COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther announced Tuesday that the city now provides free period products across all major professional sports venues, highlighting efforts to expand opportunities for women and girls in sports.
The effort was made possible through a partnership with Aunt Flow Founder and CEO Claire Coder. Aunt Flow is a Columbus-based company which helps businesses, schools and more stock bathrooms with free and accessible organic cotton pads and tampons.
Huntington Park recently joined Ohio Stadium, ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, Nationwide Arena, Historic Crew Stadium and the Schottenstein Center in providing Aunt Flow products to guests. Since 2016, Aunt Flow has installed 165 free-vent period product dispensers across the city’s sports venues.
Ginther said the move advances the IgniteHer Columbus initiative, which aims to increase participation in girls’ and women’s sports, as well as grow fandom, help future leaders and increase investment in women’s sports.
“IgniteHER is about empowering girls and women through sports, while growing the community of women who participate in and support sports here in Columbus,” said Ginther. “Providing free period products across all our major sports venues helps remove another barrier girls and women face, while actively supporting them and helping them feel supported, valued and confident.”
IgniteHer has four foundational pillars:
- Fuel HER Game: Keep young girls and women active in sports
- Light Up Columbus: Grow local teams, fans, and women’s sports events
- Legacy Rising: Build the next wave of female business and civic leaders
- Spark Next: Boost investment and new ideas in women’s sports
“Columbus is where I founded Aunt Flow ten years ago, so it means a great deal to see free period products in every one of the city’s major sports venues,” said Coder. “Aunt Flow’s partnership with the Columbus Clippers marks a major milestone for us and we are thrilled to be part of the Huntington Park fan experience. This is what it looks like when a city decides period care is part of the basic fan experience, and we hope others follow Columbus’s lead.”
Linda Logan, CEO and president of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, said having period care access is vital.
“When girls and women feel fully supported they can thrive in sport and in life. Columbus has an opportunity to create more pathways for women and girls to shape the future of sports, and we are proud to partner with Columbus-founded Aunt Flow to lead the way,” Logan said.
