Community Grants Program 2008-09
What Recipients Said
Map of Recipients
In celebration of the Foundation's 20th year, the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation distributed over $140,000 to more than 80 organizations and government agencies. Grants of up to $3,000 were distributed to projects which focused on the health of women of reproductive age in more than 60 counties across North Carolina. Grants were awarded monthly from December 2008 through February 2009.
Priority was given to counties with high rates of infant mortality, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, drug use, smoking, inactivity, obesity and other at-risk behaviors. Priority was also given to organizations that were RICHES partners and projects that focused on healthy lifestyles and primary prevention.
Funded activities included the following:
- Innovative classes that helped women care for themselves in a new and unique way
- Healthy cooking classes for adults and teens
- Initiatives that helped women form the "move more" habit
- Replication of nationally recognized women's health initiatives
- Mental health services
- Seed money for HPV vaccines
- Equipment and educational materials
- Conferences and collaborations
For more information, see the map of recipients
What Recipients Said
"The N.C. Healthy Start Foundation grant gave The Encouraging Place the opportunity to offer women vital information. ...Mothers and heads of households seldom put their health care before those they care for. As much as we say we love ourselves and stress healthy self esteem, many of us have neglected good care of our bodies. This realization has moved us to commit to include a women's health topic in this year's Summer Camp for Women and all of our future programs." — Regelyn Edwards, Life Support Institute/The Encouraging Place
"The Vance County Health Department is so grateful for these funds. There were many materials that were outdated and were becoming irrelevant for the family planning classes. Having the new materials has made a positive change not only in the attitudes of the clients but with the staff as well. It is so refreshing to have new visuals to go along with the great information the clients are receiving. Clients seem to be engaging and absorbing more from the presentation when several delivery techniques have been implemented. .. Family Planning class has become so much more exciting for the staff and the clients and will be an ongoing initiative to help Vance County reduce teen pregnancy." — Amanda Barker, Vance County Health Department
"This grant helped to provide a much-needed opportunity for the Alamance County Health Department to reach out to our community, while encouraging and cultivating dialogue between mothers and their daughters. Because of this worthwhile opportunity, we were able to come together with our community partners and inform our participants about teen pregnancies and other health concerns for mothers and daughters in Alamance County." — Tiera Yancey, Alamance County Health Department Teen Outreach Program
"Thank you NC Healthy Start Foundation for your generous financial support. Because of this additional funding, the 10th annual Communities in Schools: Safe Journey/Adolescent Parenting Program Community Education Festival was a huge success! We had over 200 participants and about 50 volunteers from Elevation Church to participate in this event. A total of fifteen (15) county and state organizations provided informational booths where the participants could learn more about how to access services from those agencies. Some of the organizations that participated in the event included The Relatives which offer participants a safe place to stay or 24-hour crisis hotline should they need it, Access Family Services which offers counseling and mental health services, Meck Cares which provides high quality training and education for parents, Planned Parenthood, Partnership for Dental Health, Community LINK, and many, many more." — Judy Sanders-Bull, Communities in Schools: Safe Journey/APP Program
"The N.C. Healthy Start Foundation provided an opportunity to young mothers in our county (Anson County) to share ideas on health, child development, safety, and other topics while learning how literacy can make all areas of their lives better. In a county where 1 of 3 residents is functionally illiterate, this problem affects every aspect of their lives from reading instructions on a medicine bottle to understanding a car seat manual. We can empower these women by equipping them with something that will last a lifetime. N.C. Healthy Start Foundation realized that health issues for women can be addressed in a number of innovative ways, and we thank them for allowing us to use this means to focus on the health and well-being of the people who live in our community." — Bonnie Morgan, Anson County Partnership for Children
"Thank you on behalf of the Raleigh Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction and Top Teens of America for awarding the grant to us. It truly made a difference in our quest to address teen's health issues and to reach out into the community to help educate other youth about their health and to provide them with healthful information that will guide them in making best decisions impacting their health and life. Again, thanks to each of you!" — Barbara Cooper, Raleigh Chapter President, Top Ladies of Distinction, Incorporated
"The North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation Grant made this family event a fun way to focus on fitness within Jones County. Without the support from the Foundation, this event would not have been as successful and the number of participants would not have been as great. This event has also allowed us to gain community support from different organizations. Along with the support from the Healthy Start Foundation we were able to receive support in the form of sponsorship from ten different organizations and businesses within the community." — Natalie S. Newsom, Public Health Education Specialist, Jones County Health Department
"This NC Healthy Start Grant enabled Ashe County Healthy Carolinians to publicize to the women of Ashe County services that are under exposed and under used in our community. We were able to provide information and facilitate personal contacts between women and health providers in a focused, relaxed, woman-oriented atmosphere designed to remove barriers to learning and acceptance. We presented health and healthy behavior in an atmosphere of fun and excitement...As an organization, we took this opportunity to reach out to the wider health provider community that services Ashe County. We strengthened ties with our Key Partners by including them in a successful event that exposed them to their target populations. In addition, each time Ashe Healthy Carolinians has an opportunity to be active in the community our credibility and impact in the community increases." — Ashe County Health Council. "A Healthy Carolinian Task Force"
"By providing the grant, the biggest difference it has made to Stokes Family Health Center and the people we serve is that it shows we are reachable and in touch with the reality of their daily life. Our goal was to educate, motivate, and empower people to make the right decisions to help their children and families. The grant that N.C. Healthy Start Foundation provided was a great way for Stokes Family Health Center to be 'outside of the clinic setting' and have the resources to provide the community with this fun and educational event. Thank you so much for allowing this event to be possible." — ShLanda Burton, WIC Nutrition Director, Stokes Family Health Center
"Grants such as these put faith in local free clinics to advance health services to low-income, uninsured individuals. We are proud to have had the opportunity to prove our commitment to excellence in health care through the use of these funds. Thank you for believing in us." — Jill Lipson, Charlotte Community Health Clinic
We want to thank you for providing us with the opportunity to serve our community and to empower the community with the knowledge on how to prevent disease and how to take responsible care of ourselves." — Silvia M. Peterson, Service Center for Latinos, LLC (a.k.a. Centro Latino)
"Thank you very much for the opportunity to work with you to improve the health of women and all of our Vance and Warren County residents who do not have health insurance." — Anna Hohnston, Warren County Free Clinic, Inc.
Map of Recipients
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Last updated: April 2012 |
