The Coordinated Action for School Health (CASH) Coalition has announced funding for eight school wellness projects in Columbiana County. From left, front row, Melissa Galbreath, CASH Coalition Coordinator for the Columbiana County ESC; Pamela Marshall, East Liverpool City Hospital; Suzanne Harding, Salem; Clara McCloskey, Salem CASH student member; Ben Wolford, Salem CASH student member; Kayla Sidell, Crestview; Blake McCowin, Crestview CASH student member; Liz Sherry, East Palestine; Lynsi Beagle, Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board; Marisa Dawson, East Liverpool; Marian Dangerfield, Family and Community Partnership Liaison for the Columbiana County ESC; back row, Jamie McKenzie, East Liverpool City Hospital; Melissa Hudson, Wellsville; Debbie Pietrzak, SRMC; Marie Williams, ESC Superintendent; Darren Miller, Crestview; Maddie Long, Crestview CASH student member; Sarah Underwood, Columbiana County Educational Opportunity Center; Wes Vins, Columbiana County Health District; Kristen Ours, CCCTC. (Submitted photo)

LISBON — The Coordinated Action for School Health (CASH) Coalition has announced funding for eight school wellness projects in Columbiana County, awarding between $1,000 and $2,000 to each. These funds will support initiatives addressing critical health priorities identified in the 2022 Columbiana County Health Needs Assessment. Funding is provided by Akron Children’s Hospital, the Columbiana County Health District, the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, East Liverpool City Hospital, and the Salem Regional Medical Center.

This year’s awards include projects funded under the Bonnie Hoppel School Health Project Awards, which encourage student leadership alongside wellness efforts. The 2024-2025 awardees are: Columbiana County Career and Technical Center, Columbiana County Educational Opportunity Center, Crestview Middle School, Crestview High School, East Liverpool City Jr./Sr. High School, East Palestine Middle School, Salem City Jr./Sr. High School, two projects at Wellsville Jr./Sr. High School.

The supported projects focus on a wide range of health and wellness initiatives, including physical fitness, girl empowerment and self-esteem, nutrition education, care closets, drug-free clubs, school attendance improvement, character-building programs, farm stand cooking and food supplies, and youth violence prevention.

Since its inception, the CASH Coalition has awarded 141 projects benefiting over 22,000 students in the county. This year, the coalition partners provided a total of $12,000 in funding to continue their mission of supporting the Coordinated School Health model.

Founded in 1995, the CASH Coalition is a volunteer group of health and social service professionals dedicated to fostering whole child and whole school wellness.

For information, contact Melissa Galbreath at 330-424-9591, ext. 185.