Columbus Children's Hospital Introduces New Logo

For only the third time in its 115-year history, Columbus Childrens Hospital is introducing a new institutional logo in preparation for the hospitals September 24, 2007, community dedication as Nationwide Childrens Hospital.

In June 2006, Columbus Childrens announced a ten-year, $50 million gift from the Nationwide Foundation to support expansion of programs and construction of a new main hospital that will further position the hospital as one of the nations top pediatric health care and research facilities.  It was one of the largest philanthropic gifts ever from a corporate foundation in the U.S. and also one of the top five largest single gifts ever given to a childrens hospital nationally or internationally.* In commemoration of Nationwide Foundations gift and the enormous impact it will have on the delivery of world-class pediatric health care in central Ohio and beyond, the hospitals Trustees voted to re-name the hospital Nationwide Childrens Hospital, effective September 24, 2007.

Our new logo honors the transformational gift from Nationwide in a way that better illustrates the current position of Childrens, said Steve Allen, MD, Childrens CEO.  It represents the tremendous strides this hospital has made over the last 115 years to become the national powerhouse in pediatric health care that it is today, showing what can be done when you have involved corporate citizens step up to help achieve your mission and vision. 

The new logo represents the strong philanthropic partnership between Nationwide and Childrens Hospital that has existed for more than 60 years, said Jerry Jurgensen, Nationwide CEO. Were proud to enhance this partnership and contribute to an institution that will benefit the children of our community for decades to come. 

The newly designed logo retains many of the attributes of Childrens previous identity, yet more clearly represents the hospitals emergence as a leader in pediatric care, education and research.  It is composed of three distinct elements:  the Childrens heart icon, Nationwides framemark and the new name.  The heart is as much a part of Childrens heritage and tradition as anything in the hospitals history as it represents love of children and commitment to care for them.  In the new logo, the heart is now reproduced in a warmer, more vibrant red to convey passion and enthusiasm for achieving the best possible outcomes for patients and their families.

Incorporation of Nationwides framemark into the new logo recognizes The Nationwide Foundations transformational gift and its positive impact on Childrens ability to care and advance the science of medicine.  The frame and the font are reproduced in a brighter, more energetic blue to represent a collaborative spirit and the two organizations shared passion for assisting families in crisis.

The classic typography font used in the new name featured in the logo honors Childrens enduring century-old mission to provide care to children and their families.  It also represents respect for the organizations history.  The capital letters and the larger initial capitals convey Childrens strength as a leading pediatric institution.  Overall, the new logo design presents a balance between Childrens desire to care and ability to cure and symbolizes the history, mission, vision and values of the hospital.

Already the fifth largest childrens hospital in the U.S. and among the top ten in National Institutes of Health-funded freestanding pediatric research centers, Columbus Childrens serves as the free-standing childrens hospital for all of central and southeastern Ohio as well as receiving hundreds of specialty referrals from throughout the United States and worldwide.  Childrens is also home to The Ohio State University College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics.

The Nationwide Foundation gift will support several key areas within Childrens growth plan.  Areas for focused investment include programmatic support for child safety and injury prevention, neonatal intensive care, and the heart center.  Program support will provide for extended clinical services to care for premature and sick infants, including those with serious congenital heart disease, as well as key research that will directly impact patient care.  In the area of child safety, a portion of the gift will increase the impact and reach of Childrens expert team to further reduce death and disability from childhood injury through research and prevention efforts, including car seat and bicycle helmet distribution and school-based injury prevention programs.  Additionally, the gift will support the creation of several endowed chairs, representing the highest endorsement of a physician or scientist, and enabling Childrens to recruit and retain world-renowned talent. 

Lastly, a portion of the Nationwide gift will support construction toward the new main hospital building, a world-class facility where families can be engaged at a new level, receiving culturally sensitive care, information and support during their childs stay at Childrens.

The new logo will be implemented in conjunction with the hospitals name change on September 24, 2007. 

The Nationwide Foundation is an independent corporation funded by contributions from Nationwide companies. Founded in 1959, the Nationwide Foundation has committed more than $169 million since 2000 to help nonprofit organizations in communities where Nationwide associates and their families live and work. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide is a federally registered service mark of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

*based on published resources June 2006