Sentara Healthcare today announced nearly $5 million in funding to 71 partner organizations throughout Virginia and North Carolina. These investments will directly support programs and initiatives that address social determinants of health and promote health equity by eliminating traditional barriers to health and human services.
Sentara is committed to supporting community-based health equity programs that focus on improving public health, tackling health inequities, and promoting equitable access to care in traditionally underserved communities. Sentara prioritizes funding for community partners and initiatives that align with the company’s primary focus areas: behavioral health, housing, workforce training and career development, food security, and social determinants of health.
“Hope is truly at the center of every partnership we embrace and every program we support — hope that health disparities and inequities can be addressed, that opportunities for better careers can continue to expand, that healthy food can make it to every table,” said Sherry Norquist, MSN-RN, Sentara director of community engagement and impact. “We know these hopes are high, but if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that even when hope comes in small doses, it can last a lifetime.”
These investments – part of the Sentara Healthier Communities Fund – build on Sentara’s longstanding commitment to improve the quality of life for those most in need and to create healthier communities through partnerships with community organizations and faith-based leaders.
Community partners receiving funding from Sentara include:
Shenandoah Valley
- Blue Ridge CASA for Children – Staunton, VA
- City of Harrisonburg Fire Department – Harrisonburg, VA
- Open Doors – Harrisonburg, VA
- Rockingham County – Harrisonburg, VA
- Valley Program for Aging Services – Harrisonburg, VA
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