Manda Wolf, President of the Healthy Fayette County Board of Directors and Linda Fitzgerald, facilitator announce a $5000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation. The grant is awarded in support of the organization’s initiative to bring the Blue Zones Phase One model to Connersville-Fayette County in 2026.
“Tom DeBaun, government and community relations manager for Duke Energy in southeast Indiana, called Monday October 13 and asked Healthy Fayette County to apply for the grant which had been arranged with the Duke Energy Foundation,” HFC facilitator Linda Fitzgerald stated.
“Tom attended the Thursday October 9 workshop presented by Margaret Brown, Vice-President Business Development for Blue Zones, and to our delight, wasted no time in stepping up to launch funding for the Phase One initiative”.
DeBaun also overseas and coordinates local philanthropy in support of Duke Energy and the communities’ objectives. The $5000 grant is part of that process.
In addition to the Duke Energy Foundation grant, Healthy Fayette County has received pledges amounting to $3000+, bringing current support to $8,020.
“Healthy Fayette County Board of Directors will approve the development committee’s fundraising format at its November 5 meeting with the official fundraising campaign launching soon thereafter. The board has confidence in the outcome of our efforts as more and more people learn about the outstanding evidence-based success Blue Zones brings to efforts to improve longstanding deficits in community health factors and outcomes”, Fitzgerald stated.
“Community health, wellness and well-being go hand in hand with economic vitality, which is something the community longs to experience”, she stated.
“It’s important to keep the Blue Zones initiative in front of residents and the business community as the project progresses. It’s equally important to inform those who have yet to learn why the Blue Zones initiative is a vital part of community transformation. With that in mind, Healthy Fayette County begins a series entitled “Why Blue Zones” which will continue over the next several editions.
Healthy Fayette County thanks Tom De Baun and the Duke Energy Foundation for their generous support as momentum for the initiative continues to grow.