The Williamsburg Health Foundation took another step in creating a healthier city — the foundation awarded nearly a $1 million in grants to organizations across the area.
“The opportunity to live a healthy life is not evenly distributed to all,” said Carol Sale, the foundation’s president and chief executive officer. “A major thrust of the foundation’s work for many years has been to look at upstream determinants of health and try to level the playing field so everyone in our community can have a chance to lead a healthier life for the long term”
This is the second of two rounds of grants this year that was approved on Dec. 3, according to a news release from the foundation.
During this round, the largest grant of $450,000 was given to Olde Towne Medical and Dental Center for basic operating support. Sale said this has been a consistent grant over the years but will help even more as Gov. Ralph Northam continues to expand medicaid.
“Medicaid reimbursement does not typically cover the cost of treating a patient,” Sale said. “We know there will still be a profound need for support for the local clinics, and we hope that donors and longtime supporters will understand this as well.”
The foundation also awarded $25,000 to Arc of Williamsburg, which provides programs for people with developmental disabilities, for adult fitness classes. One Child Center for Autism received a $15,000 grant for its monthly Kids’ Night at the Williamsburg Indoor Sports Complex. The event helps to provide opportunities individuals with disabilities of all ages to experience active living, according to the news release.
The foundation’s largest grant overall was awarded to the School Health Investment Program. SHIP typically receives the largest grant each year, Sale said.
“At the foundation, we always remind people that we all have a role to play in making ours a healthier community,” Sale said. “Be kind, help someone who needs you, or support a local organization. It all goes a long way towards making ours a healthy community.”
Other grant winners include:
- $35,000 to the Center for Child and Family Services Child and Family Connections Violence Prevention and Intervention program
- $40,000 to Colonial Behavioral Health Advancing Opioid-Addiction Treatment program
- $45,000 to the Community Housing Partners’ Building Healthy Communities program
- $12,000 to The Doorways for basic operating support
- $20,000 to Elk Hill Farm, Inc. for the school-based mental health program
- $5,000 to Grove Christian Outreach Center for the Children’s Summer Lunch program
- $100,000 to the New Horizons Family Counseling Center for the Youth and Family Counseling program
- $30,000 to Olde Towne Medical and Dental Center for improving diabetic self-management through health coaching
- $110,000 to Peninsula Agency on Aging for the PAA RIDES program
- $50,000 to Peninsula Agency on Aging for the Nutritious Noontime Meals program
- $8,000 to Postpartum Support Virginia, Inc. for the Healthy Mother, Healthy Family program
- $20,000 to Virginia Peninsula Foodbank for the mobile food pantry
- $42,000 to Williamsburg Area Faith in Action to support the development director
- $20,000 Williamsburg Soccer Foundation for the Virginia Legacy Soccer Community Partnership Program
