The Obici Healthcare Foundation has announced the awarding of more than $2.2 million in grants to 21 nonprofit organizations serving Suffolk and Western Tidewater.

“The Foundation Board of Directors and staff are excited by the quality of the programs being offered by this group of grantees committed to providing care in the Foundation’s service area,” said George Y. Birdsong, foundation chairman.

The successful Round 16 grantees are listed below by organization names, award amounts, program title and program description:

• Eastern Virginia Medical School — $45,000 for EVMS Continuity of Care for Western Tidewater to provide access to basic health care to uninsured Western Tidewater Free Clinic patients by engaging medical residents, third-year medical and physician assistant students.
• HumanKind — $38,414 for the Intellectual Disability and Chronic Illness Wellness Program to provide Zuni residents with intellectual disabilities with wellness education on healthy eating, physical activity and understanding managing their chronic disease.
• Isle of Wight County Department of Social Services — $65,796 for Enroll Isle of Wight to provide uninsured children and families of Isle of Wight County with information, assistance and support outreach to enroll in Medicaid and FAMIS programs.
• Isle of Wight County Public Schools — $25,000 for Learn, Eat, Grow to teach elementary-aged school children, in an after-school food club, the importance of growing, preparing, purchasing and eating fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Paul D. Camp Community College Foundation — $22,750 for Improving Nursing Education and Career Access through the Accreditation Commission of Education in Nursing to improve health care delivery through nursing education and career access through the advancement of nursing curriculum and enhanced accreditation.
• SCM Vision Inc. — $50,000 for “It’s Life Changing” with Dr. Carletta Perry to provide viewers of the television program and the YouTube video-sharing website with information about mental health issues and connect them to follow-up services.
• Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia — $75,000 for the Medication and Care Access Resource Program to provide low-income seniors and persons with disabilities in Western Tidewater with outreach services to apply for eligible benefits through Medicare and Medicaid.
• Sentara Obici Hospital — $141,572 for Bridging the Gap in Maternal Infant Home Visiting Services to provide high-risk expectant families and new parents living of Western Tidewater with case management and home visiting support to increase infant survival rates.
• Southeastern Virginia Health System — $200,000 for the Main Street Dental Program to provide underserved residents of Suffolk and Western Tidewater with access to comprehensive oral health care services and education at reduced costs.
• Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community — $180,177 for Healthy People Healthy Suffolk for implementation of a 10-year community wellness plan that promotes active lifestyles, access to healthy foods, neighborhood engagement and a focus on moving the initiative forward under the framework of striving to make Suffolk a walkable city.
• Suffolk Public Schools — $100,000 for Strategic Health Action and Wellness Plan to provide students with resources, such as salad bars and integrating physical activity into core classes, that lead to healthy eating and active living.
• The Planning Council — $25,000 for Farm to Childcare Western Tidewater to develop a plan to explore ways to bring fresh fruits and vegetables into childcare programs in Western Tidewater by using a Farm to Childcare model.
• The Up Center — $88,326 for the Western Tidewater Training and Behavioral Health Program to provide individuals and families with trauma informed care and counseling services.
• United Way of South Hampton Roads — $109,102 for Learning and Enrichment for Academic Progress to provide elementary-age Suffolk children participating in 2015 summer school programs with access to oral and behavior health services and improve their health.
• Virginia Legal Aid Society — $25,000 for an automated telephone triage and intake phone system to provide clients with more efficient services.
• Virginia Repertory Theatre — $15,000 to develop an elementary school-aged play to both educate and entertain children with a solid message for obesity prevention.
• Voices for Kids CASA Program — $25,000 for Expanding Advocacy for Children with Medical and Mental Health Needs to provide abused and neglected children of Suffolk with access to medical, dental and mental health services through court-appointed special advocate volunteer program.
• VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads — $30,000 for its Service Enterprise Initiative to engage three nonprofit organizations in a one-year program to increased effectiveness and efficiencies in their volunteer operations.
• Western Tidewater Community Services Board — $24,064 to provide residents of Western Tidewater with mental health telemedicine crisis services support that will connect them to the appropriate community program and improve the time it takes to connect to a provider.
• Western Tidewater Community Services Board — $123,770 for Whole Health Action Management to provide the seriously mentally ill population in Western Tidewater with trained peer providers who will educate, monitor and assist with their chronic disease management to individuals enrolled.
• Western Tidewater Community Services Board — $357,859 for Shared Psychiatric Services to provide uninsured and underinsured adults with access to community-based psychiatric services for behavioral health care that is necessary in order to maintain their stability in the community.
• Western Tidewater Community Services Board — $145,648 for Mobile Crisis Outreach to provide Western Tidewater residents with integrated outpatient counseling by trained clinical staff at local shelters, community health centers and clinics.
• Western Tidewater Health District — $140,422 for the Nurse Family Partnership Program to improve the reduction of undesirable birth outcomes among first-time pregnant mothers through education, nurse case management, home visitation and transportation assistance.
• YMCA of South Hampton Roads — $74,475 for the Diabetes Prevention Program to help pre-diabetics prevent or delay the onset of the disease through a one-year education program, increased physical activity and long-term behavior change.

“Grants made by the Foundation continue Amedeo Obici’s legacy of improving the health status of people living in the service area,” said Gina Pitrone, foundation executive director.  “Mr. Obici, the founder of Planters Peanuts, was successful in business and passionate about helping the people in Western Tidewater and Gates County, N.C.”

The Obici Healthcare Foundation was created in 2006 with assets established through the generosity of Amedeo Obici and funds from the merger of Louise Obici Memorial Hospital and Sentara Healthcare. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $33 million in grant funding.