Williamsburg Health Foundation approves nearly $1 million in grants to local organizations

Virginia Gazette (Williamsburg)

Dec. 4--The Williamsburg Health Foundation Board of Trustees approved $999,500 in grants to support local health-related organizations. Since its founding in 1996, the foundation has given nearly $84 million back to the community.

This season, the Olde Town Medical and Dental Center will receive $470,000 to support its clinic operations and to help improve diabetic self-management through health coaching.

The Peninsula Agency on Aging will receive $185,000 to go toward its RIDES program that helps elderly people get to medical appointments and toward Nutritious Noontime Meals that prepares healthy meals for older adults who cannot cook themselves.

The Williamsburg area has one of the highest percentages of older adults living alone in the state, said Allison Brody, the director of community resource development and engagement.

"If you look at our demographics, we have an aging population in the greater Williamsburg area and we certainly want to be paying attention to that and see how we can help support that work," said President and CEO Carol Sale.

Other grant money recipients include the Center for Child and Family Services, Inc. William & Mary's New Horizons Family Counseling Center, the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank and the Williamsburg House of Mercy, Inc., among others. Sale said the foundation hopes to help improve community access to things like fresh food, mental health services and to contribute to the health and success of local nonprofits.

A new grant was made to the Once Child Center for Autism to help improve the organization's financial infrastructure and increase its ability to bill insurance for services, according to a news release.

A grant was also given to the NetworkPeninsula in partnership with workforce development at the Thomas Nelson Community College for the Nonprofit Management Institute that provides classes to nonprofit boards and staff to help them better understand how to lead their organizations.

Ultimately, the money given out reflects the health-related needs in the Williamsburg area, Sale said.

"Our grants are to help strengthen those non-profit agencies and organizations to help to improve the health of the community," she said.

Want to learn more?

For information about Williamsburg Health Foundation grants and how to apply, visit williamsburghealthfoundation.org.

SaraRose Martin, 757-243-3685, [email protected]

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