June 28, 2018
Cameron Foundation approves $1.28 million in grant awards
The Cameron Foundation recently approved new grant funding for 24 organizations to support a broad range of programs and projects in the Tri-Cities area. The awards, which total $1,279,802, were approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors earlier this month.
“We rely on these many community partners in order to fulfill our mission,” said The Cameron Foundation’s Board Chair Pam Martin Comstock, adding, “Our responsive grants program is one of the ways that we’re able to leverage the expertise offered by these organizations to address our local needs.”
The largest grant this cycle was made to Central Virginia Health Services, Inc. (CVHS) for $266,000. The funds help to underwrite dental services at the Appomattox Area Health and Wellness Center. The CVHS operates 17 community health centers across Virginia, providing primary care services to some of the state’s most vulnerable populations, including those who are uninsured and underinsured.
In the Foundation’s catchment area, CVHS offers care through three centers: Appomattox Area Health and Wellness Center, Petersburg Health Care Alliance and Hopewell-Prince George Community Health Center. Beyond primary medical care, which includes dental and behavior health, CVHS also supports patients through pharmacy services, health education programs, diabetes education, care coordination and outreach. The CVHS provided assistance across the Tri-Cities to more than 3,375 patients with over 11,000 encounters in 2017.
Cameron’s Grants Committee Chair Jeffrey W. Geisz remarked, “The Cameron Foundation has funded Central Virginia Health Services over many years, and the organization continues to deliver critical medical care to the Tri-Cities area. Through its three local health centers, Central Virginia Health Services ensures that thousands of individuals in our community receive affordable health care.”
Examples of other grants this cycle in the health field include a renewal grant of $45,000 to Greater Richmond Fit4Kids, Inc. for its Wellness Integration program in Petersburg City Public Schools as well as $9,700 to Metropolitan Richmond Sports Backers, Inc. for its Fitness Warriors program in the Tri-Cities area. The Greater Richmond Fit4Kids’ Wellness Integration program incorporates physical activity and nutrition education into classroom learning and employs a train-the-trainer technique with teachers to sustain the model in participating schools.
Through its Fitness Warriors program, Metropolitan Richmond Sports Backers trains local residents to become certified group exercise instructors who then provide free weekly fitness classes in underserved communities. Currently across the Tri-Cities area, 21 instructors conduct these classes in 16 different locations.
Cameron President J. Todd Graham noted how these investments complement the direct service support that was awarded to CVHS. “The grants to Greater Richmond Fit4Kids and Metropolitan Richmond Sports Backers illustrate how we can promote healthy lifestyles for people outside of their visits to a doctor’s office or health center. Each of these grantees contributes an important role in creating a culture of health in our region,” he said.
The Cameron Foundation administers two responsive grant cycles per year, in June and October. It also makes awards during other times of the year through its proactive grantmaking. The full list of responsive grants for the June cycle includes:
Al-A-Mo Recovery Center, Inc. – $28,000
American Red Cross – $25,000
Battersea Foundation – $100,000
Central Virginia Health Services, Inc. – $266,000
Chesterfield CASA, Inc. – $18,000
Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Alliance for Social Ministry (CCHASM) – $25,000
ChildSavers-Memorial Child Guidance Clinic – $15,000
Equal Justice America, Inc. – $7,000
FLITE Foundation – $39,000
GReat Aspirations Scholarship Program (GRASP) – $20,000
Greater Richmond Fit4Kids, Inc. – $45,000
Hopewell City Public Schools – $52,046
Hopewell Food Pantry – $35,000
HumanKind – $10,000
Literacy Lab – $40,000
Local Initiatives Support Corporation Virginia (LISC) – $105,000
Metropolitan Richmond Sports Backers, Inc. – $9,700
Petersburg Preservation Task Force – $36,000
Petersburg Symphony Orchestra – $19,232
Push Faith House – $5,000
Quill Theatre – $20,000
Southside Virginia Emergency Crew, Inc. – $24,824
Virginia’s Gateway Region Inc. – $250,000
YMCA of Greater Richmond – $85,000