North Penn Community Health Foundation
Awards $450,800 in Grants
The North Penn Community Health Foundation has awarded 15 grants totaling
$450,800 to local nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the health
and well-being of at-risk populations.
The grants range in size from $15,000 to $49,500 and will support various
health related programs in the North Penn community from access to health
care services to community education and advocacy. Children, adults and seniors
will be impacted by the work of the organizations receiving these grants.
Gwynedd Mercy College was awarded $48,300 over three years in renewed support
to manage the Nursing Excellence Awards Program. Community nurses are nominated
annually to receive this award that recognizes the important role of nurses.
Through this program, the Foundation hopes to raise community awareness of
the roles and valuable contributions nurses perform in providing healthcare
services and health education.
A $40,000 grant to the North Penn Visiting Nurse Association continues the
foundation’s support of targeted community outreach and education activities
and includes a new program introducing the American Heart Association’s “CPR
Anytime for Family and Friends”, a self-directed training program that
will be offered at a discounted fee. This program seeks to build awareness
of CPR techniques in every household so that lifesaving care can be available
should a family member have a heart attack. The VNA will continue to offer
blood pressure, stroke and diabetes screening and education programs. Health
educators plan to work closely with the Penllyn Baptist Church parish nurse
program to implement a prostrate screening program targeted to African American
men who are at increased risk of developing prostrate cancer.
A $15,000 grant was awarded to the Free Clinic of Doylestown in support
of outpatient testing and services such as laboratory, radiology and physical
therapy. The Clinic provides an estimated $1.5 million of health care services
annually to uninsured and underinsured patients. The Clinic also provides
oral health services with support from the Foundation.
The North Penn Area YMCA received a $14,000 grant in support of a pilot
program designed to assist obese and overweight children and their parents
to improve their health status. The pilot program will provide an intensive
twelve-week program modeled on a similar program in Chester County that has
successfully helped children and their parents to better understand the value
of good nutrition and physical activity.
Grants were awarded to seven non-profit organizations using funds previously
raised by the Friends of the North Penn Community Health Foundation. The
Friends were established two years ago by the members of the former North
Penn Hospital Auxiliary. After years of service to our community, the Auxiliary
and the Foundation’s Friends volunteer organizations have dissolved
and the funds the Foundation has held on their behalf have been awarded to
the following organizations:
• $49,500 to the North Penn Area Scholarship Association; and $37,100
to Montgomery County Community College; in support of scholarships to students
pursuing studies in the health professions and $37,100 to Gwynedd Mercy College
in support of student health services and scholarships;
• $37,100 to the North Penn Valley Boys and Girls Club;
• $37,100 to the North Penn Visiting Nurse Association;
• $24,800 to the Friends of Hospice; and
• $24,800 to the Volunteer Medical Service Corporation.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Montgomery County received
a grant of $36,000 over two years to assist its staff and board members in
implementing a new development program that will help the organization build
financial independence. And, Compeer of Suburban Philadelphia received a
challenge grant of $10,000 to develop new sources of financial support.
