SENTARA COMMUNITY INVESTMENT IN 2021
June 22, 2022
CONTACT
Alyssa Pacheco
Brand Engagement Consultant
axpache1@sentara.com
SENTARA COMMUNITY INVESTMENT IN 2021
Harrisonburg, VA – Sentara RMH Medical Center is pleased to announce grants totaling more than
$1,200,000 have been awarded to programs, foundations, and groups within the community in its 2021 grant
cycle. In all, ten organizations focusing on the health and wellness of area residents were honored in this
community.
The grants are part of Sentara Healthcare's commitment to strengthening communities through its "Sentara
Cares" program. Sentara Cares focuses on advancing health equity and ensuring all members of the
communities we serve have access to the resources they need to live their healthiest and most fulfilling lives.
While Sentara RMH Medical Center provided $33,875,402 in uncompensated care and $616,085 in unfunded
teaching costs in 2021, a number of these grants are unique as team members were able to weigh in on where
some funds would be spent.
"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to implement a Sentara employee-led fund, allowing team members to
voice how funds are distributed among charitable organizations to meet the needs of our community further,"
explains Catherine Hughes, vice president of operations for Sentara RMH Medical Center.
Additionally, members of the RMH Foundation Board of Directors participated in a panel to select which local
organizations would receive funding from the Sentara Healthier Communities Fund to positively impact social
determinants of health and improve the health and well-being of community members beyond traditional
healthcare services in the Shenandoah Valley.
This means, in addition to the traditional grant application process, charitable organizations that hold a special
place in team members' hearts received an unrestricted grant. Those grants are denoted by an "*" in the list
below.
• Blue Ridge Area Food Bank: $65,000 *
• Blue Ridge Free Clinic: $150,000
• Blue Ridge Free Clinic: $55,000 *
• Boys & Girls Club-Harrisonburg: $15,000 *
• Church World Service Harrisonburg: $200,000
• First Step: $35,000 *
• Healthy Community Health Centers: $400,000
• Open Doors: $15,000 *
• Strength In Peers: $200,000
• United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County: $50,000
• Valley Program for Aging Services: $15,000 *
Each community Sentara serves is unique, and in order to drive lasting outcomes for the Shenandoah Valley
and the other communities Sentara serves, funds such as the Sentara Healthier Communities Fund work to elevate the important missions and work of partner community organizations. “Sentara and the RMH Foundation have consistently supported local nonprofits like HCHC, Strength in Peers, Blue Ridge Free Clinic, and Church World Service,” adds Cory Davies, RMH Foundation executive director. “Partnerships are essential for increasing access to healthcare and addressing health disparities throughout our region.” “We went into 2021, as we do every year, with our ears and our hearts open,” said Sherry Norquist, director of community engagement and impact at Sentara. “These initiatives are the result of us listening to what our communities are saying and using our capacity at Sentara to amplify the work of trusted and established organizations to improve more lives and inspire hope for the future.” Davies says, “The RMH Foundation is grateful to actively participate in the direction of the Sentara Healthier Communities Fund and how it benefits our backyard.” To learn more about the Sentara Cares program, visit sentaracares.com. About Sentara Sentara Healthcare celebrates more than 130 years in pursuit of its mission – “we improve health every day.” Named to IBM Watson Health’s “Top 15 Health Systems” in 2018 and 2021, Sentara is an integrated, not-for-profit system of 12 hospitals in Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina, including a Level I trauma center, the Sentara Heart Hospital and the Sentara Healthcare Cardiovascular Research Institute, the Sentara Brock Cancer Center and the accredited Sentara Cancer Network, two orthopedic hospitals, and the Sentara Neurosciences Institute. The Sentara family also includes four medical groups, Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance and ground medical transport, home care and hospice, ambulatory outpatient campuses, advanced imaging and diagnostic centers, a clinically integrated network, the Sentara College of Health Sciences and the Optima Health Plan and Virginia Premier Health Plan serving 858,000 members in Virginia, North Carolina and Ohio. With nearly 30,000 employees and ranked one of Forbes “America’s Best Employers” in 2018, Sentara is strategically focused on clinical quality and safety, innovation and creating an extraordinary health care experience for our patients and members.
Alyssa Pacheco
Brand Engagement Consultant
axpache1@sentara.com
SENTARA COMMUNITY INVESTMENT IN 2021
Harrisonburg, VA – Sentara RMH Medical Center is pleased to announce grants totaling more than
$1,200,000 have been awarded to programs, foundations, and groups within the community in its 2021 grant
cycle. In all, ten organizations focusing on the health and wellness of area residents were honored in this
community.
The grants are part of Sentara Healthcare's commitment to strengthening communities through its "Sentara
Cares" program. Sentara Cares focuses on advancing health equity and ensuring all members of the
communities we serve have access to the resources they need to live their healthiest and most fulfilling lives.
While Sentara RMH Medical Center provided $33,875,402 in uncompensated care and $616,085 in unfunded
teaching costs in 2021, a number of these grants are unique as team members were able to weigh in on where
some funds would be spent.
"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to implement a Sentara employee-led fund, allowing team members to
voice how funds are distributed among charitable organizations to meet the needs of our community further,"
explains Catherine Hughes, vice president of operations for Sentara RMH Medical Center.
Additionally, members of the RMH Foundation Board of Directors participated in a panel to select which local
organizations would receive funding from the Sentara Healthier Communities Fund to positively impact social
determinants of health and improve the health and well-being of community members beyond traditional
healthcare services in the Shenandoah Valley.
This means, in addition to the traditional grant application process, charitable organizations that hold a special
place in team members' hearts received an unrestricted grant. Those grants are denoted by an "*" in the list
below.
• Blue Ridge Area Food Bank: $65,000 *
• Blue Ridge Free Clinic: $150,000
• Blue Ridge Free Clinic: $55,000 *
• Boys & Girls Club-Harrisonburg: $15,000 *
• Church World Service Harrisonburg: $200,000
• First Step: $35,000 *
• Healthy Community Health Centers: $400,000
• Open Doors: $15,000 *
• Strength In Peers: $200,000
• United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County: $50,000
• Valley Program for Aging Services: $15,000 *
Each community Sentara serves is unique, and in order to drive lasting outcomes for the Shenandoah Valley
and the other communities Sentara serves, funds such as the Sentara Healthier Communities Fund work to elevate the important missions and work of partner community organizations. “Sentara and the RMH Foundation have consistently supported local nonprofits like HCHC, Strength in Peers, Blue Ridge Free Clinic, and Church World Service,” adds Cory Davies, RMH Foundation executive director. “Partnerships are essential for increasing access to healthcare and addressing health disparities throughout our region.” “We went into 2021, as we do every year, with our ears and our hearts open,” said Sherry Norquist, director of community engagement and impact at Sentara. “These initiatives are the result of us listening to what our communities are saying and using our capacity at Sentara to amplify the work of trusted and established organizations to improve more lives and inspire hope for the future.” Davies says, “The RMH Foundation is grateful to actively participate in the direction of the Sentara Healthier Communities Fund and how it benefits our backyard.” To learn more about the Sentara Cares program, visit sentaracares.com. About Sentara Sentara Healthcare celebrates more than 130 years in pursuit of its mission – “we improve health every day.” Named to IBM Watson Health’s “Top 15 Health Systems” in 2018 and 2021, Sentara is an integrated, not-for-profit system of 12 hospitals in Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina, including a Level I trauma center, the Sentara Heart Hospital and the Sentara Healthcare Cardiovascular Research Institute, the Sentara Brock Cancer Center and the accredited Sentara Cancer Network, two orthopedic hospitals, and the Sentara Neurosciences Institute. The Sentara family also includes four medical groups, Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance and ground medical transport, home care and hospice, ambulatory outpatient campuses, advanced imaging and diagnostic centers, a clinically integrated network, the Sentara College of Health Sciences and the Optima Health Plan and Virginia Premier Health Plan serving 858,000 members in Virginia, North Carolina and Ohio. With nearly 30,000 employees and ranked one of Forbes “America’s Best Employers” in 2018, Sentara is strategically focused on clinical quality and safety, innovation and creating an extraordinary health care experience for our patients and members.
