Medals4Mettle® (M4M) awards medals to kids and adults fighting debilitating diseases and illnesses to spread love, kindness and encouragement. These endurance medals are donated by athletes from across the country and acknowledge the mettle (courage, bravery, resilience) of the recipient. Our M4M team and the donated medal, enable a human connection that symbolizes the compassion and kindness spread from one human to another during a time of crisis. 

Over the past 18 years, we have awarded thousands of medals through our home office in Indianapolis, Indiana and our local chapters who work with partners like children’s hospitals, HopeKids, Ronald McDonald House and summer/winter camps. Medical universities use our program to teach the importance of empathy by connecting patients with medical students while they work to become a healthcare provider. During the pandemic, we expanded our mission by awarding medals to courageous frontline workers.

Medals4Mettle started back in 2005 when founder, Dr. Steve Isenberg, ran a marathon and awarded his earned medal to a dear friend battling cancer. This medal demonstrated the courage and resilience of his friend. Medals4Mettle is a 501(c)(3) organization that relies solely on volunteers to operate. We have no paid administration, so all monetary donations go directly towards our mission.

Medals4Mettle is a proud recipient of the following awards:

2013 National Jefferson Award for Public Service

2013 Jerome Goldstein Award for Public Service

2009 Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Award

2008 Human Race Award

For more information about Medals4Mettle in your community or medical/graduate/dental school, please email steve@medals4mettle.org