Sentara gives $290,000 to eight area non-profits

Sentara Healthcare recently announced an additional $5 million in funding to support nearly 100 partner organizations throughout Virginia and North Carolina – $290,000 of which has been committed to eight local community partners through its Fall 2022 Sentara Cares grant cycle.

These investments expand on Sentara’s longstanding commitment to address social determinants of health and promote equitable access to care in traditionally underserved communities – efforts that are strengthened through numerous grassroots partnerships with community and faith-based organizations.

“Addressing the most pressing needs of our communities and improving total health and wellness are the foundation of our mission at Sentara,” said Sherry Norquist, MSN-RN, Sentara director of community engagement and impact. “We are hopeful that through our ongoing investments and collaboration with community partners and faith-based leaders who share our mission, together, we will continue to create opportunities to advance health equity and eliminate disparities in the communities where we live, work, and play.”

Sentara prioritizes funding for community partners and initiatives that align with the organization’s primary focus areas: behavioral health, housing, workforce training and career development, food security and social determinants of health. Local community partners receiving funding from Sentara include:

• CASA, Inc. – Hyattsville, MD
• Global Inheritance – Leesburg, VA
• HireGround, Inc. – Bristow, VA
• Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation dba Children’s Science Center – Fairfax, VA
• Northern Virginia Veterans Association – Manassas, VA
• The Arc of Greater Prince William/INSIGHT – Woodbridge, VA
• Workhouse Arts Foundation – Lorton, VA
• Young Invincibles – Washington, DC

Nearly half of Sentara’s total investments this grant cycle will directly support community-based health equity programs and initiatives centered around housing and behavioral health – two of Sentara’s primary focus areas. For example, Sentara’s partnership with The Arc of Greater Prince William, located in Woodbridge, Virginia, is focused on enhancing the health and well-being of teens and adults with developmental disabilities by offering expanded wellness programs and activities – both in-person and virtually.

Earlier this year, Sentara awarded nearly $5 million in funding to 71 partner organizations working to address social determinants of health. In 2021, Sentara invested $254 million to support Virginia and North Carolina communities, including $23 million in health education and prevention programs, $48 million in teaching and training opportunities for healthcare professionals, $16 million in community giving, and $167 million in uncompensated patient care.