Grantee Spotlight: Helping Young Hearts Heal at Comfort Zone Camp

Aug 6, 2024 | Blog, Grantee Spotlight, News

Grantee Spotlight: Helping Young Hearts Heal at Comfort Zone Camp

By: WHF Staff

Comfort Zone Camp (CZC) is a place of healing for children, teens, and young adults who have lost a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver. This bereavement organization offers free weekend camps to help youth between the ages of 7 and 17, young adults aged 18 to 25, and families navigate the emotional challenges of grief.

These camps blend traditional camp activities with therapeutic sessions from Friday to Sunday. Campers join age-based support groups led by volunteer grief therapists and are paired with a supportive mentor who is matched based on similar interests, hobbies, needs, and sometimes loss types. After a weekend of fun and integrated therapeutic activities, each camp concludes with a memorial service, allowing campers to honor their loved ones.

Since 1999, CZC has served over 24,000 grieving youth nationwide. In April and June of this year, CZC hosted weekend camps at the 4-H campground in Jamestown and served 112 campers.

In Virginia, according to the most recent data available, an estimated 79,000 children have lost a parent or sibling by the time they reached age 18, and 168,000 youth before the age of 25. Such losses have profound and lasting effects, including depression, posttraumatic stress, substance use, and increased risk of suicide-related behaviors. CZC addresses these needs through prompt, honest, and supportive interventions, leveraging the healing power of nature to enhance mental well-being.

The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) is supporting Comfort Zone Camp’s efforts with a recently approved grant that will help offset the cost of a three-day camp for about 70 youth ages 7-17 at the 4-H campground in Jamestown in early 2025. This camp will be open to children and adolescents experiencing loss and will provide a safe and nurturing environment for healing. To learn more about CZC, please visit their website.

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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.

Grantee Spotlight: Grove Christian Outreach Center

Jul 1, 2024 | Blog, Grantee Spotlight, News

Grantee Spotlight: Grove Christian Outreach Center

By: WHF Staff

Imagine living in a community where a number of your neighbors struggle to meet their family’s basic needs. This is a reality for many who live in the Grove area of southern James City County. Grove fits the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s definition of a food desert, an urban area with at least 500 people living further than one mile from the nearest grocery store. Grove is six miles from the nearest grocery, and 21% of the residents live below the Federal poverty line, which makes accessing healthy fresh foods a challenge.

Recognizing the needs of area residents, Grove Christian Outreach Center (GCOC) started as an outreach mission of a small church in 2000 and opened its doors in 2004 as a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to assisting vulnerable families with food, clothing, and financial assistance. Today, GCOC stands as a beacon of light in James City County emerging from its humble beginnings as a small organization with limited space. In 2023, GCOC expanded its service area to include anyone in need in the Greater Williamsburg community. Last year, nearly 32,000 individuals benefited from their food programs, children’s clothing closet, special holiday programs, and transportation assistance. With regard to the food programs specifically, over 9,500 people from the Greater Williamsburg area accessed the fresh food room and over 18,600 accessed the food pantry.

Since 2005, the Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) has supported GCOC to help reduce hunger and food insecurity for low-income residents. WHF funds have contributed to the purchase of refrigeration units, fresh food distribution including foods to help control diabetes, food access outreach, children’s meal delivery, and lunches for children. GCOC will use WHF’s most recent grant to stock the fresh food room and food pantry with purchases from local farms and food retailers. WHF’s support of GCOC has helped ensure that Greater Williamsburg residents have access to food assistance.

On Thursday, July 25, 2024, GCOC will partner with Williamsburg House of Mercy from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. for the Sleigh Hunger: Christmas in July Food Drive. Hosted by Habitat for Humanity Restore on Jamestown Road, this food drive will help both organizations restock their shelves so they may continue providing food assistance throughout the summer season. To learn more about GCOC, visit www.groveoutreach.com.

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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 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

Free outdoor fitness area coming to Warhill Sports Complex in James City County- from Virginia Gazette

Jun 5, 2024 | News

No-need-to-stay-inside-to-exercise-VA-Gazette

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

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.