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Physicians' Impact Fund Presents Grants to Six Local Organizations
Local physicians donate $335,000 to community organizations
Charlotte, NC
Jan. 13, 2015
On Thursday, the Physicians' Impact Fund presented grants totaling $335,000 to seven local non-profit organizations. The presentation took place at the Belk House, located on the Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center campus. Grant recipients included HeartBright Foundaton,Inc, Anuvia Prevention and Recovery Center, CARE RING/Physicians Reach Out, NC MedAssist, Lake Norman Community Health Clinic, Urban Ministry Center's HousingWorks, and The Relatives, Inc.-NeighborCare.
The Physicians' Impact Fund was created by physicians and friends in the greater Charlotte region to strengthen the health of the community through comprehensive health initiatives for the underserved. Since its inception in 2010, it has raised more than $1,000,000 for area nonprofits focused on healthcare. This year's donation is more than double year's past, thanks in part to a challenge grant issued by community leaders to match up to $300,000 per year for the next five years.
"The Physicians' Impact Fund is one of the most rewarding things I've ever been involved in," said co-chair Thomas Hayes Woollen, MD, of Novant Health Hallmark Care. "Local physicians have been challenged by the Charlotte community to band together and give back, and we have risen to that challenge."
Through the power of collective giving, Physicians' Impact Fund awards high-impact grants to organizations whose missions seek to improve the health of the local community.
"Our friends in the community believe this is one of the best places they can give, because we hold our recipients accountable for every dollar they receive," said Woollen. "Grant recipients must be established in the community and must be able to make a measurable impact in the populations they serve."
The HeartBright Foundation will receive its third grant from the fund to support its comprehensive program focused on identifying and treating cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension for the underserved. First-time recipient Urban Ministry Center's HousingWorks will use their $50,000 grant to hire a benefits specialist to help the chronically homeless population in Charlotte connect to healthcare resources.
"The chronically homeless are often living with disabling mental and physical conditions and rely on indigent care, even though they may qualify for other health care coverage," said Caroline Chambre Hammock, director of the HousingWorks program at Urban Ministry Center. "We are so excited that this grant will allow us to hire a full-time specialist that will help them connect to more appropriate resources."
Novant Health Foundation Presbyterian Medical Center provides operational support for the Physicians' Impact Fund.
"Novant Health Foundation Presbyterian Medical Center is proud to support all of Charlotte physicians in their efforts to give back," said foundation Director Beth Crigler. "They are setting a great example by working across systems to achieve a common goal – making the community healthier, together."
