Operation Wellness, designed to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and enhance the health of Wells County residents of all ages, was conceived by the Caylor-Nickel Foundation following community health forums identifying perceived health risks. The Foundation's first attempt to analyze this assumption was the Health Tour program, a daylong health fair for the area fourth graders.
Data acquired at the fair confirmed that the youngsters did exhibit a higher than expected body fat percentage and increased cholesterol levels. In response to the surprising data, the Foundation realized the need for additional revenue and partners to combat health concerns on a county-wide basis.
Immediately, the Foundation pursued a matching grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through its Local Initiative Funding Partners (LIFP) program. Out of over 310 LIFP applications, Operation Wellness was selected as one of eighteen funded programs in 2003. Ball State University received a $450,000 matching grant to be used over four years for Operation Wellness. Local funding partners must match the grant dollar for dollar, providing another $450,000 for the project.
Operation Wellness operates through the collaboration of both funding partners and community groups. Local funding partners, besides the Caylor-Nickel Foundation, include Bluffton Regional Medical Center, Franklin Electric, The Lutheran Foundation, River Terrace Estates, and the Wells County Foundation, Inc. Major community partners include Ball State University, Bluffton-Harrison Schools, Northern Wells Schools, Southern Wells Schools, Wells County Creative Arts Council, and the Bluffton Parks and Recreation Department. |
