The Board Designated grantmaking avenue enables The Health Foundation to support strategic opportunities that do not fit the guidelines for either the Activation Fund or the Synergy Initiative. Following are some highlights of recent grant recipients:

In 2024, the Southbridge Public Schools received a $55,000 grant aimed to increase access to essential vision services in Southbridge, a town that experiences significant barriers to access to health care, vision services, and more. The Southbridge Public Schools brought mobile vision services to all schools to provide comprehensive eye exams and eyeglasses to students at no cost and raise awareness of the gaps in access to stimulate longer-term solutions.

◊Vision for Southbridge is providing free eye exams and glasses
Spectrum News 1, May 13, 2024

In 2023, UMass Memorial Health received a $118,824 grant in response to federal changes to requirements for opioid use disorder (OUD) prescriber training and opioid overdoses in the region. The project aimed to increase the number of prescribers incorporating OUD treatment into primary care practices to expand access, normalize treatment, and reduce stigma. It included free trainings for physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners regardless of clinical affiliation and the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model of bringing remote expert care to clinicians. The Reliant Foundation and RIZE Massachusetts co-funded the project.

◊The Health Foundation and partners announce funding for UMass OUD project
Grantmakers in Health, December 5, 2023

In anticipation of the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency and widespread redetermination of MassHealth members, Health Law Advocates received a $100,000 grant in 2022 to provide outreach, training, and policy advocacy to mitigate potential negative impacts including incorrect loss of coverage and medical debt. During the grant period, Health Law Advocates provided legal assistance to 360 clients, and advocacy efforts resulted in changes in policies and practices at MassHealth during the redetermination period.

In 2022, the Yes for a Better Worcester campaign received a $26,000 grant to secure counsel and develop materials to build support among community leaders and voters to adopt the Community Preservation Act (CPA) in Worcester via a ballot question. The CPA was adopted by 187 communities who were eligible for matching funds from the state to invest in open space and recreation, historic preservation, and community housing. The ballot question passed, enabling the city to create a dedicated trust fund expected to distribute $3-4 million annually for local projects.

In 2021, Ascentria Care Alliance received a $50,000 grant to increase the capacity of their Immigration Legal Assistance Program (ILAP) to support Afghan evacuees evacuated and resettled in the United States, including in Central Massachusetts. Many evacuees were being granted entry as humanitarian parolees, a designation without the same benefits available to refugees.  ILAP assisted over four hundred and fifty people with their immigration legal service needs including asylum applications, visas for those who worked closely with US military service members, and employment authorization documents.

In 2007 and from 2012-2015, The Children’s Mental Health Campaign (CMHC) received $100,000 to advocate for policy, systems, and practice solutions ensuring all children in Massachusetts have access to resources to prevent, diagnose, and treat children’s behavioral health issues in a timely, effective, and compassionate way. CMHC is led by the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Children’s Hospital Boston, the Parent Advocacy League, Health Law Advocates, and Health Care For All. 

For retiring directors who have served as chairperson of the Board, The Health Foundation may award an unrestricted grant of $30,000 for a Janice B. Yost Chairperson Recognition Award, named in honor of The Health Foundation’s founding president and chief executive officer. Following is a list of grant recipients in recent years:

2022 – Franklin Food Pantry (Saba)
2022 – Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts (Saba)
2022 – Riverside Community Care (Saba)

For retiring directors, The Health Foundation may award an unrestricted grant of $20,000 for a Marilyn E. Plue Director Recognition Award, named in honor of Mrs. Plue’s service as the first Secretary. Following is a list of grant recipients in recent years:

2021 – Open Sky Community Services (Walsh)
2021 – UMass Medical School Foundation (Walsh)
2019 – City to Saddle (Tripp)
2019 – Abby’s House (Hylton)
2017 – Heywood Hospital, The Quabbin Retreat (Mutchler)
2017 – GVNA HealthCare (Mutchler)
2017 – Boys & Girls Club Worcester, Plumley Village Clubhouse (Himmelstein)
2017 – Community Healthlink (Himmelstein)

The Health Foundation may award an unrestricted grant of $5,000 for a Community Member Recognition Award for retiring community members (non-Board members). Following is a list of grant recipients in recent years:

2023 – The Mustard Seed (Alden)
2023 – Pernet Family Health Service (Dooley)
2023 – Tri-Valley, Inc. (Perry)
2023 – Veteran’s Inc. (Hillis)
2023 – Why Me (DelSignore)
2021 – Dudley Conservation Land Trust (Kirkland)
2020 – Care Central VNA & Hospice (Fluet)
2019 – Community Legal Aid (Ferguson)
2019 – Boys & Girls Club of Worcester (Poti)
2019 – AIDS Project Worcester (Averbach)