NCH x BuckeyeThon YP Spotlight
Five students from central Ohio high schools will represent The Ohio State University’s BuckeyeThon as part of Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s 2024 summer employment program.
The five students, all from Dublin City Schools, are members of student organizations that have partnered with BuckeyeThon to support its mission of raising awareness and funds for children battling cancer and blood disorders. 100% of the funds raised by BuckeyeThon and its Youth Philanthropy programs go to Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) in Columbus.
These students were chosen by BuckeyeThon leadership in collaboration with NCH. Applicants were asked several essay questions, including to explain what they hoped to gain from the employment program, to discuss their interest in working in a healthcare setting and to share more about their “Why;” the motivating factor that propels them toward acts of philanthropy and social responsibility.
The selected students will spend the summer interning in Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families program where they will have the opportunity gain valuable experience in a real-world healthcare setting.
Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families began in 2008 and targets five impact areas to create positive healthcare outcomes in the Columbus community: affordable housing, education, health and wellness, community enrichment and economic development.
This exclusive opportunity for high school students was made possible by collaboration between Nationwide Children’s Hospital representatives and BuckeyeThon students and advisors, all of whom have been working closely to expand their partnership to offer enhanced educational and professional opportunities to students participating in philanthropic work.
The Youth Philanthropy Program through BuckeyeThon, an official student organization of Ohio State, is an initiative designed to engage central Ohio high school students in experiential philanthropy, with the overarching goal of supporting pediatric healthcare at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. This program offers young people the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the lives of others by participating in fundraising and community service.
Dublin City School’s Dublin Scioto and Dublin Jerome High Schools collaborate in yearlong fundraising efforts and awareness campaigns, with a culminating event, DublinThon, celebrating their hard work. DublinThon students have been steadily growing their program by engaging their student body with the cause, hosting service projects in support of the hospital and collaborating actively with BuckeyeThon students to strategically expand their outreach and impact.
Many Youth Philanthropy programs find success in collaborating with existing student organizations like student councils or service clubs to foster engagement and gain support. Through such collaborations, high schools can actively contribute to the objectives of BuckeyeThon's Youth Philanthropy program while empowering students to make a meaningful impact on the Columbus community. High schools looking to instill a culture of philanthropy and social responsibility can easily become involved with BuckeyeThon's Youth Philanthropy program.
Interested students, teachers or administrators can reach out directly to BuckeyeThon’s Director of Youth Philanthropy, Akhil Deavela, and Advisor Kristen Van Gundy, to express their interest and explore partnership opportunities.
To initiate this conversation, please email YP.Buckeyethon@osu.edu and vangundy.48@osu.edu to schedule a virtual or in-person informational meeting.