Williamsburg Health Foundation Awards $4.5 Million to Local Organizations

Williamsburg Health Foundation Awards $4.5 Million to Local Organizations

Jun 10, 2026 | News

WILLIAMSBURG, VA – June 10, 2026: The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) Board of Trustees recently approved $4.5 million in grant funding to 35 nonprofit organizations and government agencies working to enhance health in the City of Williamsburg, James City County, and York County.

Grant awards span WHF’s three focus areas: Access to Care, Economic Advancement, and Healthy Living, which the WHF Board of Trustees approved as part of the 2026-2030 strategic plan. The Foundation awarded fourteen first-time programs or organizations with three granted in the more recently developed Economic Advancement category.

Economic Advancement grant recipients include Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Greater Williamsburg initiative at the DeGood Foundation which provides free, high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to Greater Williamsburg children under age five. Literacy for Life’s Integrated Strategies for Addressing Social Determinants of Health initiative delivers integrated adult education, combining literacy instruction, workforce development, financial literacy, and health education. Menchville House’s Emergency Family Shelter for Greater Williamsburg Families program helps Greater Williamsburg families experiencing homelessness regain stability and transition into permanent housing by providing emergency housing, case management, and supportive services.

“Lifelong health is driven by social factors in addition to medical factors,” said Bill Pribble, Vice President of Programs. “Social drivers of health affect residents’ ability to access essential community resources which is one reason Economic Advancement was added as a focus area. We look forward to the collective impact these efforts will have on Greater Williamsburg.”

First-time organizations and/or programs in the Access to Care focus area include:

  • 3E Restoration: Williamsburg Community Health Advocate (CHA) Specialty Certification Initiative will provide specialty courses for individuals interested in receiving certification as Community Health Advocates.
  • ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation: Making Life Better for Greater Williamsburg Children with Cancer program will support Greater Williamsburg children with cancer or serious blood disorders and their families by addressing non-medical burdens impacting care and recovery.
  • Children’s Assistive Technology Service: Greater Williamsburg Children’s Mobility and Independence Program will expand access to free mobility equipment for Greater Williamsburg children with disabilities by strengthening transportation, refurbishment, and distribution of equipment.
  • Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation: Virginia’s Oral Health Workforce Funding Pool* aims to address the shortage of dental hygienists by expanding dental hygiene education programs statewide, with a focus on Greater Williamsburg (*contingent upon public funding currently under consideration).
  • Made 4 Connection: Support for Operations provides trauma-informed training and coaching for parents, caregivers, teachers, and social service professionals serving children impacted by trauma and adversity.

First-time organizations and/or programs in the Healthy Living focus area include:

  • Dream Catchers: Young Dreamers – Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) and Mental Health for At-Risk Youth of the Greater Williamsburg Area will promote the development of life skills and improve mental health of at-risk Greater Williamsburg youth through equine-assisted activities.
  • FISH: Expanding Protein Access to FISH Clients initiative will increase protein availability through additional eggs and meat to FISH clients.
  • Grove Christian Outreach Center: General Operating Support will improve health and wellness in the Grove community by strengthening food access and providing supportive services to families with low income.
  • One Child Center for Autism: Programs Coordinator will strengthen existing programs, expand offerings, and create new opportunities for Greater Williamsburg children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental differences.
  • Williamsburg House of Mercy: General Operating Support will support comprehensive services which offer a pathway out of crisis and toward self-sufficiency for Greater Williamsburg residents.
  • Williamsburg-James City County Community Action Agency: NurtureConnect will support Greater Williamsburg families who are low income with infants through coordinated diaper distribution and wraparound family care services.

These first-time awardees and/or programs join other long-standing WHF supported efforts, such as the local clinics, Child Health Initiative, Child Development Resources, and the School Health Initiative Program (SHIP).

WHF President & CEO Deanna Van Hersh applauds each grant recipient stating, “The Williamsburg Health Foundation’s Board of Trustees is thrilled to respond to applicants with these awards for both new and former organizations, programs, and initiatives designed to enhance health in Greater Williamsburg. The strategic web of networks and referrals represented here and resulting collective impact of this meaningful work is evident in the overall health of our community, and these awards will contribute to efforts to further improve well-being for all who call this area home.”

If you are interested in learning more about the Foundation’s grant opportunities, please visit www.williamsburghealthfoundation.org.

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Organization Name

Project Title

Approved Amount
ACCESS TO CARE
          Primary, behavioral, and/or dental health care
Center for Child & Family Services Project Healing Pathways $70,000
Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation Virginia’s Oral Health Workforce Funding Pool up to $125,000
Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic General Operating Support $300,000
Lackey Clinic General Operating Support $500,000
Olde Towne Medical and Dental Center General Operating Support $900,000
Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics Strengthening Health Access Through Policy & Advocacy $5,000
Virginia Health Catalyst Beyond the Cap: Voices for Dental Access in Greater Williamsburg $5,000
          Medications
Rx Partnership General Operating Support $66,000
Virginia Health Care Foundation Greater Williamsburg Medication Assistance Program (GWMAP) $47,000
          Supportive services
3e Restoration Williamsburg Community Health Advocate (CHA) Specialty Certification Initiative $78,500
ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation Making Life Better for Greater Williamsburg Children with Cancer $25,000
Child Development Resources General Operating Support $237,000
Children’s Assistive Technology Service Greater Williamsburg Children’s Mobility and Independence Program $25,000
City of Williamsburg Child Health Initiative $283,500
F.R.E.E. Foundation for Rehabilitation Equipment & Endowment F.R.E.E. of Williamsburg $30,000
James City County Child Health Initiative $283,500
Made 4 Connection Support for Operations $40,000
Peninsula Agency on Aging PAA Williamsburg $84,000
ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT
          Educational success for lifelong learners
DeGood Foundation Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Greater Williamsburg $20,000
Literacy for Life Integrated Strategies for Addressing Social Determinants of Health $80,000
          Housing stability
Menchville House Ministries Menchville House Emergency Family Shelter for Greater Williamsburg Families $28,000
HEALTHY LIVING
          Adequate nutritious food
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula EatSMART at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula’s James City County Unit $10,000
FISH Expanding Protein Access to FISH Clients $20,000
Grove Christian Outreach Center General Operating Support $75,000
THRIVE Peninsula Providing Healthy Food to Hungry Families in York County $15,000
Williamsburg House of Mercy General Operating Support $150,000
Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools Healthy Educational Appetizing and Tasty (HEAT) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) 2026 and 2027 $100,000
          Promotion of healthy lifestyles and social connection
Alternatives We Make Healthy Choices! $7,151
ArtsConnect Virginia Arts Outreach for Older and Isolated Adults $3,750
Colonial Court Appointed Special Advocates (Colonial CASA) Healthy Eating Active Living: Youth Recreation & Wellness Program $7,600
Dream Catchers Young Dreamers – Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) and Mental Health for At-Risk Youth of the Greater Williamsburg Area $37,507
One Child Center for Autism Programs Coordinator $45,000
Triangle Stepping Stones (TSS) 2026 Pathways to Recovery: Empowering Change Through Community Support $12,000
Williamsburg Area Faith in Action General Operating Support $65,000
Williamsburg-James City County Community Action Agency NurtureConnect – Diapers & Family Care $45,000
Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools School Health Initiative Program (SHIP) $770,000

The Williamsburg Health Foundation (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 $123 million in grants to improve community health and well-being. 

Williamsburg Health Foundation Welcomes Mitchell F. Harry to the Board of Trustees

Williamsburg Health Foundation Welcomes Mitchell F. Harry to the Board of Trustees

Jan 23, 2026 | News

Williamsburg Health Foundation Welcomes Mitchell F. Harry to the Board of Trustees

By: WHF Staff

WILLIAMSBURG, VA– The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mitchell F. Harry to the Board of Trustees.

 Mitchell is Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management Director, and Financial Advisor for Morgan Stanley. A graduate of the University of Virginia with dual degrees in Economics and Government, he brings expertise in financial strategy, market analysis, and long-term planning.

His professional perspective is shaped by both academic training and hands-on experience, including a background in business operations and succession planning. Based in Williamsburg, Harry is actively engaged in the local community and serves on the board of the Rotary Club of The Historic Triangle.

“We are pleased to welcome Mitchell Harry to the Board of Trustees,” said Deanna Van Hersh, WHF President and CEO. “His professional expertise and community engagement will be valuable assets in contributing to oversight of the Foundation’s asset allocation and advancing our mission to enhance health 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 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.

 

Williamsburg Health Foundation Awards $130,000 in Response to Increased Need

Williamsburg Health Foundation Awards $130,000 in Response to Increased Need

Dec 1, 2025 | News

Williamsburg Health Foundation Awards $130,000 in Response to Increased Need

WILLIAMSBURG, VA – November 24, 2025: The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) has approved $130,000 in support for eight nonprofit organizations to address an increase in demand for assistance, primarily food. This funding supports organizations that provide access to nutritious food and essential resources to families and individuals experiencing difficulties.

  • FISH
  • Grove Christian Outreach Center
  • Salvation Army of Williamsburg
  • THRIVE Peninsula
  • United Way of the Virginia Peninsula
  • Virginia Peninsula Foodbank
  • Williamsburg House of Mercy
  • Williamsburg-James City County Community Action Agency (WJCC-CAA)

 

“Community partners have shared the significant increase in the number of people seeking assistance, more than 30% in some cases, as families struggle to keep food on the table this fall,” said Deanna Van Hersh, President and CEO of Williamsburg Health Foundation. “These funds are a way to meet the moment in addressing rising needs as we head into the holiday season.”

 

To learn more about the Foundation, please visit www.williamsburghealthfoundation.org.

 

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 $116 million in grants to improve community health and well-being. 

Grantee Spotlight: SHIP (School Health Initiative Program)

Grantee Spotlight: SHIP (School Health Initiative Program)

Aug 27, 2025 | Grantee Spotlight

Grantee Spotlight: SHIP (School Health Initiative Program)

By: WHF Staff

If you walk into any classroom in Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools (WJCC Schools) and ask any student what SHIP is, you might hear a variety of adjectives, including “lowkey lit”1, “bussin’”2, or “fire.”3 What you probably won’t hear is “it is a program that is teaching me how to choose healthy food, live an active lifestyle, and learn evidence-based wellness techniques that I can share with my family.” But that is exactly what SHIP is “lowkey” doing in the classrooms of the 16 WJCC Schools throughout the school year.

Since SHIP’s launch in the Fall of 2006, the program has engaged thousands of teachers and staff, and tens of thousands of students in health and wellness improvement education opportunities across the school division, including:

    •  Teaching nutrition classes in all kindergarten, first, and second-grade classrooms.
    • Training teachers how to incorporate movement into lesson plans.
    • Providing home kits and teaching cooking and gardening skills to families.
    • Managing 85+ before- and after-school challenge clubs, which include nutritious snacks, physical activity, and transportation for 2000+ students annually.
    • Delivering interactive cooking lessons to 27 special education classrooms.

The impact of SHIP’s work goes beyond the walls of WJCC and the school grounds. Both students and staff participants share SHIP resources and experiences with the program with their friends, family, and neighbors within the Greater Williamsburg community.

From a Problem to a Program

According to a report using data from the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, nationally, 16.5% of children between the ages of 2 and 19 were overweight, and 17.1% were classified as obese or severely obese. Specifically, in the Williamsburg-James City County local data compiled in 2004 by the Coalition for Obesity Prevention-Peninsula, the percentage of overweight youth in Williamsburg and James City was 29%, 27%, and 39% in kindergarten, third grade, and fifth grade, respectively. With this data in hand, Williamsburg Health Foundation’s (WHF) Staff and Board were moved to collaborate with WJCC Schools and other community partners to develop and launch a quality health program to foster lifelong physical activity, healthy eating habits in children, and provide access to health insurance. WJCC Schools launched the SHIP program in the Fall of 2006. Nineteen years later, the program continues to support and promote healthy eating and active lifestyle habits in schools, homes, and throughout Greater Williamsburg.

WHF’s Continued Support

SHIP’s work aligns with the WHF’s strategic plan. The program contributes to the Foundation’s vision, individuals making healthy choices in a community with health opportunities for all, and the goal of targeting behavioral and social risk factors that influence the health of individuals across the life span. As a Foundation-initiated program, WHF funds 68% of SHIP’s 2025-2026 program budget. Since 2004, the Foundation’s Board of Trustees has approved over $12.9 million to WJCC Schools to support SHIP and their mission.

Notes

  1. Something that is secretly Exciting/excellent or enjoyable
  2. Something is really good
  3. Amazing or exciting

 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 $116 million in grants to improve community health and well-being.

Grantee Spotlight: Child Health Initiative Care Teams 

Grantee Spotlight: Child Health Initiative Care Teams 

Aug 1, 2025 | Grantee Spotlight

Grantee Spotlight: Child Health Initiative Care Teams 

By: WHF Staff 

The City of Williamsburg’s and James City County’s Child Health Initiative Care Teams support local families as they work to improve their health and well-being. These initiatives pair each participating family with a dedicated team to work side-by-side in reaching the family’s goals. Grounded on the Aspen Institute’s evidence-based two-generation (2Gen) approach, Care Teams support the whole family, both the child and the adult. By simultaneously addressing the needs of both children and their caregivers, Care Teams help families tackle multiple challenges that affect their well-being with personalized, meaningful support. 

The Care Teams implement the 2Gen approach of supporting both children and their caregivers for stronger, healthier families. Care Teams consist of a coordinator, case manager, registered nurse or community health specialist who collaborate in working with each family to build stability and resilience. Services are voluntary, free to eligible families, and tailored to families’ individual goals and needs. 

Through their work, Care Teams help families build life skills around healthy living, self-advocacy, and economic stability. Families receive guidance in navigating healthcare and education systems and making connections to job training and employment resources — all tailored to their unique circumstances. The program involves frequent contact with families through home visits, medical accompaniment, ongoing monitoring, and collaboration with community partners. 
 

The program assists families residing in Williamsburg or James City County who have a child in 5th grade or younger and are facing challenges in various areas. Eligible families include those who: 

  • Experience limited income or struggle to access basic needs such as food, housing, or transportation. 
  • Encounter difficulties navigating various community systems. 

Data gathered by the Foundation in 2024 revealed Care Teams had supported more than 170 individuals from 46 local families, helping them strengthen connections, navigate barriers, and take steps toward healthier, more stable futures. Entry and exit data show participation in the program improved health for children in the areas of adequate sleep, healthy food, physical activity, primary care medical home, recommended immunizations, school attendance, and up-to-date well care visits. 

Williamsburg Health Foundation’s Continued Support 

The work of the Child Health Initiative Care Teams aligns with the Williamsburg Health Foundation’s strategic plan goal of targeting behavioral and social risk factors that influence the health of individuals across the life span. Since 2015, the Foundation has awarded the City of Williamsburg and James City County 20 grants totaling nearly $5.1 million to support the Care Teams’ 2Gen approach to improving the health and well-being of families in Greater Williamsburg.  

Visit https://www.williamsburgva.gov/756/Community-Programs to learn more about the City of Williamsburg’s Care Team. To learn more about James City County’s Care Team, visit https://www.jamescitycountyva.gov/3647/Care-Team. 

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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 $116 million in grants to improve community health and well-being.