Grantee Spotlight: Triangle Stepping Stones

Jan 5, 2026 | Grantee Spotlight

Grantee Spotlight: Triangle Stepping Stones

By: WHF Staff

Tucked off the intersection of Route 199 and Jamestown Road in Williamsburg, Triangle Stepping Stones offers a welcoming space for 12-Step recovery groups to gather. Nearly 25 meetings are hosted in their facility each week to address a range of recovery needs across the community. For individuals seeking support throughout their recovery journeys, this space serves as a refuge and a place to gather, where one can find connection and hope as they share their experiences and heal alongside others facing similar challenges.

Substance Use Disorders are characterized by impairment (including health, functional, and/or social issues) caused by repeated use of alcohol or other drugs. A 2023 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that 19.1% of Americans aged 12+ met the criteria for needing treatment within the previous year. Local concerns mirror these trends. Residents from Williamsburg, James City County, and York County identified alcohol addiction and illicit drug use as the primary community health concern for adults in the Hampton and Peninsula Health Department’s 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining accessible, community-based recovery supports.

Ensuring Accessible Recovery Support

Evidence reveals that Alcoholics Anonymous provides effective recovery support, performing as well as clinical treatment in the short term and often leading to better long-term outcomes. For those benefits to reach everyone who seeks support, people need to be able to enter and move through the space with ease. Triangle Stepping Stones recently purchased the building they had been renting since 2012. After the purchase, their board determined that upgrades were needed to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Many attendees rely on mobility aids such as walkers or wheelchairs, so planned renovations include an entrance ramp, widened doorways, a fully accessible restroom, and paved parking lots for safer access. Improving physical accessibility strengthens the reach of recovery support and reduces barriers for community members who rely on peer-based programs.

Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) Support

The aim of Triangle Stepping Stones to provide a safe space for 12-Step groups to hold healing and supportive meetings for individuals seeking help with recovery aligns with WHF’s strategic focus. Their work contributes to the Foundation’s efforts to increase access to care and supportive services. The Foundation has contributed to Triangle Stepping Stones’ mission through two grants totaling $86,960 since 2025. To learn more about Triangle Stepping Stones, please visit their website https://trianglesteppingstones.com/.

WHF is an independent private health foundation with the mission to enhance health 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 $119 million in grants to improve community health and well-being.

Grantee Spotlight: Colonial Behavioral Health

Apr 30, 2025 | Grantee Spotlight

Grantee Spotlight: Colonial Behavioral Health

By: WHF Staff

Founded in 1971, Colonial Behavioral Health (CBH) serves as the Community Services Board for the counties of James City and York and the cities of Williamsburg and Poquoson. As the region’s publicly funded behavioral health agency, CBH acts as the single point of entry for individuals seeking mental health, developmental, and substance use disorder care.

CBH is committed to meeting people where they are, offering a broad range of person-centered care support for individuals across the lifespan. Services range from early intervention, outpatient therapy, and psychiatric care to crisis intervention, substance use treatment, and programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. In addition to direct care, CBH staff also work to build a more informed and supportive community. They offer a variety of mental health training opportunities throughout the year designed to equip members of the Greater Williamsburg area with skills to face mental health challenges.

For youth aged 6-18 and families facing complex challenges, CBH operates the Greater Williamsburg Child Assessment Center, which provides comprehensive specialized assessments related to mental health, substance use, and trauma, among other things. Following a child’s initial evaluation, staff provides care coordination , linking families to mental health resources and service options, family support, and other community-based assistance based on individualized need.

Williamsburg Health Foundation’s Ongoing Support

CBH plays an important role in expanding access to care, integrating behavioral health into primary care settings, and enhancing behavioral health services in Greater Williamsburg. This work directly aligns with the Williamsburg Health Foundation’s strategic plan goal to strengthen the healthcare safety net. Since 1998, the Foundation has supported CBH’s mission through 106 grants totaling $8.7 million. For more information about Colonial Behavioral Health and the programs they provide, visit https://www.colonialbh.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.

Grantee Spotlight: Lackey Clinic

Apr 1, 2025 | Grantee Spotlight

Grantee Spotlight: Lackey Clinic

By: WHF Staff

Lackey Clinic, located in Yorktown, Virginia, is a faith-based nonprofit providing free and charitable healthcare to uninsured adults in Virginia who are ineligible for Medicaid and cannot afford quality health insurance. The clinic primarily serves Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) adults earning between $12.41 and $25.00 an hour, many managing three or more chronic medical conditions. The services provided include primary and specialty medical treatment, dental services, eye examinations, virtual consultations, pharmacy services, connected health programs, and spiritual support. Their holistic approach allows comprehensive attention to patient health and well-being through a dedicated team of volunteer professionals and a committed staff.

30 Years of Compassion and Service

Dr. & Mrs. Shaw felt called to provide free healthcare for uninsured individuals in April of 1995. As cofounders, they began offering medical services one night a week in a Sunday school room in Rising Sun Baptist Church. The clinic later moved to a temporary home in York County’s Charles Brown Community Center, where they experienced steady growth in volunteers and patients. Ultimately, Lackey outgrew the community center, which necessitated a move to their permanent home, a newly constructed building on Old Williamsburg Road in Yorktown. Today, the clinic provides high-quality, compassionate care for 1,600 patients in their 10,000 square foot medical facility.

Volunteers and Community Support

Volunteerism is the cornerstone of Lackey’s successful clinic operation. With over 350 volunteers, including doctors, nurses, dentists, and pre-med students who serve in the role of support staff, the clinic provided over 5,700 medical, 2,400 dental, 480 eye care, and 500 behavioral health service appointments in 2024.

Patient Testimonials Tell the Story

Patients frequently share impactful stories about the care they receive at Lackey Clinic, highlighting how the clinic has improved or even saved their lives. “I have never seen this (level) of care, ever before in my life. Lackey has saved my life!” Former patient Paula Darden said, “You just don’t know how important it is to have medical professionals who actually care and don’t just treat you like a business.”

Williamsburg Health Foundation’s Ongoing Support

Lackey Clinic’s work aligns with the Williamsburg Health Foundation’s strategic plan goal to strengthen the healthcare safety net for uninsured and underinsured individuals. Since 2001, the Foundation has supported Lackey Clinic’s comprehensive care for uninsured patients to reduce the burden and progression of chronic diseases through 59 grants totaling $8.2 million. For more information about Lackey Clinic and their services, visit www.lackeyclinic.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.

Grantee Spotlight: Child Development Resources Offers a Two-Generation Approach to Improving Health

Jan 2, 2025 | Grantee Spotlight

Grantee Spotlight: Child Development Resources Offers a Two-Generation Approach to Improving Health

By: WHF Staff

Every child deserves a strong start in life, but for some, challenges begin before they take their first step. For children with developmental delays or disabilities, the early years can set the course for their entire lives. Recognizing this, Child Development Resources (CDR) has provided early childhood intervention services to children and their families in Greater Williamsburg since 1965. CDR’s early identification and intervention services can significantly enhance a child’s ability to learn new skills, build resilience, and succeed.

Originally established as the Williamsburg Preschool for Special Children, CDR was founded by a group of citizens to address the lack of education programs for community children with developmental delays or disabilities. At that time, public schools could refuse to accept children with developmental delays, and it wasn’t until Congress passed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act in November 1975 that children with disabilities were guaranteed the right to a free and appropriate education. In response to the new law, the organization changed their name to Child Development Resources and shifted their focus to providing services to infants and toddlers and training for childcare professionals.

Today, CDR serves about 3,100 children and their families in Greater Williamsburg and Poquoson through 10 programs. Their two-generation approach supports the child and provides skill-building for the parents and caregivers. CDR’s 85 specialists provide a variety of services from physical, speech, and occupational therapy to helping parents find community resources such as housing, healthcare, and nutrition assistance.

CDR’s work aligns with WHF’s Strategic Plan by targeting behavioral and social risk factors that influence the health of individuals throughout the life span. WHF is a longtime supporter of CDR. Since 1997, the Foundation has awarded 90 grants totaling over $5.2 million to help CDR advance their mission and purpose “to inspire and empower children, families, and early childhood professionals to reach their full potential, whatever their challenges.”

CDR recently began renovations on a new facility off Waller Mill Road in Williamsburg to consolidate their four locations and five buildings into one centralized Family Resource Center. The new facility, expected to open in March 2026, will allow CDR to provide wrap-around, comprehensive, and coordinated services to more children. WHF is pleased to support CDR’s efforts to bring its services under one roof.

To learn more about CDR’s programs or the status of their new facility, visit their website: www.cdr.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.

Grantee Spotlight: Peninsula Agency on Aging Links Older Adults to Services

Dec 2, 2024 | Grantee Spotlight

Grantee Spotlight: Peninsula Agency on Aging Links Older Adults to Services

By: WHF Staff

For most older adults, an important goal as they age is to continue living independently in their own homes. With the support of Peninsula Agency on Aging (PAA), nearly 8,400 older adults on the Peninsula can enjoy aging in place. Through collaborations with a broad network of local agencies, PAA offers services that address older adults’ diverse needs — including assisting with transportation to medical appointments, improving access to nutritious meals, care coordination, care support, and veterans’ services. For the past fifty years, PAA’s services have enhanced quality of life, fostered independence, and reduced social isolation in older adults.

Founded in 1974, PAA was born out of a desire to enhance the well-being of older adults on the Peninsula by linking them to services designed to empower, nurture, and sustain independence. Fifty years later, PAA remains a trusted community resource, connecting older adults, aged 60 and over, to services that support every aspect of healthy aging.

In 2023, with support from Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) grants, PAA served 1,372 older adults — including 26,812 service encounters — in Greater Williamsburg, and the need for services is expected to grow. Research from WHF projects nearly one-third of the population will be over age 60 by 2030. This demographic shift underlines the importance and need for PAA’s programs and services, which provide evidence-based, community-focused support for healthy aging.

WHF is a longtime supporter of PAA’s work, having awarded 66 grants totaling nearly $5.2 million since 1998 to help advance their mission to support independence and quality of life for older adults. Current WHF grants focus on providing nutritious noontime meals, non-emergency medical transportation, assessments, home visits, and care coordination for older adults. By providing essential resources and services, PAA upholds a commitment to helping older adults across the community stay healthy, independent, and engaged and creates healthy aging opportunities in our community. To learn out more about PAA’s programs and services, visit their website: https://paainc.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.