VALLEY FOUNDATIONS & LOCAL NONPROFITS Lit Youngstown seeks Mercy Health Foundation provides crucial support during pandemic Andrews/Logan memories BY PAUL HOMICK Installation Lit Youngstown is seeking memories from current and past residents of the Andrews/Logan Avenue corridors for the next installment of the Andrews Avenue Memory Mural. The literary-arts organization is working in collaboration with Youngstown State University’s Department of Art. The first section of the mural focused on downtown Youngstown. Dozens of residents submitted memories, which inspired the 120-by-80 foot mural designed by students in YSU painting professor Dragana Crnjak’s class on creating and installing public art. Students worked with Youngstown CityScape, the Mahoning Valley Historical Society and the Andrews Avenue Business Association to understand the history of downtown Youngstown. Images of the present and imagined future were interwoven with images of the past, which included a movie reel, gears and machinery, and Christmas windows from Strouss’ Department Store. The first section of the mural was completed in November. The project was funded by a grant from the Wean Foundation, the YSU Art Department, City Machine Technologies, Inc. (CMT) and Brilex Industries. CMT and Brilex are both located on Andrews Avenue. Donor logos were incorporated into the mural. Information on how to submit a memory is available at www.LitYoungstown.org. Lit Youngstown is a literary arts nonprofit with programs for writers, readers, and storytellers.
YMCA 12 Rounds benefit slated for June 11-12
The YMCA of Youngstown will be hosting a 12 Rounds circuit training fitness event to raise funds to impact the lives of kids, teens, and families in the community. The event will be held 5-7p.m., Friday, June 11 and 9:30-11:30 a.m., Saturday, June 12 at in the Central YMCA parking lot, located at the corner of E. Commerce and N. Walnut streets in downtown Youngstown. Participants will take part in a high-energy dynamic circuit training event, a special version of Youngstown’s own Clemate Franklin’s 12 Rounds class. “I am excited to see my 12 rounds class expand to include this meaningful event. It’s about unity and community,” Franklin said. 12 Rounds is a total body workout focusing on agility, flexibility, speed, hand-eye coordination, power, and resistance. The event will include stations such as hill climb, battle ropes, tire flips, boxing, yoga stretch, and more. Designed for all fitness levels, modifications will be available and encouraged. Event coordinator Meri Fetkovich says, “We are fighting for a healthier spirit, mind, and body through friendship, achievement, and belonging.” She encourages everyone to invite family and friends to participate, or donate to, this one-of-a-kind event. With an event goal of $20,000, individuals will be raising funds to participate. Those interested in participating or donating should visit: https://ymcayo.org/12rounds-2021/
Compiled from local reports.
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of ‘When I ercy Health Foundation Mahoning ValWas Sick’ in ley’s rapid response to address our comYoungstown munity’s most urgent needs – needs brought (seen at left) about by the COVID-19 pandemic – ensured is dependent that care was readily available to anyone in upon the need, even at the height of the crisis. successful The first case of COVID-19 in the completion Mahoning Valley was officially diagnosed of a $150,000 March 11, 2020. It confirmed that the new fundraising virus, which was wreaking havoc on the othcampaign. er side of the world – shuttering businesses, The memorial could be comhalting transportation, forcing residents into pleted as soon quarantine, closing borders, crippling econoas September. mies, overwhelming health-care systems and IMAGE COURTESY killing hundreds of thousands – had extended OF MERCY HEALTH FOUNDATION its reach into the Mahoning Valley. The horror we’d been watching unfold around the world compression socks, dental care kits and eye memorialize those lost and honor survivors masks were also provided to caregivers who and caregivers. To that end, Mercy Health had landed at our own front door. Unsure of what was to come, but certain in many instances were spending more time Foundation Mahoning Valley recently announced a fundraising campaign to erect a that the need for care would escalate, the on the job than they were at home. Mercy Health Foundation partnered COVID-19 memorial on the campus of St. board of directors of Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley made $1.5 million with other service providers and retailers in Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. This memorial – the heart of which will immediately available for emergency fund- the Valley to offer daycare for the children of frontline workers, and to furnish Lav- be a life-size bronze sculpture of Jesus aning requests to combat the pandemic. That foresight enabled Mercy Health ender Rooms in each of our three hospi- guishing in misery under a shroud, by artFoundation to approve emergency grant tals – St. Elizabeth Youngstown, St. Joseph ist Timothy P. Schmalz – honors those lives lost. It also serves as a tribute to those who requests in mere minutes -- requests from Warren and St. Elizabeth Boardman. Lavender Rooms are physically removed waged war against the virus, exerting valiant our hospitals to purchase additional equipment and supplies that included every- from the chaos of the nursing units and efforts to care for the sick and dying, their thing from masks, gloves and gowns to provide a calming environment where families and a suffering community. The sculpture, “When I Was Sick,” chalventilators, tents and field hospital beds. clinical staff can disconnect, decompress, The rapid approvals meant our hospitals reflect and recharge. Teams affected by ex- lenges observers to see in Christ the suffering were able to secure critical equipment be- tremely stressful incidents are also able to of the sick and infirm. Three large plaques fore increasing demand made these items gather in the Lavender Rooms to debrief will serve as a backdrop to the sculpture: one and connect with counseling and treat- honoring caregivers, one memorializing those difficult if not impossible to get. As the number of Mahoning Valley resi- ment services. The rooms are furnished lost to COVID-19 and celebrating those who dents infected with COVID-19 grew, so did with comfortable recliners, offer soft mu- survived, and one serving as a permanent histhe need for care. Frontline workers – nurses, sic, aromatherapy and are stocked with torical record of the pandemic’s impact on the Valley. nursing assistants, phyA time capsule holdsicians, food service Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley ing items relevant to and environmental recently announced a fundraising campaign the pandemic will be services workers – were with plans for putting in extra hours to erect a COVID-19 memorial on the campus included it to be opened on the while struggling to find of St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. 100th anniversary of care for members of the Mahoning Valley’s their own families as first diagnosed case of COVID-19. schools, daycare and senior centers closed. protein bars, bottled water and snacks. Installation of “When I Was Sick” in While the numbers of those affected by These caregivers were also tasked with comforting the sick and dying who, because of COVID-19 have diminished, we are still a Youngstown is dependent upon the successrestrictions that prohibited visitors to hos- long way from obliterating the virus; its im- ful completion of a $150,000 fundraising pitals and other health care facilities, meant pact and the needs of those affected by and campaign. The memorial could be completcaring for those affected are still great. Mercy ed as soon as September 2021. patients were without family or friends. For information or to contribute to MerTo assist these crucial frontline workers, Health Foundation Mahoning Valley contin- cy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley’s Mercy Health Foundation, with support ues to provide support for patients, caregiv- Greatest Need Fund or the COVID-19 from many local donors, provided more than ers and other frontline workers as well as Memorial fundraising campaign, call 33015,000 meals to hospital employees who their families and community members 729-1180. otherwise may not have taken time to eat. impacted by the pandemic. n Paul Homick is president of Mercy We also recognize that it is important to Health Foundation Mahoning Valley Comfort items such as hand cream, lip balm,
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