A large pedestrian-worn pathway along the banks of the White River and Fall Creek in downtown Indianapolis will be receiving major enhancements as part of the Wells Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities grant program.
Eskenazi Health, through Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County, received a grant totaling $31,575 from the Environmental Solutions for Communities grant program from Wells Fargo and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The corridor has been used for years as a cross country track for local runners. The enhancements, known as the Green Corridor Extension Project, will consist of nearly 6,000 linear feet of locally sourced crushed limestone placed along the pathway.
“We're deeply grateful to all of the support from Wells Fargo to allow for the enhancements to the Green Corridor Extension Project to move forward,” said Michael Kaufmann, director of special projects and civic investment for Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County. “This corridor offers another opportunity to connect communities across the city in an environmentally friendly way.”
Eskenazi Health was selected among 54 nonprofit organizations to receive grant dollars totaling $3 million from the 2014 Wells Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities grant program. The program supports projects focused on land and water conservation, energy efficiency, infrastructure, and educational outreach in communities across America.
“This trail improvement project will lead to developing world class cross country venues while providing a supreme training surface for elite athletes in the heart of an urban environment,” said Greg Harger, director and coach for the Indiana Invaders, a team of elite development athletes competing at USA Track & Field National Championships.
Harger has been one of the main individuals behind the improvement project, which kicked off as part of Indy DO Day, which consisted of several days when people and businesses in Indianapolis perform service activities to enhance neighborhoods and communities. Indy DO Day was Oct. 2 – 4. The final work was completed with help from volunteers with Eskenazi Health and Wells Fargo on Oct 25.
“We believe that helping our communities become more resilient and better stewards of the environment will improve the long-term quality of life of our customers and team members,” said Mary Wenzel, head of Wells Fargo Environmental Affairs. “We’re proud to support this effort in Indianapolis with both grant dollars and support from our local employees, who volunteer their time and efforts through our 70 Green Teams.”
Organizations assisting with the project in addition to Eskenazi Health and Wells Fargo have included Herron School of Art and Design, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), D2 Land & Water Resource, Eli Lilly & Company, Blue Marble Design, and Laura Kopetsky Tri Ax.
The Wells Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities grant program began in 2012 as part of Wells Fargo’s commitment to provide $100 million to environmentally focused nonprofits and universities by 2020. It is funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation with a $15 million, five-year commitment to promote environmental stewardship across the country. The program funds proposals in select cities/regions that help address the most pressing environmental issues identified by each participating community. Some examples of past grant projects include: helping Camp Pollack in Sacramento, Calif., prepare for teaching local students; working with the Sea Turtle Conservancy along the Florida coast to keep endangered animals safe; and restoring the landmark Levi Carter Pavilion with the city of Omaha, Neb.
About Eskenazi Health
For 155 years, Eskenazi Health has provided high-quality, cost-effective, patient-centered health care to the residents of Marion County and Central Indiana. Accredited by The Joint Commission, nationally recognized programs include a Level I trauma center, regional burn center, comprehensive senior care program, women’s and children’s services, teen and adolescent care programs, Eskenazi Health Midtown Community Mental Health, and a network of primary care sites located throughout the neighborhoods of Indianapolis known as Eskenazi Health Center. In partnership with the Regenstrief Institute, Eskenazi Health conducts groundbreaking work that informs health information technology around the globe. Eskenazi Health also serves as the sponsoring hospital for Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services. As the public hospital division of the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County (HHC), Eskenazi Health partners with the Indiana University School of Medicine whose physicians provide a comprehensive range of primary and specialty care services. In December 2013, Eskenazi Health moved to its new main campus and opened the brand new Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital. The new modern and efficient facility is on track to become the country’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver campus and offers unique features like a one-of-a-kind sky farm and extensive art collection. Eskenazi Health was the recipient of $40 million gift from Indianapolis couple Sidney and Lois Eskenazi to assist with building the brand new hospital facilities. HHC recognized this generous gift by naming the new hospital and health system in the Eskenazis’ honor.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.5 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 locations, 12,500 ATMs, and the internet (wellsfargo.com), and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With more than 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 25 on Fortune’s 2013 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo. In 2013, the Company invested $275.5 million in grants to 18,500 nonprofits, and team members contributed more than 1.69 million volunteer hours around the country.
A leader in reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions and operating sustainably, Wells Fargo has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Center for Corporate Climate Leadership, the Carbon Disclosure Project and the U.S. Green Building Council. Since 2005, Wells Fargo has provided more than $28 billion in environmental finance, supporting sustainable buildings and renewable energy projects nationwide. This includes investments in more than 300 solar projects and 47 wind projects that generate enough clean renewable energy to power hundreds of thousands of American homes each year. For more information, please visit: www.wellsfargo.com/about/csr and the Wells Fargo Environmental Forum.
CONTACT: Todd Harper
Phone: 317.880.4785
Pager: 317.310.5972
Email: todd.harper@eskenazihealth.edu