For Release on June 14
Cynthia Drennan
(work) 304-424-6080
cdrennan@sistershealthfdn.org
Foundation Changes Name, Awards Grants
Parkersburg, WV -- The phrase “New Name. New Look. Same Commitment to the Mid-Ohio
Valley” is being used to communicate the Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund’s name change
to the Sisters Health Foundation. The new name was launched June 1. “We are at a very
exciting time in our organization’s history. Although we have a new name and look, we remain
as committed as ever to promoting “healthy people in healthy communities” in the Mid-Ohio
Valley. Our grantmaking, application process, and service area will all stay the same,” stated
Cynthia Drennan, Executive Director.
Drennan explained that the Foundation listened to input from key community partners over the
past year in an effort to best position the organization for the future. With guidance from their
Board of Directors, the change was made to clarify their identity, update their look, and
highlight their relationship with the Congregation of St. Joseph. “When the former St. Joseph’s
Campus of Camden Clark closed in late 2014, many wondered if our foundation was closing as
well. We want to reassure the nonprofit community that we are thriving.” Drennan stated that
with the organization’s $1 million grants budget, 86 grants have been awarded to nonprofits
this fiscal year in the eleven counties in which they fund. The foundation supports efforts that
advance oral health, healthy lifestyles, and health equity in the Mid-Ohio Valley.
A communications task force was organized to discuss the name change. “We had a series of
thoughtful discussions regarding the name change. Keeping Sisters in the name is important as
the Sisters are recognized in the community and have been for over 100 years.” Having the logo
tagline “sponsored by the Congregation of St. Joseph” maintains the St. Joseph identity and the
connection to the Sisters.
The Health part of the name was added to create more awareness about the types of projects
and organizations the foundation seeks to fund. “Since our beginning, we have always
supported a broad view of health including spiritual, emotional, physical, social, and economic
well-being, and that will continue,” Drennan stated. As a health foundation, the nonprofit
carries out the Congregation of St. Joseph’s mission and values by having a special concern for
the poor, vulnerable, or otherwise underserved in our communities.
Along with the new name and logo, the Foundation launched a new website
(www.sistershealthfdn.org) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SistersHealthFdn). “I
would like to invite the community to join us as we embark on a renewed journey to address
the health needs of people living in the Mid-Ohio Valley. By working together, our future is
bright.”
The Sisters Health Foundation’s Board of Director also approved $584,100 in grant funding at
their spring board meeting.
Twelve organizations that provide direct services--such as food and emergency assistance—
received a total of $35,500 from the Basic Needs/Direct Service small-grant program.
Catholic Charities West Virginia; Wheeling, WV -- $5000 to purchase produce and spices for
the Mobile Outreach Wellness Works food pantries in Calhoun, Ritchie, Roane and Wirt
Counties.
Good Samaritan Center; Vienna, WV -- $1300 to purchase a computer for tracking client
information, inventory and ordering from Mountaineer Food Bank.
Love and Kindness Church; Spencer, WV -- $1500 to purchase personal hygiene items for
clients in Roane and Calhoun Counties.
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio; Worthington, OH -- $3500 to purchase healthy food
for Meigs County mobile food pantry.
Marietta Community Food Pantry; Marietta, OH -- $4000 to purchase fresh eggs to be
distributed to Washington County residents.
Mineral Wells Baptist Church; Mineral Wells, WV -- $1500 to purchase healthy food for clients
in Wood and Wirt Counties.
MOV Regional Council; Parkersburg, WV -- $4000 for mileage reimbursement for Senior
Companion Volunteers in Wood, Pleasants, Ritchie and Roane Counties.
Roane County Helping Hands; Spencer, WV -- $4500 to purchase food for their clients in Roane
County.
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church; Parkersburg, WV -- $1000 to purchase nutritional food for
weekly meal for residents of Wood County.
The Hope Shop; Elizabeth, WV -- $4500 to purchase meat, vegetables and fruit for eligible
clients in Wirt County.
Torch United Methodist Church; Coolville, OH -- $3200 to purchase food for clients in Athens
County.
Voices of the Streets (Essentially Yours); Parkersburg, WV -- $1500 to purchase twin sheets and
blankets for newly-housed clients in Wood, Wirt, Jackson, and Washington Counties.
Twenty-eight organizations received support for their efforts in addressing the health needs of
their communities in one of the three priority areas of the Responsive Grant Program.
Oral Health Priority Area
West Virginia Health Right, Inc.; Charleston, WV -- $15,000 to purchase consumable dental
supplies for their dental clinic.
Health Equity Priority Area
Belmont Volunteer Fire Department; Belmont, WV -- $8,000 to purchase individual generators
and emergency power generating equipment for their training/community emergency shelter
facility.
Mid-Ohio Valley Fellowship Home; Parkersburg, WV -- $15,000 to cover client expenses
including food, clothing, medical assistance, rent, and program supplies.
North Parkersburg Baptist Church; Parkersburg, WV -- $7,000 for North Place Maternity Home
operating support.
Ohio University - Camp BOOST; Athens, OH -- $15,000 to support their three week therapeutic
day camp for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Ohio University - Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine; Athens, OH -- $20,000 patient
medication, diabetes and hypertension management supplies, and patient lab/diagnostic
expenses.
Rural Emergency Trauma Institute; Wheeling, WV -- $57,600 to purchase Infrascanners for
assessing patient brain injuries at Sistersville General, Minnie Hamilton, and Roane General
Hospitals.
West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy; Charleston, WV - $20,000 to conduct
research/analysis and mobilize stakeholders on policy issues that impact West Virginia's social
determinants of health.
West Virginia University Foundation, Inc.; Morganton, WV -- $20,000 to support WV
FOODLINK, the food pantry mapping project in our West Virginia service area.
West Virginians for Affordable Health Care; Charleston, WV -- $30,000 to conduct public
education on health insurance options, to educate policymakers on the value of Medicaid and
CHIP, and to bring a consumer voice to health system change.
Westbrook Health Services, Inc.; Parkersburg, WV - $20,000 to support the preparation of
primary care examination rooms as they pilot integration of primary and behavioral healthcare
for their clients.
Healthy Lifestyles Priority Area
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Athens County; Athens, OH -- $10,000 to purchase healthy food and
related support for the Youth in Leadership after-school program in Athens and Washington
counties.
Camden Clark Foundation; Parkersburg, WV -- $50,000 to hire a Breast Cancer Patient
Navigator.
Children's Hunger Alliance; Columbus, OH -- $10,000 for program delivery to 12 summer
feeding sites in Meigs County.
The Children's Listening Place, Inc; Parkersburg, WV --$25,000 for general operating support.
Community Food Initiatives; Athens, OH - $20,000 for resource and technical support to school
gardens in Southeast Ohio.
Live Healthy Appalachia; Athens, OH --$12,000 for the implementation and programmatic costs
of Live Healthy Kids, a classroom-based cooking, nutrition, and physical activity program.
Marietta Memorial Health Foundation; Marietta, OH -- $18,000 to purchase new and upgraded
fitness equipment for the Wellness Center at Marietta Memorial Hospital.
Meigs United Methodist Cooperative Parish; Pomeroy, OH --$8,000 to purchase kitchen
equipment to support the Mulberry Country Kitchen's weekly meals for the community.
Mountaineer Food Bank; Gassaway, WV - $39,000 for operating support.
Pleasants County Emergency Ambulance; St. Marys, WV -- $15,000 to purchase a new
monitor/defibrillator unit for an ambulance.
Ritchie County Schools; Harrisville, WV -- $5,000 to purchase hand-held radios for the
elementary schools.
Roane County Parks & Recreation; Spencer, WV -- $5,000 to purchase playground equipment
for Bessie Jones Park.
Rural Action; Athens, OH --$25,000 to expand Country Fresh Stops: Farm to School to Trimble
Schools.
St. Mary Catholic School; Marietta, OH -- $15,000 for new flooring and gym renovation.
United Way of Washington County; Marietta, OH -- $8,000 to support the 2-1-1 call center of
Washington County.
Washington-Morgan Community Action; Marietta, OH --$5,000 to enhance their summer
feeding program in New Matamoras and Beverly.
West Virginia Rural Health Association; Charleston, WV -- $4,000 to purchase technology
equipment.
In addition to their traditional grant programs, the Sisters Health Foundation often collaborates
with area foundations to support larger initiatives. Two organizations received funding this
grant cycle:
Marietta College; Marietta, OH -- $22,000 over two years to support Nonprofits LEAD.
Athens Foundation; Athens, OH --$25,000 to support Bounty on the Bricks, a capacity building
project benefitting the Southeast Ohio Food Bank network.
The Sisters Health Foundation promotes healthy and sustainable communities by providing
resources, strengthening collaborative relationships and supporting initiatives that impact
people in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Since 1996, the Sisters Health Foundation has awarded over $14
million in grants.
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