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Williamsburg Health Foundation Awards $3.9 Million to Local Organizations

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

Grantee Spotlight: Virginia Peninsula Foodbank

Grantee Spotlight: Virginia Peninsula Foodbank

Apr 30, 2024 | Blog, Grantee Spotlight, News

Grantee Spotlight: Virginia Peninsula Foodbank

By: WHF Staff 

As inflation and food costs have increased in recent years, more community members are struggling to provide healthy food for their families. According to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank (VPF), nearly nine percent of greater Peninsula residents lack access to affordable and nutritious food. VPF and their partner agencies saw more than 77,000 unduplicated individuals seek food assistance in 2023, a 30% increase over 2022. VPF works “to inspire hope by leading the effort for a hunger-free and properly nourished community” through partnerships with 140 agencies to distribute food to those in need across the Peninsula. In collaboration with agency partners, VPF distributed over 1.7 million meals to Greater Williamsburg residents in 2023. Beyond partnerships, VPF is supported by community volunteers who invested more than 20,000 hours sorting, packing, and delivering food in 2023. 

The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) provides grant funding for VPF’s Mobile Food Pantry and the Food for Kids BackPack Programs. Their Mobile Food Pantry distributed 547,713 meals in the WHF service area in 2023, and the BackPack Program will provide food to nearly 370 children to take home from seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and a pre-K program in Williamsburg/James City County throughout the 2023-2024 school year. 

Visit the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank website to learn more or locate a food distribution site near you. 

The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) is a private legacy 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 $106 million in grants to improve community health and well-being. 

Grantee Spotlight: Older Adults and Social Isolation

Grantee Spotlight: Older Adults and Social Isolation

Apr 15, 2024 | Blog, Grantee Spotlight, News

Grantee Spotlight: Older Adults and Social Isolation

By Williamsburg Health Foundation 

In May 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued an advisory  addressing the profound health impacts of social isolation and loneliness. This report underscored severe health risks, such as a reduced lifespan and an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression, and dementia. Termed the “loneliness epidemic,” this problem affects individuals across all ages and demographics but can have a particularly negative impact on older adults. A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Consensus Study Report reported that almost one-quarter of older adults aged 65 and above, living independently, experience social isolation. The Surgeon General’s report notes the cost of the health effects related to social isolation in older adults accounts for almost $7 billion of Medicare spending each year. 

 

Community Partners Addressing Isolation   

The 2022 Sentara Community Health Needs Assessment revealed that in 2020, nearly 23% of people living in the Greater Williamsburg area and surrounding localities was over 65, with growth projected to more than 26% by 2030. With such a substantial segment of our community classified as older adults, the Williamsburg Health Foundation is grateful for the many community agencies working daily to address isolation in older adults, including but not limited to the following organizations: 

 

The Peninsula Agency on Aging’s (PAA) mission is to advocate for policies and distribute resources to enhance the quality of life for older adults and family caregivers. PAA fulfills this commitment by offering in-home care, home-delivered meals, dining clubs, and transportation. These valuable services help older adults foster a sense of social connection while providing access to community resources. 

 

The R.F. Wilkinson Family YMCA has offered programs aimed at building a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all in the Greater Williamsburg area since 2007. Their Active Older Adults program focuses on providing older adults with opportunities to remain socially active and healthy. Through social activities, fitness, and volunteer programs, the YMCA keeps older adults active and engaged, reduces social isolation, and boosts the quality of life for older members of our community.  

 

Williamsburg Faith in Action (WFIA) unites transportation and volunteer support services for older adults in Greater Williamsburg. WFIA aids with transportation, shopping, caregiver support, and household chores. Wendy Satchell, WFIA’s Executive Director, recounted a story of a homebound WFIA care receiver who had been the primary caregiver for her husband until his recent passing. When a WFIA volunteer arrived to deliver her mail, she was overjoyed with the opportunity for conversation. Since her late husband’s care team no longer visited, she felt lonely and disconnected. Today, WFIA volunteers make regular visits and phone calls, providing companionship and connection. 

 

We All Have a Role to Play  

Like these organizations and many others working to increase social interaction and combat isolation among older adults in the Greater Williamsburg area, we as community members can make a difference. We can start by reaching out to check on the older adults in our lives and in our neighborhoods. Together, we can make progress in reducing social isolation in our community.

Grantee Spotlight: Enhancing Mobility with F.R.E.E.

Grantee Spotlight: Enhancing Mobility with F.R.E.E.

Mar 19, 2024 | Blog, Grantee Spotlight, News

Grantee Spotlight: Enhancing Mobility with F.R.E.E.

By

WHF Staff

As the weather warms and flowers bloom, Williamsburg area residents look forward to putting their coats away and heading outside to enjoy the beauty spring brings. However, for individuals experiencing mobility challenges due to health conditions or recent surgeries, navigating both indoors and outdoors can be challenging. The Foundation for Rehabilitation Equipment & Endowment (F.R.E.E.), a non-profit organization in Virginia, addresses mobility-related barriers by increasing access to mobility aids for those who qualify.

Between July 2022 and June 2023, the Williamsburg office of F.R.E.E. located in Sentara Circle provided 670 pieces of mobility equipment to 410 individuals in Greater Williamsburg. F.R.E.E. aims to ensure low-income uninsured or underinsured adults in Virginia have access to equipment that facilitates independence and maximizes quality of life by collecting, sanitizing, and distributing donated aids, such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and specialized equipment.

As spring brings more outdoor opportunities to the Greater Williamsburg area, we are grateful for the efforts of our partners at F.R.E.E. Their work enables our community to be a more accessible place for residents with mobility restrictions and aligns with the Williamsburg Health Foundation’s vision of individuals making healthy choices in a community with health opportunities for all. See https://www.free-foundation.org/ to learn more about F.R.E.E.

The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) is a non-profit private legacy 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 1996 when the Williamsburg Community Hospital and Sentara formed a merger that included a provision for a new, locally organized, and managed Foundation to benefit community health. Since inception, WHF has awarded over $106 M in grants to improve community health and well-being.

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.