About us

Message of compassion and how this all began

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

Medals4Mettle Leadership

President and Founder

Steven F. Isenberg, M.D.

Board of Directors

Bill Taylor, Treasurer

Karl Ahlgren, Chapter Development

Kim Fradette, Social Media

Pradip Patel, M.D. Director of Medals4Mettle Medical

Ray Marshall

Christine Flink

John Korte

Ilya Bass, Web Site

Corporate Mailing Address: 

Medals4Mettle, 450 East 96th Street, Suite 500, Indianapolis, IN 46240

Phone number 

317-818-6034

Medals4Mettle is a public non-profit 501(c)3 organization.

A Poem for Medals4Mettle 

I want to open the door,
To a beautiful spring day,
Sweeping leaves off the
Threshold,
That wilted where they lay.

Rising from your pillow,
For pleasure, not for pain.
Replacing the scent of sick,
With that of a newborn rain.

Watching your patient eyes,
In shallow sockets roll,
Viewing a colorful ribbon-
Lifting your soul.

Taking you for a moment,
Where courage needs no place,
Watching this gifted medal,
Bring a smile to your face.

Steven F. Isenberg MD
Founder