HISTORIC TRIANGLE — Every fall for the past nineteen years, the Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) has awarded a person or organization that has helped to improve the health of the Greater Williamsburg community.
On Wednesday, Oct. 20, WHF announced that there were three recipients this year.
James City County’s Emergency Management Department, the City of Williamsburg’s Office of Emergency Management and York County’s Office of Emergency Management will share the 2021 award for their work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Williamsburg Health Foundation believes unequivocally that the emergency management efforts of the City of Williamsburg, James City County and York County saved the lives and prevented illness and immense suffering by the lowering of number of COVID-19 cases through their vaccination efforts,” said WHF President and CEO, Carol L. Sale.
The awards are traditionally held every fall during a celebratory breakfast, but this year was held virtually via YouTube.
WHF produced a series of videos in which members from the three departments were interviewed about their work and how it affected their communities. What was of particular note was how all three departments were able to work together throughout the pandemic.
In one of the videos presented, York County Administrator Neil Morgan said that one of many bright spots in the combined response to COVID-19 was the vaccination program.
“Operation Vaccinate the Peninsula involved the collaboration of the six Virginia Peninsula localities, the hospital systems and the health district,” Morgan said. “I think that is going to go down in the history of the COVID response, that is going to go down as an amazing tale of people overcoming their competing pressures that every locality has to do what was best for the region.”
To see the all of the award videos check out the WHF YouTube channel.
