The Obici Healthcare Foundation recently awarded $1.4 million in grants to 22 non-profit organizations for 25 projects throughout Western Tidewater and Gates County.

“We are committed to provide access to healthcare and to prevention of disease and illness,” said Rick Spencer, senior program officer for the foundation. “This is what we want to be able to look at and see how they do in these areas.”

Grant recipients included ACCESS AIDS, Access Partnership, ForKids, Sentara Obici Hospital, Suffolk Salvation Army Corps, Suffolk Public Schools and the YMCA of South Hampton Roads’ new regional day camp.

At the beginning of 2010, the foundation established four strategic priorities to concentrate its funding. The four areas were to improve access to basic healthcare, obesity prevention, chronic disease management and getting more people access to health insurance.

“The board deliberated extensively on narrowing our focus and looking at the needs of the community and how we can best make an impact,” Spencer said.

The foundation originally received 43 concept papers, which requested $3.1 million in grants.

After review, 29 agencies were asked to submit full applications, with requests that totaled $1.7 million.

“Grants made by the foundation continue Amedeo Obici’s legacy to provide access to medical care for all,” said Gina Pitrone, executive director. “Mr. Obici, the founder of Planters Peanuts, was successful in business and passionate about helping the people in Western Tidewater.”

The following organizations and programs received grants:

Improving access to basic health care

• ACCESS AIDS received $57,313 for its rapid HIV testing and SISTA Intervention Program.
• Access Partnership received $5,000 for its Community Health Workers Training Project and $69,458 for its Community Access to Care Program.
• Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia received $95,239 for its project life coaches: Navigating Access to Care.
• ForKids, Inc. received $66,729 for its basic health care and access to insurance for homeless families.
• Gates County Medical Center received $95,478 for its adolescent care clinic.
• Isle of Wight Christian Outreach Program received $15,500 for its Access to Basic Dental Care program.
• Sentara Healthcare received $50,000 for its Nightingale Air Ambulance service.
• Sentara Obici Hospital received $63,390 for its Healthy Families program.
• Suffolk Salvation Army Corps received $50,000 for its physical health and education building.
• The Up Center received $77,500 for its outpatient counseling services.
• Voices for Kids CASA Program received $21,500 for its Voices for Kids CASA program.

Obesity prevention

• James L. Camp Jr. Family YMCA received $25,699 for its Y-Change program.
• Luter YMCA received $56,290 for its Fit for Life program.
• Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community received $75,000 for its Healthy Moves for Suffolk program
• Suffolk Public Schools received $81,595 for its wellness program.
• YMCA of South Hampton Roads received $50,000 for a climbing tower for the new summer day camp.

Chronic disease management

• Sentara Obici Hospital received $79,653 for its Community Health Outreach Program.
• Virginia Diabetes Council received $47,715 for its Dining with Diabetes program.
• Western Tidewater Free Clinic received $74,775 for its Rx Partnership Connection.

Insure more people

• Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia received $37,921 for its Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) outreach program.
• Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia received $57,825 for its Medicare access program.
• Smart Beginnings Western Tidewater received $43,230 for its Making Healthy Connections Insuring Children program.
• Suffolk Department of Social Services received $37,290 for its Medicaid and FAMIS enrollment.
• Virginia Legal Aid Society received $75,000 for its Medicaid access project.