Countdown to ONE! A Year of Impact
As we close out 2025, we’re reflecting on the work behind the moments. The connections, conversations, and care that moved us closer to ONE.
This year, 4,200 people connected with CelebrateOne through programs, initiatives, and community events across Columbus. From meeting immediate needs to building long-term support, this work shows how collective effort can strengthen families and improve outcomes for babies.
Throughout the year, CelebrateOne helped meet families’ immediate needs by distributing 28,683 diapers through outreach events and community engagement, easing financial stress and supporting day-to-day stability for caregivers and babies.
We also expanded the ways we bring people together, shaping four signature events that welcomed families, partners, and advocates into this work. From baby showers and birthday celebrations to policy conversations and systems change, these moments reflected a shared understanding that addressing infant mortality requires collaboration across communities.
Our Connectors continued to show up where families already gather, tabling at more than 800 community events to share resources, answer questions, and build trust, one conversation at a time.
Through our In the Know program, in partnership with the Columbus Metropolitan Library, CelebrateOne distributed 8,600+ pregnancy tests in 2025. Available free of charge at every library branch, these tests help open the door to care, information, and support early in pregnancy.
Access to care remained a priority as we helped connect 185 families to doula support, expanding access to services that are linked to safer births, fewer complications, and better outcomes for families.
We also continued to invest in community-led solutions, directing over $2 million to community-based organizations that provide trusted, culturally responsive support across neighborhoods.
In addition, CelebrateOne helped lead advocacy during the Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) public comment process, elevating the voices of newly parenting families and contributing to an approved plan that expands access to affordable housing and stability.
The year concluded with a celebration of where this work leads: first birthdays. Our first-ever private First Birthday Bash at COSI brought together hundreds of families for an evening centered on joy, connection, and the significance of reaching ONE.
Behind each number is a family, a story, and a shared effort to create healthier starts. As we move into 2026, CelebrateOne remains committed to partnering with our community so more babies can celebrate their first birthday and beyond.