Foundation to Award Nearly $2.2 Million in Grants to Community Organizations and Programs

January 4, 2008, Pottstown, PA – In its fall round of grants, the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation is pleased to announce that they are investing nearly $2.2 million in the local community to enhance the health and wellness of area residents through its grant program. “Once again we had outstanding grants submitted that were focused, well written and creative,” states Dave Kraybill, Executive Director, Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation. “The Foundation is pleased that so many local organizations actually formulate, flesh out and execute programs that truly enhance the community’s health and quality of life.”

The Foundation provides grants to non-profit health and wellness providers, who use the money to develop and enhance programs that support their purpose. “Since grants are our cornerstone, we take an outcomes-based approach to grant-making,” comments Kraybill. “Outcomes are things that benefit people, such as new knowledge, increased skills, a positive change in attitude or values, or a positive change in behavior or an improved condition. We award grants to area organizations which best use their resources, services and products to help people improve their health and well-being.”

The Foundation distributes grants according to its four long-term goals:
• Goal 1: Reduce Behavioral Risks
• Goal 2: Improve Access to Medical Services
• Goal 3: Enhance Formal and Informal Supports
• Goal 4: Improve Physical and Social Environment

In support of the “Reduce Behavioral Risks” goal, the Foundation is donating $519,067 to the following 14 community organizations and programs:
1. Baptist Children’s Services – BCS YES!, a program for at-risk teen girls.
2. Boyertown Area School District – T.A.P.E. (Technology-based Assessment in Physical Education) for BEARS Initiative, physical fitness programs for teens, teachers and community members.
3. Child, Home & Community – Adolescent, prenatal, parenting and support programs.

4. Fellowship Farm – Healthy options and life style programs in partnership with YWCA Tri-County Area for individuals, families and communities.
5. Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems – Life skill program for vulnerable adults and their children.
6. Phoenixville Area YMCA – Movement and exercise classes for challenged children.
7. Phoenixville Area YMCA – Youth Training Program.
8. Pottsgrove School District – S.N.A.P. (Student Needs Assistance Program) Team.
9. Pottstown Area Seniors Center – Enhancing Prime Time Health.
10. Pottstown Family Center – Multi-Year Grant-Color Me Healthy.
11. Pottstown School District – Implementation of C.A.T.C.H. (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) Club.
12. Pottstown School District – Safe Schools/Healthy Students (year two).
13. The Triskeles Foundation – Food for Thought Program with Spring City Community.
14. YMCA of Pottstown – Childcare Center Healthy Snack Program.

In support of the “Improve Access to Medical Services” goal, the Foundation is donating $913,486 to the following four community organizations and programs:
1. Creative Health Services – Multi-Year Grant-Operational support for co-location of primary and behavioral healthcare.
2. Montgomery County Community College – Dental Sealant Day
3. Montgomery County Department of Health – Breast cancer education and screening project for uninsured and underinsured women at Pottstown Memorial Medial Center.
4. Visiting Nurse Association – Multi-Year Grant-Montgomery County Personal Navigator Program with expanded legal support services

In support of the “Enhance Formal and Informal Supports” goal, the Foundation is donating $283,070 to the following six community organizations and programs:
1. Boyertown Area Creative Housing – Transitional Housing/Client Support.
2. Mental Health Association of Southeastern PA – Chester County Compeer, Inc. Matches trained volunteers with adult consumers of mental health services in the Pottstown area.
3. Montgomery County Community College – Service learning to build the capacity of community-based non-profit organizations.
4. Montgomery County Foundation, Inc. – Web based resource directory.
5. The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities – Multi-Year Grant-Capacity Building Initiative.
6. Volunteer Home Care, Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries – Volunteer home care team outreach and visibility.

In support of the “Improve Physical and Social Environment” goal, the Foundation is donating $477,500 to the following five community organizations and programs:
1. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish – Matching Grant for Gymnasium Building Project.
2. Camphill Village Kimberton Hills – Aging in Community Program.
3. Pottstown Area Police Athletic League – Capacity Building Support.
4. Pottstown Parks & Recreation – Open Space Funding for Parks, Trails and Grounds Improvements, and Playground Improvements to Seven Small Parks.
5. Pottstown School District – Planning Process for School Recreation Facilities Project, Master Site Plan.

The Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation’s mission is to enhance the health and wellness of area residents by providing education, funding and programs that motivate people to adopt healthy lifestyles. For more information on the Foundation as well as grant information, visit www.pottstownfoundation.org. For motivating information and delicious healthy recipes, click on Mission Good Nutrition, which is their 30-minute television program promoting healthy living and lifestyles that airs on Channel 28 PCTV every Thursday at 7:00 p.m.