Donor Support Helps Create Safety Net for Abused and Neglected Children

Insuring the Children reaches $1M in donations to Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children

Monday, September 12, 2022

Every fall as kids go back to school, reports of child abuse cases tend to go up. The TriState is fortunate to have the Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Cincinnati Children’s. The Mayerson Center has helped set the national standard for enhancing and strengthening evaluations of child abuse. The team of doctors, nurses and social workers provides highly specialized services to abused and neglected children and their families. The child abuse team at the Mayerson Center treats more than 2,000 children every year for whom abuse is suspected.

Cincinnati Children’s relies on the support of many to help create the safety net for at-risk children – including Insuring the Children. Since 1998, the group has donated money to fund a child abuse fellowship. Following this year's Have a Heart gala, ITC will donate $35,000 to bring the total amount given to $1M.

“We would not be able to adequately train the next generation of child abuse physicians without these consistent donations from Insuring the Children,” said Kathi Makoroff, MD, fellowship director, Child Abuse Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s. “This money is making a difference for kids who need help.”

Child abuse was recognized as a pediatric subspecialty in 2009. The Mayerson Center’s fellowship program is one of the oldest in the country. Over the course of the three years, fellows learn specialized skills to prepare them for an academic and clinical career in child abuse and forensic pediatrics. These fellows impact children and families throughout the United States – working and teaching both locally and across the nation.

“The Insurance industry protects assets and what greater asset do we have than our children,” said Matt Dent, president, Insuring the Children. “We believe that every child is entitled to a life free of abuse and neglect.”

ITC was formed when a group of insurance executives from the Cincinnati Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriting Society was looking to create a good work program. It is a partnership of individuals in the life, health, title and property/casualty insurance industry and those associated with the business. The organization provides financial support to medical and social service agencies that deal with the emotional care and medical treatment of abused and neglected children.

ITC hosts its annual Have a Heart Gala in September to raise money. They spotlight how, together with supporters from our community, insurance agents and companies can pool resources to create a brighter future for local children.