23 grants awarded by St. Vincent Community Healthcare Fund

The St. Vincent Community Healthcare Fund has awarded 23 grants totaling $68,500. This is the 25th year that the grants have been awarded since its establishment in June 1998.
            The fund is overseen by the Diocese of Worcester. Since it began awarding grants in 1999, it has distributed more than $1.32 million for a variety of uses, including free health programs, mental health and substance abuse counseling, nursing care and medication for homeless families and residents of shelters.
            According to Bishop McManus, “It is gratifying to see that we have continued the mission of the St. Vincent Development Foundation which raised the initial funds to provide for medical and healthcare assistance in the community in keeping with the Catholic mission of the hospital’s founders, the Sisters of Providence.”
            This year’s recipients include Dismas House, assisting formerly incarcerated individuals with healthcare needs; Clear Path for Veterans New England for mental health needs; Pastoral Counseling Centers of Massachusetts with mental health counseling; St. Luke’s Guesthouse serving healthcare needs of the homeless in the Southbridge area; Problem Pregnancy of Worcester Inc. with ultrasounds; VNA Care Network and Hospice for nursing and medical social work; Our Lady of the Angels School for the student health needs; and Healthcare Ministry to the Retired Priests for non-insurance covered medical expenses.
            Other recipients include St. Mary School, Shrewsbury, for CPR/AED training for teachers and staff; St. Paul Cathedral, Worcester, for elder outreach of medically related issues; North Brookfield Senior Center for medical appointment transportation assistance; Children’s Friend for pediatric grief support; McAuley Nazareth Home for Boys for medication administration assistance; Catholic Charities Worcester County for diaper and over-the-counter medication needs for low-income families; St. Peter’s Free Medical Program in Worcester for medical supplies at the community healthcare program; St. Anne’s Free Medical Program in Shrewsbury for medical supplies for underserved populations; Holy Family Academy to assist with school nursing; Manny 267 Foundation for water safety classes; Notre Dame Health Care for palliative care assistance; Visitation House for breastfeeding education for residents; Pernet Family Health Service for maternal and child health services; St. Mary Health Care to assist in procuring Rosie Vitals machines;  and St. Paul Diocesan Jr./Sr. High School to support their emotional wellness initative.
            The fund was announced in June 1998 and was started with $1.6 million that had been raised by the St. Vincent Development Foundation prior to the sale of the
St. Vincent Hospital to OrNda Healthcorp in 1996. At that time the Foundation ceased its operation. During the oversight process by the Attorney General’s Office, it was determined that the funds that had been raised by the foundation would be given to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester to support health care programs and services in the community. These funds are to be used in accordance with the original wishes of the donors and with the original mission of the Foundation, namely that it be a nonprofit organization directly benefiting residents of Worcester County in healthcare; work for the development of medical and healthcare services by supporting and strengthening the services provided by nonprofit health care providers which provide services to residents of Worcester County; provide for the needs of Worcester County residents through the purchase of medical and other health care services or supplies; and the organization and its activity for which funding is requested must conform to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church. Recipients must provide a completed evaluation of grant form to the Fund Allocations Committee at the end of the program funding.