Aug 2025 Newsletter
A Message from Danielle
I’m thrilled to share our 2024 Annual Report with you! Pulling this year’s report together was energizing, as it gave us the chance to look back over the past 10 years of CelebrateOne, to see where we’ve been, celebrate the progress we’ve made, and get inspired about where we’re headed next.
As we reflect on milestones reached and challenges overcome, it’s the everyday triumphs behind our numbers that truly stand out: first steps, first birthdays, and bright futures being built for our youngest residents.
This report is more than a look back; it's a spotlight on the collaborative spirit, bold action, and unwavering progress that define our work within Central Ohio.
Please, take a few minutes to explore it. I hope it leaves you as inspired as it left me. I’m proud of how far we’ve come and ready for what’s next.
- Danielle P. Tong | Executive Director
In Case You Missed It
We have had some amazing events this summer! Check out what you might have missed below!
In May, CelebrateOne hosted its annual Community Baby Shower! It was our biggest yet, welcoming more than 1,100 people! Guests connected with 60+ community resource tables, gaining access to valuable services to help families and babies thrive.
Families also had the opportunity to take home a diaper bag filled with essentials, plus raffle prizes throughout the day.
A huge thank you to our sponsors - Donatos Pizza, Encova Insurance, Columbus Diaper Bank, and Nationwide Insurance - for helping make this event possible. The event was a true celebration of community, connection, and support for Central Ohio families.
Click here to see photos from this incredible day.
CelebrateOne’s Policy Summit
On July 16, CelebrateOne, in partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital, hosted the 2025 Policy Summit, bringing together public health professionals, care providers, policymakers, and advocates for a full day focused on improving maternal and infant health.
Highlights included a keynote from Dr. Dan Skinner, who shared insights on Ohio’s maternal and infant health policy landscape, and an inspiring opening plenary from Groundwork Ohio.
Attendees participated in hands-on breakout sessions, networked with local leaders, and left with tools and strategies to bring back to their communities. The Summit was a powerful opportunity to advance collaboration and drive meaningful systems change for moms and babies in Central Ohio.
The 411 on C1
Check out what’s coming up below and sign up or mark you calendars today!
Life after birth brings new challenges and opportunities for support. Join CelebrateOne for our next Community Conversations Lunch & Learn as we explore the postpartum journey.
Hear from Gina VanCant, Founder & CEO of Project Milk Mission, and Cass Woodard, Senior Operations Manager at POEM, as they share expertise and lived experiences on creating more inclusive and compassionate care for families.
Free and open to all - register today!
On Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 6–8 PM, CelebrateOne is hosting our First Birthday Bash, a special after-hours celebration at COSI for families with children turning ONE in 2025. The evening will feature free admission, food, professional smash cake photos, and exclusive access to the museum. Plus, the first 150 eligible families will receive a free COSI family membership for the year!
This event is a joyful way to celebrate our community's youngest children reaching their first birthdays!
Share Your Voice
Share Your Feedback: Take the “In the Know” Community Survey
We want to hear from you! CelebrateOne is conducting a brief community survey to gain a deeper understanding of how our programs are perceived and their impact on families in Central Ohio. Whether you’ve used our services or are just learning about us now, your feedback is valuable.
The survey is completely anonymous, and demographic questions are optional. Your responses will help us improve services, strengthen community impact, and support long-term outcomes for moms, babies, and families.
Community Calendar
Stroller Socials
Hosted by CelebrateOne
Pack up the stroller and join us for our next Stroller Social on Friday, September 19 from 12–2 PM at the Westerville Sports Complex!
This family-friendly event is a chance to enjoy a relaxing walk, connect with other parents, and let the kids explore the playground.
We’ll have light snacks and water on hand - just bring yourself, your stroller, and your smile!
Questions? Contact Donna at 614-852-6160 or dmhaney@columbus.gov.
Let’s walk, talk, and play together!
Walk with a Doc For Perinatal Families
Hosted by Little Bottoms, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and CelebrateOne
CelebrateOne is proud to sponsor Walk With A Doc for Perinatal Families, a free monthly event for pregnant and postpartum families, held every 3rd Saturday at Westgate Park.
Meet at 9:30 AM for a light breakfast, followed by a short health talk and a community walk at 10 AM.
Strollers are encouraged! Please bring your own, but a limited number will be available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis.
Childbirth & Baby Basics
Hosted by the Columbus Public Health
Columbus Public Health’s Home Visiting team is offering free childbirth and parenting classes—and you can earn gift cards and baby supplies just for attending (while supplies last)!
Childbirth & Baby Basics
Learn about the third trimester, labor and delivery, comfort techniques, newborn care, postpartum health, and child safety. Classes are offered at a variety of times and locations to fit your schedule.
Support people are encouraged to attend. Need help with transportation or child care? Let CPH know, solutions may be available.
Connectors in Action
Our Connectors are making an impact. From January through July, our team has been out in the community making a difference - serving 1,330 people and attending 72 events across Columbus.
Check out these snapshots of them in action across the community!
What We’re Reading
We Live for the We: The Political Power of Black Motherhood
By Dani McClain
Published April 2, 2019
In We Live for the We: The Political Power of Black Motherhood, journalist and mother Dani McClain explores what it means to raise a daughter in a society that often feels unjust and hostile toward Black families. Drawing from conversations with mothers on the frontlines of social, political, and cultural change, McClain offers powerful insights on everything from nurturing creativity and community to navigating power and authority.
Part personal reflection, part community wisdom, this book helps us imagine a society where the next generation can grow up with dignity, safety, and joy.