Virginia Peninsula nonprofits celebrate $3.6 million in Sentara grants
Grants fund impactful projects on health equity and medical education
More than 130 representatives from nonprofit organizations joined Sentara Health at Christopher Newport University to celebrate two years of initiatives and projects funded by Sentara grants large and small.
“I can’t thank Sentara enough,” said Professor Gwynne Brown from CNU, who works with underserved pre-health students. “Book awards from Sentara help students pay for books they can’t afford. They help students pay for MCAT prep courses and application costs to medical and dental schools. Scholarships, supported by Sentara, help students work less and study more. In this way, Sentara is helping to make dreams come true.”
More than 85 Virginia Peninsula-based organizations received $3.6 million in Sentara grants over the last two years to launch initiatives they could not otherwise afford. These include large grants, such as the ones to CNU, and microgrants up to $15,000 to small organizations with few resources.
“A bundle of sticks is unbreakable,” said Iris Lundy, Sentara’s vice president of health equity, quoting an African proverb. “We want you all to talk to each other and collaborate in ways that improve your reach and make your work more effective.”
“Our hospitals cover only 20% of the need in our communities,” she said. “We’re stronger when we work together to create healthier communities.”
In 2023, as a system, Sentara awarded more than $12 million in grants and microgrants supporting access to care, behavioral health, housing, and food security throughout Virginia and northeast North Carolina.
“I can’t thank Sentara enough,” said Professor Gwynne Brown from CNU, who works with underserved pre-health students. “Book awards from Sentara help students pay for books they can’t afford. They help students pay for MCAT prep courses and application costs to medical and dental schools. Scholarships, supported by Sentara, help students work less and study more. In this way, Sentara is helping to make dreams come true.”
More than 85 Virginia Peninsula-based organizations received $3.6 million in Sentara grants over the last two years to launch initiatives they could not otherwise afford. These include large grants, such as the ones to CNU, and microgrants up to $15,000 to small organizations with few resources.
“A bundle of sticks is unbreakable,” said Iris Lundy, Sentara’s vice president of health equity, quoting an African proverb. “We want you all to talk to each other and collaborate in ways that improve your reach and make your work more effective.”
“Our hospitals cover only 20% of the need in our communities,” she said. “We’re stronger when we work together to create healthier communities.”
In 2023, as a system, Sentara awarded more than $12 million in grants and microgrants supporting access to care, behavioral health, housing, and food security throughout Virginia and northeast North Carolina.
By: Dale Gauding