Cleveland Clinic announces $2 million gift to support hunger relief

Cleveland Clinic has announced a $2 million gift to bolster support for hunger relief efforts across the communities it serves in Ohio, Florida and Nevada.

The funding will benefit nine Feeding America member food banks that share Cleveland Clinic’s commitment to addressing social drivers of health, including food insecurity.

According to Feeding America, 47 million people in the United States face food insecurity, and one in five children lack enough food to grow up strong. The need spans income levels, with 70% of those experiencing hunger living above the poverty line. Without consistent access to nutritious meals, children may struggle to grow and learn, and adults face increased risks of chronic health conditions.

“Food insecurity is a challenge that touches every community we serve,” said Vickie Johnson, chief community officer at Cleveland Clinic. “Nutritious food is not a privilege, it’s a necessity. This donation will help ease the pressure families experience and remove barriers to living healthier lives.”

The gift aims to ease financial pressures for families facing food insecurity during a season when financial burdens mount and food needs grow more urgent. The $2 million commitment builds on a $10.4 million gift made by Cleveland Clinic in 2023 to implement programs addressing food insecurity, including a teaching kitchen, summer meals for children, food vouchers and grocery delivery, and Nourish food pantries.

Organizations receiving support through the $2 million Cleveland Clinic gift include the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Feeding Medina County, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Second Harvest, and the Dover New Philadelphia Food Pantry in Ohio; The Just One Project in Nevada; and United Way Broward, House of Hope and United Against Poverty in Florida.

“We’re proud to stand hand in hand with organizations dedicated to ending hunger,” Johnson said. “Stronger partnerships mean stronger communities, and we know lasting changes happen when we work together. By expanding access to nutritious foods, we’re helping our neighbors nourish their bodies and minds.”

Cleveland Clinic remains committed to advancing health through strategic community investments. By partnering with trusted local organizations, the hospital is working to reduce the prevalence of hunger and ensure families have one less burden. The $2 million gift reinforces the health system’s commitment to addressing social drivers of health and supporting the well-being of the communities it serves.

The health system’s commitment to addressing hunger includes establishing community food pantries at Akron General, Marymount and South Pointe hospitals, as well as the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center. It also includes partnerships with Aramark and Morrison Healthcare to provide food vouchers and grocery delivery for pediatric and pregnant patients across Northeast Ohio; support for the expansion of the nonprofit House of Hope’s production farm in Martin County, Florida, which offers free produce to local residents; and collaboration with Children’s Hunger Alliance to provide weekend meals to preschoolers in Cleveland.