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Local nonprofit Kate's Well says it has provided dozens of grants, helped Dublin-area families with cancer
Summary
Speakers representing Kate's Well described the group's grantmaking and direct financial help for central Ohio families facing cancer, saying the nonprofit has issued about 67 grants and directly helped 27 families, including through rent, utilities and medical cost assistance.
A presenter speaking for Kate's Well told Dublin-area meeting attendees that the nonprofit began after a cancer diagnosis in the speaker's family and now directs grants and direct aid to Ohio families coping with cancer.
"I was diagnosed with lymphoma in February. I was pregnant with my daughter, Audra, at the time, and it was a very challenging time in our lives," the commenter said, describing the personal experience that helped inspire the group. "After that happened, Brian and I just decided we needed to do something more to pay it forward. And then the idea of Kate's Well was born."
Kate's Well, the speaker said, has focused on helping patients and families with immediate needs rather than on research grants. The presenter said the organization has awarded about 67 grants in total and directly helped 27 families in recent years, many in Central Ohio and in the Dublin community. Those supports, the speaker said, have included paying medical out-of-pocket costs and short-term rent and utilities.
One speaker described how Kate's Well covered an entire family's calendar-year maximum out-of-pocket medical expenses after the family sent a hospital bill from Ohio State University. A teacher who worked to connect a family to the group said the nonprofit responded promptly and offered to pay multiple months' rent and utilities.
"I thought a month's rent would be helpful for anyone. And he came back and said, we're gonna do three months' rent. We can help this family. We'll make sure we cover utilities and everything in that moment," the teacher said.
Speakers also described partnerships and donations to other local nonprofits. The presenter named Worth the Wait, which supports adolescent and young adult cancer survivors pursuing parenthood, as one organization receiving funding from Kate's Well. A guest speaker said the group's grants "really bring shine and joy and hope" to families and that about 85% of the families the group helps have an active cancer diagnosis.
A presenter said the group's work is visible in Dublin City Schools: students, parents and staff there are aware of a yearly dodgeball fundraiser that raises awareness and funds, and school community members said the selection of local recipients increased awareness of the nonprofit's services.
No formal council action, vote or funding request was recorded on the transcript for this presentation; remarks appeared during a public-comment portion of the meeting. Speakers described needs they encountered, examples of assistance provided and organizations supported by Kate's Well, but they did not ask the council for a specific measure during the recorded remarks.
Speakers identified several specific instances of aid: paying a family's full calendar-year max out-of-pocket medical costs for 2024 after a hospital bill was submitted, offering three months' rent plus utilities to a family referred by a school staff member, and distributing grants to other local nonprofits including Worth the Wait. The presenters said they expect the group's school fundraiser and community outreach to generate further referrals from Dublin City (Regular School District) families.
The presentation closed with speakers describing the group as newly active in the community and optimistic about helping more families moving forward.
