What is a Foundation?
A foundation is an organization that awards grants to non-profit organizations, institutions or individuals for scientific, educational, cultural, religious or other charitable purposes. Most foundations give grants only to non-profit, charitable organizations and are prohibited from getting involved in lobbying or political activities. A small number of foundations provide grants to individuals, such as scholarships to attend a college or university.
Among foundations in the United States, education has accounted for the largest share of grant dollars awarded ($7.27 billion in 2002), followed by health ($4.8 billion) and human services ($2.9 billion).
What is a Conversion Foundation?
Typically, a conversion foundation is established after a hospital or non-profit healthcare insurer is sold. Proceeds from the sale are used to fund the foundation’s start-up. While the hospital’s mission is to treat illness and disease, the mission of the conversion foundation is to make grants to improve the health of the communities they serve.
How are Foundations Funded?
Most foundations are endowments. The principal is invested, and only the income earned from investments is spent or given away in any given year. This means that many foundations are literally able to make grants forever.
Who is the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation?
The Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation is a community organization created as the result of the sale of Pottstown Memorial Medical Center to Community Health Systems. With $84.8 million in net assets, the Foundation serves the residents of Pottstown borough and those within a 10-mile radius of the borough.
Why was the Foundation Formed?
The Foundation’s purpose is to provide opportunities for our community to enthusiastically embrace a healthier lifestyle. We’re here to offer the tools and motivation for people to improve their health and well-being every day.
What is the Difference between the Foundation and Pottstown Memorial Medical Center?
There is an important difference between the medical center’s services and those provided by the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation. The Foundation focuses on preventing illness, not treating it. Like similarly dedicated organizations throughout the country, the Foundation is committed to showing area residents how they can adopt a lifestyle to become healthier, feel better and enjoy life more. Study after study has shown that a healthy lifestyle often results in a longer life with better health in old age.
The Foundation’s overall goal is to improve the health of the community by inspiring healthier living for all residents – whether young or old, active or inactive, at any level of education.
What are the Foundation’s Long-Term Goals?
As part of our strategic plan, the Foundation has established four long-term goals:
1. Reduce Behavioral Risks:
- Empower individuals to make healthier lifestyle choices by providing information, programs, and support in several areas, including: diet and exercise; drug and alcohol; mental/spiritual health and stress management.
-Reduce behavioral risks from prenatal through high school by sponsoring health education programs for children and their parents.
-Build on social networks of religious and other community organizations to support outreach programs related to health and wellness with particular interest in healthy lifestyles.
2. Improve Access to Medical Services:
-Improve access to health services by providing information to support seamless access to care.
-Strengthen existing agencies involved in distributing health care and disease prevention information.
-Support Community Health & Dental Care, especially with regard to its education and prevention programs.
-Improve access to preventive services including screenings and vaccines.
-Improve access to health services by enhancing transportation or convenience of the services.
3. Enhance Formal and Informal Supports:
-Support the infrastructure needs and organizational effectiveness of key community not-for-profit organizations that provide preventive health programs.
4. Improve Physical and Social Environment:
-Encourage physical activities in the region by improving the recreational infrastructure.
-Support efforts to improve environmental health conditions caused by local pollution sources.
-Reinforce the social strength and mutual support of family units and caregivers to address issues such as distressed teens, care for the elderly, chronically ill and homebound, domestic violence and encourage an atmosphere of individual safety and non-violence.
What Is the Foundation Doing with its Assets?
The Foundation provides grants to non-profit organizations, which use the money to develop and enhance programs that support our purpose. The Foundation’s plan is to be a permanent resource for grants well into the future.
For example, the Foundation has awarded more than $7.3 million to 182 non-profit orgranizations in the Pottstown area since its inception.
The Foundation expects to award grants totaling about $3.1 million during this fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008..
How is the Foundation Making Decisions about Grant-Making?
The Foundation is taking an outcomes-based approach to grant-making. Outcomes are things that benefit people, such as new knowledge, increased skills, a positive change in behavior or an improved condition – all measurable outcomes. Grants will also be based on a non-profit’s ability to leverage other funds or volunteers. In some cases, a need is best met by the cooperation of different non-profits. The Foundation will award grants to organizations that best use their resources, services and products to help people improve their health and well-being.
Who Works for the Foundation?
The Foundation has a six-person paid staff. David Kraybill, Executive Director; Kate Moore, Program Officer; Rose Crews, Office Coordinator; Laura DeFlavia, Controller, Nancy Mitchell, Program Assistant and Anne Roddy, Admin. A volunteer board of directors oversees the Foundation, while several committees (also composed of volunteers) determine the direction of specific programs.
Who Will Benefit from the Foundation?
Over the next few years, everyone in the tri-county region will benefit. We’re here to help everyone improve their health and well-being every day. By doing so, we will create a more dynamic and more vibrant community in which to live.
What Can I Do to Improve My Health and Wellness?
The first step to a healthier body, mind and soul is to recognize that you want to improve your situation. The second step is to educate yourself. Talk with your health care providers, read newspapers and magazines, and do research on the Internet. In fact, this web site has a wealth of information to expand your knowledge of health and wellness. Click on “My Health Library” to gain access to hundreds of articles in the Foundation’s Wellness and Nutrition libraries. You can also gauge your current health situation by clicking on “Assess My Health,”. Clicking on "Mission: Good Nutrition" and the "Fitness Guide" will give you ideas and information on taking little steps in improving your health. Establish personal goals for improving your health and wellness. Make sure the goals are challenging, yet attainable. Finally, chart progress as you strive to meet your goals. You may need to adjust your goals along the way, but the important thing is that you’re striving for improvement.
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