Foundation awards nearly $1.2 million in grants to local nonprofits

The North Penn Community Health Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling nearly $1.2 million to local nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the health and well-being of at-risk populations in the North Penn community.

A total of 11 (44%) of grants awarded support the foundation’s funding priority  promoting access to quality health and human services to ensure that low income and under and uninsured children and adults have access to primary care, oral health, pharmaceutical and behavioral health services as well as supporting social and housing services. The foundation invested in nine organizations that together support the development of a system of comprehensive, integrated, high-quality and cost-effective services.       

• $132,000 to the North Penn Visiting Nurse Association  in support of primary, oral healthcare and preventive care services for low-income individuals and families;
• $94,000 to Delaware Valley Community Health, Inc. in continued support of primary, oral and healthcare services to low-income individuals and families receiving service at the Norristown Regional Health Center;
• $80,000 to Montgomery County Foundation, Inc. as a final grant to transition InfoLINK to 2-1-1 that will provide the Pennsylvania southeast regional community (consumers and providers) with comprehensive and accurate health and human service information available through a web-based portal and from trained operators staffing the region's 2-1-1 call center.
• $25,300 to Gwynedd-Mercy College over one year in support of increasing access to adult primary care through its partnership with the North Penn Visiting Nurse Association;
• $25,000 to Penn Foundation, Inc. for advancing a collaborative initiative with Indian Creek Foundation to develop and sustain trauma-informed environments;
• $20,000 to VNA Community Services in continued support of the personal navigator program, which helps low-income residents secure prescription, utility and housing benefits;
• $21,400 to Montgomery County Community College Foundation in continued support of its “Eliminating Dental Caries across the Lifespan” campaign, which provides prophylactic and educational oral health services to low-income children and adults;
• $15,000 to Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation to develop a social services outreach and service program for the local Korean-American community; and
• $7,500 to the Jewish Healthcare Foundation of Pittsburgh to support the continued advancement of the Pennsylvania Health Funders’ Collaborative, a healthcare funder’s group initially established in the Delaware Valley that aims to develop a statewide philanthropic voice to improve the quality, scope and effectiveness of health funders’ local initiatives.

Two grants were awarded to continue the foundation’s efforts to support the development of a seamless and unified system of homeless and housing services.

• $125,000 to Montgomery County Foundation in support of strengthening the housing and homeless services providers to help achieve the goals and strategies of the Montgomery County Housing Redesign, pilot a Housing First Model of services and assist families in need of housing assistance; and
• $52,026 to the Public Health Management Corporation to complete a centralized intake and referral service pilot program for the homeless.

Six of the grants awarded (24%) are in support of promoting disease prevention and wellness. This priority area of giving ensures that community organizations maximize their capacity and leverage resources to promote nutritional health and well-being of residents by identifying and deploying evidence-based approaches to wellness.  Six grants were awarded to organizations whose work supports the foundation’s focus on the reduction of childhood obesity, healthy eating, nutrition and physical activity.

• $97,000 to Health Promotion Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Inc. in continued support of the Wellness Initiative for the School Environment: Smart Nutrition and Activity Collaborative (WISE SNAC program);
• $92,000 to Health Promotion Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Inc. for the Cultivating Communities Campaign, a multifaceted initiative designed in partnership with The Food Trust, Penn State Cooperative Extension Service and the Montgomery County Health Department to enhance access to fresh, locally grown and nutritious foods for low-income individuals and families;
• $70,000 to The Food Trust in continued support of the Nutrition Coalition and Food Pantry “best practices” program;
• $40,000 to the Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life as a challenge grant to support the “Country Kitchen Pilot Program” for frail seniors;
• $10,500 to The Food Trust to support a study of state and federal food purchase programs and to develop a best practices guide for food pantries; and
• $5,000 to the Public Health Management Corporation in support of the community health database project, to provide health and human services providers, researchers, planners and investors access to population health data.  

Finally, eight (32%) grants were awarded to support the priority area of strengthening organizational effectiveness which seeks to enhance the capacity of community nonprofit organizations to operate effectively as learning organizations. Organizations are encouraged  to design/deliver high-quality services in a cost-effective manner and to partner with one another to add value beyond that which they could likely achieve independently.   In addition, the awareness and use of effective business management practices, tools and skills among health and human services leadership is supported.

• $69,000 to the Greater North Penn Collaborative for Health & Human Services to continue to foster collaboration among North Penn community nonprofit leaders and stakeholders and to design a strategy for helping nonprofit organizations to advocate on issues of mutual concern;
• $60,000 to Family Service of Montgomery County in continued support of its efforts to become a high-performing organization;
• $45,000 to Encore Experiences at Harleysville and Generations of Indian Valley to use data to make better informed operational and programmatic decisions;
• $40,000 to the North Penn Valley Boys’ and Girls’ Club, Inc. in support of their vision fulfillment campaign;
• $30,200 to Montgomery County Association for the Blind in support of an organizational sustainability study;
• $18,000 to New Life Youth and Family Services for the development of a strategic plan and board development;
• $15,000 to the Keystone Opportunity Center, Inc. in support of a program/service evaluation, market assessment and development of a marketing plan; and
• $5,000 to Pennypack Farm Education Center in support of a feasibility study for the development of a cooking program for low-income middle school children.

Founded in 2002, the North Penn Community Health Foundation identifies, selects and invests in programs and agencies that will improve the health, welfare and quality of life in the community.  It seeks to be a catalyst for change, promote lasting value, advocate for low- and moderate-income individuals and families and support innovative, collaborative and cost-effective approaches to solutions addressing unmet community needs.  Since its inception, nearly $9.7 million has been distributed to more than 150 nonprofit organizations.