Timmy Global Health honored at American Giving Awards
Jan. 10, 2013
Timmy Global Health, a nonprofit global children’s health foundation founded by IU School of Medicine alumnus Dr. Chuck Dietzen, has been awarded $250,000 from Chase to further its mission of expanding access to health care.
Timmy Global Health was honored during the second annual American Giving Awards, nationally broadcast on NBC in December. The organization was one of 25 charities to participate in the second annual American Giving Awards.
Timmy Global Health founder Chuck Dietzen, left, and executive director Matt MacGregor, right, celebrate with Joel McHale, center, star of "Community" and host of the 2012 American Giving Awards.
Five of those charities, including Timmy Global Health, were chosen by Facebook users and Chase online customers as finalists for grant money; the More Than Me Foundation, a New Jersey-based charity committed to helping Liberian girls get off the street, took the top prize of $1 million.
The American Giving Awards is characterized as “the Oscars for nonprofits.” The Dec. 8 ceremony was hosted by Joel McHale, from NBC’s “Community,” and featured such presenters as Jenna Fischer (“The Office”) and Sarah Hyland ("Modern Family"), and musical guest Randy Travis, among others. Actress Glenn Close won a Leadership Award for her work with her nonprofit organization Bring Change 2 Mind, which aims to end the stigma of mental illness.
Dietzen and Timmy Global Health executive director Matt MacGregor were part of the star-studded night. In this video, get a behind-the-scenes look at the Timmy Team's award experience.
Based in Indianapolis, Timmy Global Health collaborates with U.S. and international partners to send medical service teams throughout the world to expand access to health care while empowering students and volunteers to tackle global health challenges. Timmy Global Health has seven projects in five countries and student chapters at more than 30 U.S. universities and 10 Indiana high schools.
"This is an unprecedented opportunity to enhance our national visibility and use the American Giving Awards to reach thousands more patients, families, communities and students throughout the world," Dietzen said of being recognized by the American Giving Awards.
Dietzen, a Kokomo native, boasts a diverse career as pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, international medicine enthusiast, entrepreneur, professor and athlete.
In 1996 and 1997, he traveled to India on orthopedic missions working alongside Mother Teresa. Dietzen founded Timmy Global Health (formerly the Timmy Foundation) in 1997. His work with the organization has taken him to Ecuador, Guatemala, Nigeria, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
He earned his bachelor's degree in agriculture from Purdue University and his Doctor of Medicine from IU.
