Timmy Global Health competes for $1M

Indianapolis-based Timmy Global Health is one of 25 organizations competing for $1 million and the title of the nation’s best non-profit organization at the 2nd Annual American Giving Awards presented by Chase Bank.

Timmy Global Health is the only organization from Indiana in the competition, which is described as the “Oscars of nonprofits,” Timmy Global Health Executive Director Matt MacGregor said.

Online voting, which lasts until Tuesday, will decide the five finalist charities that will split $2 million in grants, with one organization winning the top $1 million prize, MacGregor said.

NBC will announce the winners and air the AGAs nationally on Saturday.  

Timmy Global Health, which was founded in Indianapolis in 1997, has a dual mission of expanding health care across the world and inspiring the next generation to become involved in global health disparities, MacGregor said.

The organization sends medical service teams and resources to support seven community-based health and development projects in Ecuador, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Nigeria and the United States, according to the organization’s website.

Timmy accomplishes its international efforts through the work of 35 student chapters nationwide. IU is home to the first and largest Timmy student chapter, which was founded 11 years ago, IU chapter president David Plankenhorn said. Macgregor said IU’s group has been the strongest and most consistent chapter.

“There’s such a passion across our student chapters for the work we do,” Macgregor said. “They’re really the foundation of our work.”

IU’s Timmy Global Health chapter sends a group of about 20 students on a medical brigade to rural Guatemala every year during spring break, Plankenhorn said. The students raise between $15,000 and $20,000 each year to fund and provide resources for a clinic in a Guatemalan school called Pop Wuj.

Aside from fundraising, students seek vitamin donations at Kroger grocery stores to provide for children in Guatemala. The group also takes part in philanthropy projects in the Bloomington community, Plakenhorn said.

“The reason I’m so invested in Timmy is because of how sustainable it is,” Plankenhorn said. “It’s not like we’re going down there and leaving. We have people down there all year long.”

Plankenhorn said he appreciates the way the organization supports its student volunteers and encourages future careers in medicine.

“They really invest in what we do and take the time to explain it to us,” Plankenhorn said. “After I graduate, Timmy is going to be one of those things I continue to do as a physician.”

Students in the organization are pushing for votes this week by sending emails and encouraging students to vote at locations, such as the Herman B Wells Library. The voting takes place on Facebook as well as a website through Chase Bank Community
Giving.

Macgregor said the Indiana network has been essential in the effort to win votes.
“The owner of the Colts is tweeting about us,” Macgregor said. “The mayor of Indy is tweeting about us and included us in a newsletter. This community is really getting behind us. I’m feeling optimistic.”

If Timmy wins one of the top monetary prizes, Macgregor said the organization plans to use the money to increase its investments in public health programs as well as volunteer opportunities for students.

Even if the nonprofit does not win, the competition has provided an important boost in publicity for Timmy Global Health, Plankenhorn said.

“We’re taking a big step from a local organization to a national organization,” Plankenhorn said.

Macgregor hopes the competition will not only shine the spotlight on Timmy Global Health but also on the state of Indiana.

“There’s this Hoosier pride we have,” Plankenhorn said. “We want to make sure that when the curtain opens, it’s an Indiana organization that gets the top prize.”