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Williamsburg Health Foundation Welcomes Timothy Cross to the Board of Trustees

Williamsburg Health Foundation Welcomes Timothy Cross to the Board of Trustees

Jan 22, 2025 | News

Williamsburg Health Foundation Welcomes Timothy Cross to the Board of Trustees

By: WHF Staff

WILLIAMSBURG, VA– The Williamsburg Health Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of Timothy Cross to their Board of Trustees.

Tim, originally from Northern Virginia, has called Greater Williamsburg home for over 30 years. After earning a Bachelor of Arts from William & Mary, he completed a Master of City and Regional Planning at Rutgers University. Following graduate school, Tim returned to Greater Williamsburg and began a distinguished 35-year career in planning with York County. Tim culminated his career as York County’s Deputy Director of Planning and Development Services before retiring in 2024. He and his wife, Cathy, reside in Upper York County.

“We are excited to welcome Tim Cross to the Board of Trustees,” said Deanna Van Hersh, President and CEO of Williamsburg Health Foundation. “His years of experience working with area officials, businesses, and residents to address diverse community needs and implement strategies for meaningful improvements will be an asset as we pursue the Foundation’s mission to collaborate, innovate, and invest to impact systems that improve the health and well-being of individuals living in Greater Williamsburg.”

To learn more about WHF, visit williamsburghealthfoundation.org.

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The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) is an independent private health foundation with the mission to collaborate, innovate, and invest to impact systems that improve the health and well-being of individuals living in Greater Williamsburg. The Foundation was established in September 1996 when the Williamsburg Community Hospital and Sentara developed an affiliation agreement and later merged. This agreement included a provision for a new, locally organized, and managed Foundation to benefit community health. Since inception, WHF has awarded over $110 million in grants to improve community health and well-being.

 

Williamsburg Health Foundation Awards $1.6 Million to Local Organizations

Williamsburg Health Foundation Awards $1.6 Million to Local Organizations

Dec 17, 2024 | News

Williamsburg Health Foundation Awards $1.6 Million to Local Organizations

WILLIAMSBURG, VA – December 17, 2024: The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) is pleased to announce that the Board of Trustees recently approved grant requests totaling $1.6 million from nonprofit and government organizations that work to improve health and well-being in the City of Williamsburg, James City County, and York County. The Board approved requests within the Foundation’s funding areas of Healthy Eating Active Living, Two-Generation Family Services, Healthy Aging, and Behavioral Health Services.

Recognizing healthy eating and regular physical activity as important forms of primary prevention to help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, WHF is pleased to invest in initiatives that encourage active lifestyles and make nutritious foods more accessible. “These grants strategically align with WHF’s mission and represent WHF’s continued commitment to fund programs and initiatives that remove barriers and increase opportunities for healthy eating and active living in Greater Williamsburg,” said Deanna Van Hersh, WHF President & CEO.

During this grant cycle, the importance of programs and services to support independent living for older adults in our community has also become increasingly apparent. According to USAFACTS, the 65+ population in Greater Williamsburg was the fastest-growing age group from 2010 to 2022. Specifically, there were increases in the older adult population of 49% in the City of Williamsburg, 56% in James City County, and 61% in York County. “We are happy to contribute to efforts designed to help older adults as they age in place,” said Bill Pribble, Vice President of Programs. “These grants fund essential services for approximately 975 older adults, including meals, medical transportation, in-home support, and various physical, social, and educational activities.”

In line with WHF’s mission and strategic focus, grants were also awarded in the Foundation’s Two-Generation Family Services and Behavioral Health Services focus areas. Please refer to the attached document for a list of grants.

In 2024, WHF awarded a total of $5.95 million to improve health and well-being in Greater Williamsburg. To learn more about the Foundation’s grant opportunities, visit www.williamsburghealthfoundation.org.

 

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The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) is a private health foundation with the mission to collaborate, innovate, and invest to impact systems that improve the health and well-being of individuals living in Greater Williamsburg. The Foundation was established in September 1996 when the Williamsburg Community Hospital and Sentara developed an affiliation agreement and later merged. This agreement included a provision for a new, locally organized, and managed Foundation to benefit community health. Since inception, WHF has awarded over $110 million in grants to improve community health and well-being. 

Organization Name Project Title Program Description Board Approved Amount
Grants for Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL)
The Arc of Greater Williamsburg Fitness Program To provide both clients and caregivers with activities and tools to improve the health of adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. $37,500.00
Virginia Legacy Soccer Club Virginia Legacy WJCC Recreational Soccer Program To provide recreational soccer free of charge to youth in the City of Williamsburg, James City County and surrounding areas. $40,000.00
Virginia Peninsula Foodbank Mobile Food Pantry To provide fresh produce for the Williamsburg area mobile food pantry program. $68,125.00
Williamsburg Community Growers Increase Our Impact  To increase the impact of the community garden and teaching farm in James City County. $68,912.00
Williamsburg-James City County Community Action Agency Feed The Need Food Pantry To support a community food pantry in the Norge area that provides access to nutritious food and essential support to individuals and families facing food insecurities. $15,000.00
Williamsburg-James City County Public School Division WJCC Middle School Cross Country Running Club To support the middle school cross country running club in collaboration with the School Health Initiative Program (SHIP). $13,200.00
Grants to Support Two-Generation Family Services
Child Development Resources Healthy and Emotionally Attuned Relationship Therapy (HEART) Program To support a two-generation mental health program providing individual counseling to parents/caregivers and play therapy to young children, with joint sessions to work on attachment. $80,000.00
Child Development Resources  Capital Campaign Contribution for CDR’s Family Resource Center CDR is consolidating its operations from four locations and five buildings into a centrally located building (“Family Resource Center”) at 312 Waller Mill Road with the goal of providing wrap-around, comprehensive, and coordinated services. The new building will provide CDR and their partners with a space for the growing number of children and families in the community facing disabilities, developmental delays, poverty, homelessness, mental health issues, challenges accessing childcare, and other special needs. $400,000.00
Virginia Down Syndrome Association Williamsburg Community Coordinator To support a Williamsburg staff position to provide family care coordination and programming for Greater Williamsburg Area families who have a member with Down syndrome. $35,100.00
Grants for Healthy Aging
Peninsula Agency on Aging Nutritious Noontime Meals To contract with a local provider for home-delivered nutritious meals for low-income, aged 60 and older, residents. $75,000.00
Peninsula Agency on Aging PAA RIDES To provide non-emergency medical transportation for older adults and people with disabilities. $130,000.00
Williamsburg Area Faith in Action In-Home Services To provide free, in-home support services for isolated older adults aged 60 and older living in Greater Williamsburg. $7,500.00
YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas Active Older Adults  To support social, physical, and educational efforts available to older adults in the Williamsburg area.  $11,250.00
Grants for Behavioral Health Services
Bacon Street Youth and Family Services Support for Operations To support Bacon Street’s operations. $240,000.00
Center for Child and Family Services, Inc. The Reboot Program To provide trauma-informed assessments/treatment for adults who are perpetrators of violence in intimate partner, family, or community relationships, as well as those struggling with substance abuse not requiring withdrawal management.  $133,000.00
Postpartum Support Virginia, Inc.  Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies To increase opportunities in the Greater Williamsburg Area for recovery from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and to create awareness among maternal and child-focused service organizations, healthcare, and behavioral health providers about PMADs. $20,000.00
Other Grants
The Doorways Support for Operations To help underwrite lodging and support services for patients (children and adults) and their families from the WHF service area. $3,750.00

Williamsburg Health Foundation Hosts Grantee Celebration and Premieres New Video Highlighting Community Difference Makers

Williamsburg Health Foundation Hosts Grantee Celebration and Premieres New Video Highlighting Community Difference Makers

Oct 21, 2024 | News

Williamsburg Health Foundation Hosts Grantee Celebration and Premieres New Video Highlighting Community Difference Makers

By

WHF Staff

The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) recently hosted a Grantee Celebration Reception that brought together leaders and representatives from 45 local nonprofit and government organizations funded by the Foundation. The event celebrated the collective difference these organizations make to improve health and well-being in the Greater Williamsburg area.

“This celebration was a way for us to express our sincere gratitude to our grantees for their enduring commitment to improving health across the lifespan,” said Deanna Van Hersh, President and CEO of WHF. “Together, our community partners provided healthy eating and active living programs; two-generation family services; healthy aging initiatives; behavioral health support; and comprehensive health care. Through their efforts, they served about 54,000 total individuals, resulting in nearly 780,000 touchpoints — meals, rides, prescriptions, support services and other activities — for those living in the Greater Williamsburg area. While we recognize some individuals may have received services from more than one organization receiving WHF funds, seeing the impact across our community is inspiring!”

As part of the celebration, WHF premiered a new video, “Williamsburg Health Foundation Celebrates the Difference Makers,” which visually captures how the programs and activities of these diverse organizations touch the lives of those who live, work, and play in Greater Williamsburg.

According to Van Hersh, “This video highlights the meaningful difference being made in our community to improve health and well-being at every stage of life while celebrating some of the many people spearheading this important work and whose daily efforts, commitment, and collaboration propel this community toward one which provides the opportunity for all to attain their fullest health potential.”

For more information on the WHF, visit williamsburghealthfoundation.org.

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The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) is a private health foundation with the mission to collaborate, innovate, and invest to impact systems that improve the health and well-being of individuals living in Greater Williamsburg. The Foundation was established in September 1996 when the Williamsburg Community Hospital and Sentara developed an affiliation agreement and later merged. This agreement included a provision for a new, locally organized, and managed Foundation to benefit community health. Since inception, WHF has awarded over $110 million in grants to improve community health and well-being.

Williamsburg Health Foundation Hosts Grantee Celebration and Premieres New Video Highlighting Community Difference Makers

Williamsburg Health Foundation Awards $3.9 Million to Local Organizations

Jul 1, 2024 | News

Williamsburg Health Foundation Awards $3.9

Million to Local Organizations 

By

WHF Staff

WILLIAMSBURG, VA – July 1, 2024: The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) is pleased to announce that the Board of Trustees approved grant funding in June totaling $3.9 million to 21 organizations that address some of Greater Williamsburg’s most pressing health-related needs. These grants represent WHF’s continued dedication to enhancing the health and well-being of those who live, work, and play in the City of Williamsburg, James City County, and York County.

Among the exciting grants awarded is a new partnership with the Virginia Health Care Foundation’s Boost 200 initiative. Boost 200 is a pilot program that addresses the mental health professional shortage in Virginia by paying for supervision hours required of mental health professionals for licensure. With WHF’s $50,000 grant to the Boost 200 program, the licensure of two behavioral health counselors and one licensed social worker in Williamsburg and James City County will be accelerated. “All three localities in WHF’s service area are mental health professional shortage areas,” said Deanna Van Hersh, WHF President and CEO. “WHF’s investment in the Boost 200 program will increase the capacity of our local mental health workforce, as the three professionals may begin their required supervision this summer.”

In addition to the mental health workforce shortage, another issue that came to the forefront during this grant cycle is the ongoing need for increased access to healthy foods throughout our community. According to the most recent data from Feeding America, food insecurity in 2022 was between 9 and 12 percent for the localities in our service area. “To help address this need, WHF is pleased to support new grants to the Boys & Girls Club in James City County, Grove Christian Outreach Center, W-JCC Community Action Agency, and the Williamsburg House of Mercy,” said Bill Pribble, WHF’s Vice President of Programs.

In line with WHF’s mission and strategic focus, WHF awarded additional grants in the Foundation’s five funding areas: behavioral health services, healthy aging, healthy eating active living, integrated care, and two-generation family services. Please refer below for a complete list of awarded grants.

To learn more about grant opportunities, visit www.williamsburghealthfoundation.org. WHF’s next grant cycle opens on July 26, 2024.

 

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The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) is a private health foundation with the mission to collaborate, innovate, and invest to impact systems that improve the health and well-being of individuals living in Greater Williamsburg. The Foundation was established in September 1996 when the Williamsburg Community Hospital and Sentara developed an affiliation agreement and later merged. This agreement included a provision for a new, locally organized, and managed Foundation to benefit community health. Since inception, WHF has awarded over $110 million in grants to improve community health and well-being. 

Organization Name Project Title  Program Description Board Approved Amount
Grants for Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL)
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula EatSMART at the James City County Boys & Girls Club To provide nutritious, hot meals and snacks and provide nutrition education to Williamsburg and James City County youth in the Boys & Girls Club. $10,000.00
Colonial Court Appointed Special Advocate Program    Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) at Colonial CASA To provide healthy eating and active living programming to participants in Colonial CASA’s youth mentoring program. $10,500.00

Grove Christian Outreach Center

 Fresh Food Room and Food Pantry To provide nutritional fresh foods and nonperishable pantry goods to low-income families in the Greater Williamsburg area. $20,000.00
Williamsburg House of Mercy, Inc.    WHOM Collect or Give To purchase an outdoor temperature-controlled locker system for food donations by community partners and collection by clients. $65,000.00
Williamsburg-James City County Community Action Agency   Healthy Families of Greater Williamsburg (HFGW) To establish a database to help local community organizations more efficiently meet children’s food needs when they are not in school. $22,500.00
Williamsburg-James City County Public School Division    School Health Initiative Program (SHIP) To provide a health and wellness program focused on promoting and supporting healthy eating, physical activity, and wellness at all 16 WJCCPS. $770,000.00
Grants to Support Two-Generation Family Services

Child Development Resources

 Basic Operating Support To support very young children and their families through home-visiting programs, childcare centers, comprehensive motherhood services, and developmental assessments. $237,000.00
City of Williamsburg    Child Health Initiative To support an innovative, two-generation human service program that aims to improve long-term health outcomes for children living in poverty.  $283,500.00
James City County    Child Health Initiative To support an innovative, two-generation human service program that aims to improve long-term health outcomes for children living in poverty.  $283,500.00
Grants for Healthy Aging
FREE Foundation For Rehabilitation Equipment & Endowment    F.R.E.E. of Williamsburg To collect and distribute gently used rehabilitation and mobility equipment to those in need. $30,000.00
Peninsula Agency on Aging   PAA Williamsburg To conduct assessments and home visits; arrange for subsidized in-home care and adult daycare; provide care coordination for frail older adults; and provide information, referral, and support to caregivers.  $84,000.00
Williamsburg Area Faith in Action    All Transportation To provide free transportation for frail older adults in Greater Williamsburg. $50,000.00
Grants for Behavioral Health Services      
Center for Child and Family Services, Inc.    Multicultural Counseling and Outreach Program (MCOP) To provide behavioral health services for the uninsured or underinsured with emphasis upon the multicultural communities.  $70,000.00
Comfort Zone Camp    CZC Weekend Camp in Jamestown To assist in providing a weekend camp in James City County for grieving children. $10,000.00
The College of William & Mary, The Flanagan Counselor Education Clinic    Play to Thrive To provide a school-based play therapy program designed to improve social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes among young children. $95,000.00
Virginia Health Care Foundation    Boost 200 Program To support the licensure of two behavioral health counselors and one licensed social worker in the City of Williamsburg and James City County. $50,000.00
Grants for Integrated Care      

Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic

 Chronic Care Collaborative To provide healthcare to uninsured and under-insured adults diagnosed with one or more chronic diseases through an integrated model which includes primary, oral, and behavioral care.  $300,000.00

Lackey Clinic

 Chronic Care Collaborative To support the care model for Lackey Clinic’s (LC) uninsured, chronically-ill patients and reduce progression of diseases through treatment and monitoring of clinical outcomes.  $500,000.00
Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center    Basic Operating Support For clinic operations and delivery of comprehensive healthcare services. $500,000.00
Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center    Chronic Care Collaborative

To improve care for patients with chronic illness through service delivery that includes primary, behavioral, and oral care.

 $400,000.00
Rx Partnership    Basic Operating Support To coordinate delivery of brand name and generic medication to Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic (GMCC), Lackey Clinic (LC), and Olde Towne Medical and Dental Center (OTMDC) and continue providing subject matter expertise. $66,000.00
Virginia Health Care Foundation    Greater Williamsburg Medication Assistance Program To provide administrative support to the Greater Williamsburg Medication Assistance Program (GWMAP) which helps uninsured and underinsured chronically-ill patients obtain prescription medications free of charge or at the lowest price available. $47,000.00
Other Grants
Literacy for Life at the Rita Welsh Adult Learning Center     The HEAL Program  To provide health literacy classes to adults with low health literate skills.  $10,000.00
$3,914,000.00

A Full Plate: Reflecting on the Community’s Role in Nourishing Our Neighbors 

A Full Plate: Reflecting on the Community’s Role in Nourishing Our Neighbors 

Jan 30, 2024 | Blog, Grantee Spotlight, News

By: Deb Fisher

Growing up in a family that watched every penny, my mother’s arrival with bags full of groceries from one of our local churches was always a reason for celebration for my five siblings and me. I remember our excitement while helping our mother put the food away and our anticipation of trying new, mysterious treats that our parents would not usually buy. These bags, filled with new foods, brought a sense of excitement to our dinner table.  

It was not until I matured that I began to understand that the food my mom brought home was from a community food pantry and that we were a family who needed assistance. Despite our limited means, my family of eight never experienced the pangs of hunger thanks to the generosity of our neighbors and programs designed to help keep families fed when faced with challenging times.  

Now, as a Communications Specialist for the Williamsburg Health Foundation, I am honored to be part of an organization supporting local organizations that work to address the same food insecurity issues that touched my family. I have had eye-opening conversations with those at the helm of food pantries in the Greater Williamsburg area about our community’s growing needs. Declines in personal and grocery store contributions forced some pantries to dip into their emergency funds so families in Greater Williamsburg have access to nutritious food.  

The Williamsburg Health Foundation continues to respond to this critical need. Reflecting our commitment to the health and well-being of this community, the Foundation recently awarded a total of $100,000 — $20,000 each to five local sites — FISH, Grove Christian Outreach Center, The Salvation Army, Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, and Williamsburg House of Mercy.  

This is deeply personal. Thinking of our community members receiving help – I reflect on my family who sometimes chose between a meal and a medical bill, rent, or a utility payment. Staff and volunteers of these agencies, and this funding, help ensure families have a lifeline and will not have to make difficult choices alone.