On Monday, June 7, 2021, the Board of Trustees of the Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) met and approved 22 grants worth nearly 3.5 million dollars. “This is the first year of implementation of a new strategic plan. We are excited to see not only the plan in action but also funded programs returning to their pre-COVID, in-person work again,” said Carol L. Sale, WHF President and CEO.
Under the strategic goal to “Target behavioral and social risk factors that influence the health of individuals throughout the life span,” WHF invested more than 1.5M dollars. WHF’s largest program continues to be SHIP, the School Health Initiative Program. Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools partner with WHF, teachers, students, parents, and other community partners to build life-long, healthy habits in schools. Activities led by SHIP in the schools encourage healthy eating and active living. Examples include after-school “challenge” clubs like running, cooking, and soccer; “try days” in cafeterias to sample local farm produce; teaching nutrition education; and movement in the classroom. An investment since 2005, SHIP has become a model for school programs through the Commonwealth.
“While we greatly value our partnership with the schools to reach the majority of students in WJCC Schools during their time in school, we know that home is the most critical place for child development and early childhood is the most critical moment in that development,” said Sale. For that reason, WHF also focuses on “Two-Generation Services” which promotes family well-being by intentionally and simultaneously working with children and the adults in their lives. Grants in this area include unrestricted support for Child Development Resources and program-specific funding of the Child Health Initiatives in the City of Williamsburg and James City County.
At the other end of the lifespan, the Foundation supports healthy aging. Grants to local agencies will support medical transportation for older adults and Williamsburg’s Aging and Disability Resource Center.
The largest portion of grants for the this first wave of Foundation grants goes to the strategic goal “Strengthen the healthcare safety-net for uninsured and underinsured individuals.” This goal encompasses the following three areas: advanced primary care, behavioral health services, and medication access. “We made grants in each of these areas,” said Sale. “Problems like accessing prescription medication continue to challenge individuals who are uninsured or underinsured.”
The third of the three strategic goals is, “Advance organizations, systems, and public policy crucial to community health and well-being.” While there is one grant in this category for the Greater Williamsburg HEARTSafe Alliance, Sale says, “Our work in this area is ongoing and most often involves more holistic approaches than individual grants.”
Grants for June 2021
| Bacon Street Youth and Family Services | The Bridges Project | $18,000.00 |
| Center for Child and Family Services, Inc. | Multicultural Counseling and Outreach Program | $70,000.00 |
| Child Development Resources | Basic Operating Support | $200,000.00 |
| City of Williamsburg | Child Health Initiative | $265,000.00 |
| Colonial Behavioral Health | Chronic Care Collaborative | $170,000.00 |
| Colonial Behavioral Health | Greater Williamsburg Child Assessment Center | $271,000.00 |
| Colonial Behavioral Health | Intensive Outpatient Program | $50,000.00 |
| Colonial Behavioral Health | Greater Williamsburg Network of Care (NOC) | $30,000.00 |
| Community Housing Partners | Mobile Food Pantry | $5,000.00 |
| F.R.E.E. Foundation For Rehabilitation Equipment & Endowment |
F.R.E.E. of Williamsburg | $26,000.00 |
| Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic | Chronic Care Collaborative | $300,000.00 |
| Greater Williamsburg Heartsafe Alliance | Greater Williamsburg HEARTSafe Alliance | $10,000.00 |
| Honoring Choices Virginia | Educating Advocates for Advance Care Planning | $15,000.00 |
| James City County | Child Health Initiative | $265,000.00 |
| Lackey Clinic | Chronic Care Collaborative | $520,000.00 |
| Literacy for Life at the Rita Welsh Adult Learning Center | HEAL Program in Williamsburg | $40,000.00 |
| Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center | Chronic Care Collaborative | $355,000.00 |
| Peninsula Agency on Aging | Greater Williamsburg Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) | $80,000.00 |
| Rx Partnership | Basic Operating Support | $60,000.00 |
| Virginia Health Care Foundation | Greater Williamsburg Medication Access Program | $47,000.00 |
| Williamsburg Area Faith in Action | Medical Transportation | $25,000.00 |
| Williamsburg-James City County Public School Division |
SHIP – School Health Initiative Program | $670,000.00 |
| Total | $3,492,000.00 |
The Williamsburg Health Foundation was founded in 1996 with proceeds from the partnership between Sentara Healthcare and the former Williamsburg Community Hospital. The foundation has awarded approximately 94 million in grants to date. The foundation has a vision of “individuals making healthy choices with health opportunity for all.” For information on grants from the Williamsburg Health Foundation, including how to apply for a grant, visit www.williamsburghealthfoundation.org.