(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Nationwide Children’s Hospital announced a generous gift of $7.5 million from The Worthington Companies Foundation and The McConnell Foundation to create The Worthington Companies Pediatric Research Fund. This important mechanism will provide financial support for the most promising research breakthroughs taking place at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
“The Worthington Companies Foundation, which includes both Worthington Enterprises and Worthington Steel, is proud to make Nationwide Children’s Hospital our first community investment, a gift made possible by the work of our employees,” said Sonya Higginbotham, President, The Worthington Companies Foundation. “At Worthington, we believe in the power of innovation and the scientific breakthroughs at Nationwide Children’s are leading the way to a brighter future for generations of families around the world. This Fund will be transformative to children’s health for years to come.”
The Worthington Companies Pediatric Research Fund will be administered by the scientific leadership of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute to the most promising lines of inquiry and examination into a wide range of conditions facing children. Recognized as a top-10 National Institute of Health organization, the Abigail Wexner Research Institute’s breakthroughs change medicine in communities across the globe.
“The Worthington Companies Pediatric Research Fund will impact the lives of children far into the future,” said Tim Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “Worthington Enterprises, Worthington Steel and the McConnell family have supported Nationwide Children’s for decades, and we are grateful for their continuing commitment to our mission.”
The Worthington Companies Foundation, which was formerly known as The Worthington Industries Foundation, and The McConnell Foundation have collectively given $17.3 million to Nationwide Children’s over the last six decades.
“The generosity of The Worthington Industries Foundation and now, The Worthington Companies Foundation has helped make central Ohio such a special place,” said Steve Testa, President, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation. “We are thankful for their vision in creating The Worthington Companies Pediatric Research Fund. This is cutting-edge, ambitious work, and it will change lives.”
About Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-24 list of “Best Children’s Hospitals,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of America’s largest not-for-profit free-standing pediatric health care systems providing unique expertise in pediatric population health, behavioral health, genomics and health equity as the next frontiers in pediatric medicine, leading to best outcomes for the health of the whole child. Integrated clinical and research programs, as well as prioritizing quality and safety, are part of what allows Nationwide Children’s to advance its unique model of care. Nationwide Children’s has a staff of more than 14,000 that provides state-of-the-art wellness, preventive and rehabilitative care and diagnostic treatment during more than 1.7 million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.
About Worthington Companies Foundation
The Worthington Companies Foundation, formerly known as the Worthington Industries Foundation, exists to support worthwhile community causes. In fiscal year 2023, the Foundation contributed $2.9M to 69 organizations in its focus areas of Health, Human Services, Youth & Education and Civic Causes.
Funded by Worthington Enterprises(NYSE:WOR) and Worthington Steel (NYSE:WS), the two public companies formed by the December 2023 split of the former Worthington Industries, the Foundation’s community efforts now have the power of two companies behind them.
About Worthington
Worthington Enterprises Europe is the largest designer and manufacturer of pressure vessels in the region with over 1,600 employees working at facilities in Austria, Poland and Portugal. Worthington is the first in its industry to incorporate sustainable practices into its long-term business strategy.
With the lightest composite and steel low- and high-pressure cylinders available, Worthington designs and makes solutions for technical gases, industrial gases, and alternative fuels. The Company invests strategically in production facilities that serve the sustainable mobility market with gas-storage, transport and onboard fueling systems for cars, buses, trucks and more.
Worthington Enterprises (NYSE: WOR) is a designer and manufacturer of market-leading brands that help enable people to live safer, healthier and more expressive lives. Worthington Enterprises operates with three segments: Building Products, Consumer Products and Sustainable Energy Solutions. Worthington’s emphasis on innovation and transformation extends to building products including water systems, heating and cooling solutions, architectural and acoustical grid ceilings and metal framing and accessories, and consumer products in tools, outdoor living and celebrations categories sold under brand names Coleman®, Bernzomatic®, Balloon Time®, Level5 Tools®, Mag Torch®, Well-X-Trol®, General®, Garden-Weasel®, Pactool International® and Hawkeye™. Worthington Enterprises also serves the growing global hydrogen ecosystem through on-board fueling systems and gas containment solutions.
Founded in 1955 as Worthington Industries, Worthington Enterprises follows a people-first Philosophy with earning money for its shareholders as its first corporate goal. Worthington Enterprises achieves this outcome by empowering its employees to innovate, thrive and grow with leading brands in attractive markets that improve everyday life. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington Enterprises employs approximately 5,000 people throughout North America and Europe. Worthington Enterprises engages deeply with local communities where it has operations through volunteer efforts and The Worthington Companies Foundation, participates actively in workforce development programs and reports annually on its corporate citizenship and sustainability efforts. For more information, visit worthingtonenterprises.com.
Any questions?
Todd Cesaratto
Director of Communications + Marketing | Europe
Worthington Enterprises
+43 664 8868 2632
todd.cesaratto@worthingtonindustries.com