STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Aspirus Health, through its Community Health Improvement Program and staff from Aspirus Outpatient Therapies -Stevens Point supports the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County with several impactful initiatives promoting youth health and well-being.
As part of this ongoing collaboration, Aspirus provided funding for two cornerstone programs this summer: Summer Meals and Social and Emotional Development. These initiatives address critical needs among local youth, helping to build a foundation for long-term wellness.
The Summer Meal Program provided over 22,000 free, nutritious breakfasts, lunches, and snacks for children ages 18 and under, reducing the risk of food insecurity for the nearly 50% of Club members who qualify for free or reduced-price meals during the school year.
Meanwhile, the Social and Emotional Development Programming reached more than 1,000 youth with age-appropriate activities focused on self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healthy decision-making. Through the Great Futures! initiative, some youth also received more focused support in one-on-one and small group settings.
Another major highlight of the partnership is the involvement of Aspirus Outpatient Therapies with Club summer activities. Started in 2024, this three-partner effort includes Aspirus, the Club and the Wonderful Water Run organization.
Aspirus Therapies providers led weekly fitness activities at the Club’s Berard Center throughout the summer, making movement fun and accessible to youth of all abilities.
This September, the program shifts focus to race preparation. Volunteers from Wonderful Water Run will help Club members train for the Wonderful Water Run Kids’ Race on September 26, which Aspirus is proudly sponsoring to provide discounted registration for Club participants.
“This collaboration demonstrates Aspirus’s proactive approach to building healthier communities beyond the hospital walls,” said Andrew Wilke, Supervisor of Therapy Services at Aspirus Stevens Point. “By supporting physical activity in youth, we’re emphasizing prevention, healthy habits, and wellness, not just treatment after illness. It’s also been incredibly rewarding to see the joy our therapists experience while engaging with the kids each week.”
In addition, Aspirus is also a corporate sponsor of the Club’s popular Field Day. Held each August, the friendly competition brings together more than 300 youth from all Portage County Club sites for a day of fun.
These initiatives reflect Aspirus’s mission to improve community health outcomes and reduce long-term risks associated with inactivity and chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. By investing in youth wellness today, Aspirus is helping shape a healthier tomorrow for Portage County.
For more information about Aspirus Health, please visit aspirus.org.
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About Aspirus: Aspirus Health is a nonprofit, community-directed health system based in Wausau, Wisconsin, serving northeastern Minnesota, northern and central Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The health system operates 18 hospitals and 130 outpatient locations with nearly 14,000 team members, including 1,300 employed physicians and advanced practice clinicians. Learn more at aspirus.org.