Cleveland Clinic Pledges $2 Million to Support Regional Food Banks – Cleveland Clinic Newsroom

Cleveland Clinic’s Strategic Investment in Sustainable Development Goals to Combat Food Insecurity

Executive Summary

Cleveland Clinic has announced a $2 million strategic investment aimed at mitigating food insecurity across its service areas in Ohio, Florida, and Nevada. This initiative directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily focusing on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The funding will be distributed among nine member food banks of Feeding America, reinforcing the commitment to address social drivers of health and build resilient communities.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

The core objective of the $2 million gift is to end hunger and ensure access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food. The initiative addresses the pressing issue of food insecurity, which affects 47 million people in the United States, including one in five children. By providing direct support to food banks, Cleveland Clinic is taking concrete action to achieve the targets set forth in SDG 2.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The report acknowledges the direct correlation between nutrition and health. Food insecurity is identified as a significant barrier to healthy living, increasing the risk of chronic health conditions in adults and hindering the development and learning capacity of children. This investment is a preventative health measure designed to improve community well-being, a key component of SDG 3.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

This initiative exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership as outlined in SDG 17. Cleveland Clinic is collaborating with established non-profit organizations to achieve a common goal. As stated by Chief Community Officer Vickie Johnson, “Stronger partnerships mean stronger communities, and we know lasting changes happen when we work together.” This collaboration leverages combined resources and expertise for greater impact.

Initiative Details and Beneficiaries

Financial Commitment

The $2 million commitment is a continuation of Cleveland Clinic’s efforts to combat food insecurity, building upon a previous $10.4 million gift in 2023. The funding is intended to alleviate financial pressures on families, particularly during periods of increased need.

Beneficiary Organizations

The funding will be allocated to nine organizations dedicated to hunger relief:

• Greater Cleveland Food Bank (Ohio)
• Feeding Medina County (Ohio)
• Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank (Ohio)
• Second Harvest (Ohio)
• Dover New Philadelphia Food Pantry (Ohio)
• The Just One Project (Nevada)
• United Way Broward (Florida)
• House of Hope (Florida)
• United Against Poverty (Florida)

Comprehensive Strategy for Community Health

Cleveland Clinic’s commitment extends beyond this financial gift and includes a range of ongoing initiatives that support community health and nutrition goals.

1. Food Access Points: Establishment of community food pantries at multiple hospital and health center locations, including Akron General, Marymount, South Pointe, and the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center.
2. Targeted Nutritional Support: Partnership with Aramark and Morrison Healthcare to provide food vouchers and grocery delivery services for pediatric and pregnant patients in Northeast Ohio.
3. Sustainable Food Production: Support for the expansion of the House of Hope’s production farm in Martin County, Florida, which provides free, locally grown produce to residents.
4. Child Nutrition Programs: Collaboration with Children’s Hunger Alliance to supply weekend meals for preschoolers in Cleveland, directly addressing child hunger.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues and initiatives that are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
  • Explanation: The article is centered on this target. Cleveland Clinic’s donation is explicitly for “hunger relief efforts” to combat “food insecurity.” The initiative aims to provide “consistent access to nutritious meals” for families and children, directly aligning with the goal of ensuring access to sufficient and nutritious food. The article notes that “47 million people in the U.S. face food insecurity,” which is the core problem this target seeks to solve.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
  • Explanation: The article frames food insecurity as a critical “social driver of health.” It explicitly states that without nutritious food, “adults face increased risks of chronic health conditions,” which are non-communicable diseases. By providing access to nutritious food, Cleveland Clinic’s initiative acts as a preventative health measure, aiming to reduce the prevalence of these conditions and thus contributing to this target.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
  • Explanation: The initiative described is a prime example of a partnership between a private healthcare system (Cleveland Clinic) and civil society organizations (“nine Feeding America member food banks”). The article emphasizes this collaborative approach, quoting Vickie Johnson: “Stronger partnerships mean stronger communities, and we know lasting changes happen when we work together.” The financial donation is a key “resourcing strategy” for this partnership.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Implied Indicator (related to 2.1.2 – Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity): The article provides baseline statistics that can be used to understand the scale of the problem, such as “47 million people in the U.S. face food insecurity” and “1 in 5 children lack enough food.” Progress could be measured by a reduction in these numbers within the communities served.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Implied Indicator (related to 3.4.1 – Mortality rate from non-communicable diseases): While the article does not provide mortality rates, it implies that progress can be measured by a reduction in the “increased risks of chronic health conditions” among the adult population served by the food programs. This could be tracked through community health surveys or hospital data over time.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Direct Indicator (related to 17.17.1 – Amount of U.S. dollars committed to partnerships): The article provides specific financial figures that serve as direct indicators of the resources committed to the partnership.
  • A “$2 million gift” to nine food banks.
  • A previous “$10.4 million gift made by Cleveland Clinic in 2023.”
• Direct Indicator: The number of partners involved is also a clear indicator of the scale of the collaboration. The article mentions partnerships with “nine Feeding America member food banks” and other specific organizations like “Aramark,” “Children’s Hunger Alliance,” and “House of Hope.”

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: newsroom.clevelandclinic.org