December 10, 2019
Nantahala Health Foundation is excited to announce its initial slate of grants has been awarded to local organizations in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary.
As a newly formed, public nonprofit, NHF and its Board of Directors intentionally focused their efforts on strategic planning and information gathering before making decisions on where to allocate grant funding. Through hosting an extensive series of local listening sessions designed to help them understand and identify issues currently challenging Western North Carolina, they successfully defined their 2019 funding priorities and began accepting grant applications in August. After vetting numerous funding proposals from organizations across the six-county region and Qualla Boundary, they have this month awarded almost $1.5 million to local nonprofits and other organizations addressing the root causes of the community’s most pressing health concerns.
Commenting on the grant awards, NHF Executive Director Lori Bailey said, “It is a great privilege to award almost $1.5M to innovative organizations across Western North Carolina who are working tirelessly to improve the health of people in our community. The staff and volunteers of these organizations are the true community change agents. We look forward to seeing how our collaboration with each of them will build capacity, help address health disparities and strengthen our community.”
On Monday, December 8, NHF awarded a total of $1.47M across their established priority area to the following organizations with projects that achieve outcomes in either access to healthcare, education, transportation, poverty or quality of housing:
ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
40% of total funding
- Blue Ridge Mountains Health Project/Free Dental Clinic – To increase access to emergency, restorative and preventative dental services to low-income residents of Western North Carolina.
- Clay County Emergency Medical Services – To establish a community paramedicine program that will allow EMTs to operate in expanded paramedic roles by assisting with public health, primary healthcare and preventive services to underserved and chronic patient populations in the community.
- Clay County Public Health Department – To support the expansion of dental services through the mobile dental program.
- Clay County Schools – To increase access to school-based counseling and behavioral health services.
- Community Care Clinic of Franklin – To increase access to health care and medication assistance services.
- First Baptist Church of Franklin/Macon Medication Assistance Program – To provide vouchers and support for the Macon Medication Assistance Program.
- KIDS Place – To support the Child Medical Evaluation Program serving child and youth victims of abuse and neglect.
- Macon County Emergency Management Services – To provide improvements in the technology infrastructure for Macon County EMS.
- Mountain Area Health Education Center – To provide short-term student housing for the Rural Fellowship Program to support student and resident learners who are interested in practicing in the region.
- Swain County Emergency Management Services – To establish a community paramedicine program that will allow EMTs to operate in expanded paramedic roles by assisting with public health, primary healthcare and preventive services to underserved and chronic patient populations in the community.
- Swain County Health Department – To support the expansion of dental services to low-income and uninsured patients.
- Vecinos Farmworker Health Program – For the purchase of medications, preventative supplies, health monitoring devices and vaccines to address patient health concerns and prevent more serious health problems.
EDUCATION
39% of total funding
- Cherokee Indian Hospital – To purchase a simulation mannequin to allow our healthcare professionals and students to learn about, prepare for and respond to life-threatening emergencies utilizing best standards and evidenced-based regimens and equipment.
- Graham County Schools – To construct a Greenhouse for the Academy which will provide a venue for instruction in gardening, sustainable horticulture and business management and will provide fresh produce for the local community.
- HIGHTS – To support the Tiny Home Build Proposal, part of the Youth Continuum of Care Project.
- Southwestern Child Development – To support expanded eligibility for early childhood education services for children ages 0-3 years old.
- Southwestern Community College – To purchase equipment for the new optician program.
- Swain County Recreation Department – To provide upgrades and renovations to improve accessibility for the recreation department swimming pool, increasing the programming capacity for the County’s Day Camp program.
TRANSPORTATION
9% of total funding
- Clay County Transportation – To support expanded transportation services and to subsidize an affordable fare for passengers within Clay County needing access to employment.
- Grace Extended Ministries – To provide transportation alternatives to help establish the women’s residential treatment program.
- REACH of Macon County – To purchase a disability equipped passenger van to address transportation barriers.
POVERTY
8% of total funding
- Clay County Senior Food Project, a collaborative project between Clay County Food Pantry and Matt’s Ministry – To provide food and supplies to address food insecurity among seniors.
- HERE in Jackson County – To provide case management services to assist homeless households in securing emergency shelter and aid in obtaining and maintaining permanent, safe, affordable housing.
- Jackson County Department of Aging – To purchase thermal hot pads to improve the quality of food delivery to those served by Meals on Wheels.
- The Sparrows Nest Food Pantry – To provide food and supplies to address food insecurity among seniors.
QUALITY OF HOUSING
4% of total funding
- Hinton Rural Life Center – To provide supplies for home repair and mold remediation.
- Mountain Projects – To provide home repair and rehabilitation for the elderly and disadvantaged people.
