COLUMBUS — The First Presbyterian Church of Columbus has successfully partnered with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to purchase and eliminate nearly $1.78 million in medical debt for nearly 1,500 individuals across south-central Indiana.
The initiative was made possible primarily by an anonymous donation from a generous church family, with additional contributions from other members of the congregation.
The debt relief effort targets individuals who live in the region, with the total amount eliminated impacting 1,488 people across three counties:
- Bartholomew County: $1.03 million relieved for 916 people.
- Jackson County: $507,000 relieved for 347 people.
- Brown County: $237,000 relieved for 225 people.
The church’s donations were channeled through Undue Medical Debt’s model, which operates on a powerful multiplier effect: every $1 contributed converts into an average of $100 in medical debt relief. This efficiency allowed the church’s financial gifts to eliminate the substantial debt burden for local families.
Individuals whose debt has been abolished will soon receive official letters directly from Undue Medical Debt. Church leaders stress that these letters are not a scam; they are official notifications confirming that their debt has been paid off and removed from their records.
First Presbyterian Church has already reserved an additional $10,000 in donated funds for the next debt purchase opportunity through Undue Medical Debt.
Church leaders hope their action will serve as a model for other faith communities and nonprofit organizations, inspiring them to explore similar ways to help local families struggling under the weight of medical debt.
