over a three-year period from SVP Cincinnati, along with hundreds of hours of donated consulting from the organization’s professional partners/members. It includes subject matter experts in the fields of finance, marketing, management, governance and other areas.
Skyward, formerly Vision 2015, recently launched the LiveWell NKY initiative with the goal to move an additional nine percent of residents into excellent or very good health by providing a common vision for a culture of good health. The program will help communities, worksites, schools, and faith-based organizations pursue health goals for physical activity, improved nutrition and tobacco-free environments.
“It was the vision and potential of Skyward that attracted our partners,” said Sandy Hughes, chair of SVP Cincinnati. “Health is one of our focus areas and Skyward’s plan to create a culture of good health for Northern Kentucky is as ambitious as it is necessary. We want to help Skyward bring these great ideas to reality and scale.”
SVP brings together a unique combination of investor dollars and donated skills and talent to help support its investee organizations. Since its inception in 2007, SVP Cincinnati has successfully invested $800,000 in grants and in-kind support to six local non-profit organizations; Skyward is the organization’s seventh investee. Skyward was selected through a competitive process that included a written application, site visits and a presentation to SVP member partners.
The need for health promotion in NKY
As a state, Kentucky consistently ranks 47th or 48th on various health indices. Skyward’s LiveWell NKY initiative will start positive and forward change in the nine counties of Northern Kentucky. Its plan is to improve the health of 20,000 more adults in the region to excellent or very good by the year 2020.
“Skyward has a compelling plan with data-driven goals,” SVP partner and project coordinator Carole Register said. “We look forward to working with Skyward on the program to make a positive, lasting impact on the health of the community.”
“With SVP Cincinnati’s help, Skyward will work aggressively to organize, engage and enroll public and resident support to drive a more health-oriented culture in our region.” Said Nancy Costello, LiveWell NKY program director.
“Skyward is truly honored to be selected as the 2016 investee by Social Venture Partners,” said Bill Scheyer, president of Skyward. “Both our organizations emphasize the importance of meaningful community engagement in transforming the quality of life of our region. It’s a great match for us. These are bold and transformative goals, and we are ready to make this happen, with the support and expertise of SVP partners.”
