Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Pledges Financial Support for Nationwide Children's Hospital's Behavioral Health Initiatives

Rhea-AI Summary

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF) has announced a $15 million pledge over six years to support behavioral health initiatives through Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Kids Mental Health Foundation. The funding will enhance behavioral health crisis services in central Ohio and provide free educational resources nationwide.

The company's support will be recognized through the naming of a new Close To HomeSM center in New Albany, Ohio, scheduled to open in 2027. This facility will offer advanced urgent care, imaging, specialty clinics, and therapy services. The partnership, which began in 2002, will also include support for The Challenge, ANF's annual music festival and fundraiser, scheduled for September 19, 2025.

Positive

• Significant commitment of $15 million demonstrates strong corporate social responsibility
• Long-term partnership since 2002 shows sustained commitment to community engagement

Negative

• None.

Funding will support behavioral health crisis services at Nationwide Children's Hospital and provide free educational resources through The Kids Mental Health Foundation. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. announced today that it has pledged $15 million over a period of six years to Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Kids Mental Health Foundation to support behavioral health initiatives for children and young adults in central Ohio and across the country.

The global retailer's continued support of Nationwide Children's impactful efforts will be reflected in two key ways:

• Nationwide Children's Behavioral Health Crisis Services: Nationwide Children's is a national leader in addressing behavioral and mental health crises among youth, and Abercrombie & Fitch Co. will support and help expand those crucial services. Nationwide Children's is home to the largest pediatric behavioral health network of any children's hospital in the United States.

• The Kids Mental Health Foundation: Founded by the behavioral health experts at Nationwide Children's, The Kids Mental Health Foundation provides free educational resources for parents, educators and coaches. The resources are custom-built by Nationwide Children's experts to help adults learn how to start talking about mental health and build skills with their children before a concern or emergency. More than 24 million people have engaged with the foundation's materials.

Nationwide Children's is naming a new building in New Albany, Ohio, in recognition of Abercrombie & Fitch Co.'s support. The facility will house a new Close To Home^SM center, offering advanced urgent care services and imaging, specialty clinics, occupational, physical and speech therapy and lab services. Nationwide Children's currently operates 24 Close To Home^SM centers in Ohio, and the New Albany facility is scheduled to open in 2027.

"Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has long been a supporter of Nationwide Children's Hospital's mission, and their new commitment will help us provide the best possible outcomes for children," said Tim Robinson, Chief Executive Officer at Nationwide Children's. "More families in central Ohio will benefit from our behavioral health crisis services, and The Kids Mental Health Foundation will be able to reach even more caregivers, teachers, coaches, and children across the country."

"At Abercrombie & Fitch Co., our purpose drives everything we do and with our partners, we're committed to creating meaningful, positive impact," said Fran Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer at Abercrombie & Fitch Co. "Together, with Nationwide Children's and The Kids Mental Health Foundation, we can work towards a day when there is no difference in the level of support, care and treatment between mental health and physical health."

This new announcement builds on the long-standing partnership between Nationwide Children's and Abercrombie & Fitch Co., which first began in 2002. Additionally, The Kids Mental Health Foundation will also be one of Abercrombie & Fitch Co.'s impact partners for the retailer's annual music festival and fundraiser, The Challenge, held in Columbus on September 19, 2025.

About Nationwide Children's Hospital 
Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report's 2024-25 list of "Best Children's Hospitals," Nationwide Children's Hospital is one of America's largest not-for-profit free-standing pediatric health care systems providing unique expertise in pediatric population health, behavioral health, genomics and health equity as the next frontiers in pediatric medicine, leading to best outcomes for the health of the whole child. Integrated clinical and research programs, as well as prioritizing quality and safety, are part of what allows Nationwide Children's to advance its unique model of care. Nationwide Children's has a staff of more than 16,000 that provides state-of-the-art wellness, preventive and rehabilitative care and diagnostic treatment during more than 1.8 million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children's physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org. 

About The Kids Mental Health Foundation
The Kids Mental Health Foundation is the leading organization promoting mental health for children in the United States. To achieve its vision to build a world where mental health is a vital part of every child's upbringing, nearly 1,000 mental health professionals and researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital, in partnership with other trusted experts, provide real-world knowledge and expertise to power the Foundation's free educational videos, guides and curriculum. To date, more than 24 million people have engaged with the Foundation's materials, helping parents, educators and coaches be a guiding force for children all across the United States.

About Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) is a global, digitally led, omnichannel specialty retailer of apparel and accessories catering to kids through millennials with assortments curated for their specific lifestyle needs. The company operates a family of brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister brands, each sharing a commitment to offer products of enduring quality and exceptional comfort that support global customers on their journey to being and becoming who they are. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates approximately 790+ stores under these brands across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the e-commerce sites abercrombie.com and hollisterco.com.

Contact: Media Relations
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Marketing and Public Relations
(614) 355-0495

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SOURCE Nationwide Children’s Hospital

FAQ

How much did Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF) pledge to Nationwide Children's Hospital in 2025?

Abercrombie & Fitch pledged $15 million over six years to support behavioral health initiatives through Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Kids Mental Health Foundation.

What will the new ANF-funded facility in New Albany, Ohio include?

The new Close To HomeSM center will offer advanced urgent care services, imaging, specialty clinics, occupational, physical and speech therapy, and lab services. It is scheduled to open in 2027.

How long has Abercrombie & Fitch been partnering with Nationwide Children's Hospital?

The partnership between Abercrombie & Fitch and Nationwide Children's Hospital began in 2002, spanning over two decades of collaboration.

What is The Challenge event mentioned in ANF's announcement?

The Challenge is Abercrombie & Fitch's annual music festival and fundraiser, scheduled for September 19, 2025, in Columbus, where The Kids Mental Health Foundation will be one of the impact partners.