Morgan Stanley launches Healthy Cleveland program

Author: Scott Sussell

Financial services firm Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) on Friday, June 26, announced the launch of Healthy Cleveland, which is part of the Morgan Stanley Healthy Cities initiative and aims to “deliver a linked network of wellness, nutrition and play resources to children in underserved communities.”

The first concrete effort of Healthy Cleveland was the construction of a playground at the Cleveland Housing Network’s Erie Square Apartments.

Over the next year, the firm said in a news release, Healthy Cleveland “plans to deliver over 710,000 healthy meals; nutrition education, health screening and healthy snack programs for 2,000 students; regular fitness programs for 700+ students and safe play spaces for 1,000 children.”

Morgan Stanley employees will provide more than 2,000 hours of volunteer service, the firm said.

“We are truly excited to expand our Healthy Cities initiative to Cleveland and deliver programming that reinforces our firm’s global commitment to improving children’s health,” said Joan Steinberg, global head of philanthropy for Morgan Stanley, in a statement.

Nationally, Morgan Stanley Healthy Cities works with national nonprofits Feeding America and KaBOOM!, which encourages outdoor play.

The initiative takes on local partners, too. In Cleveland, those are the Cleveland Housing Network, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and the Cleveland Clinic.

“We are so excited to be part of the Morgan Stanley Healthy Cities program, which will provide us with the opportunity to expand our school pantry program and collaborate with other nonprofits to deliver additional resources that provide children with the building blocks they need for a successful start,” said Kristin Warzocha, CEO of the food bank, in a statement.

Morgan Stanley Healthy Cities was launched in 2014 in Chicago; Newark, N.J., and Oakland, Calif. In those three locations, the firm said, the effort “has delivered 586,592 nutritious meals, 1,228 medical screenings and safe play spaces for more than 3,000 kids as of this summer.” Morgan Stanley added London to the program earlier this year.

By: Scott Sussell, Crain's Cleveland

Read this article online here.

Original Article: http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20150626/NEWS/150629868/morgan-stanley-launches-healthy-cleve