Carrying on a community tradition

Community Health Initiative grant recipient Thrive Alabama has partnered with Huntsville Hospital to offer drive-through COVID-19 testing throughout Madison County.

Huntsville Hospital is pleased to continue providing critical support to local nonprofit agencies through our Jean Wessel Templeton Community Heath Initiative (CHI).

Since 1996, the CHI program has awarded $11.3 million in community health grants to dozens of nonprofit organizations working to keep Madison County residents healthy. This year’s recipients will share $500,000.

Many nonprofit agencies operate on shoestring budgets, and CHI funding is crucial to fulfilling their missions – whether it’s free health care for the homeless or an exercise program proven to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease.

“Considering the significant challenges that have resulted from COVID-19, we are very pleased that Huntsville Hospital can offer these grants,” said Beth Richardson, co-chair of the Community Health Initiative Committee and a member of the hospital’s governing board, the Health Care Authority. “We know it’s an extremely difficult time for all notfor-profit agencies.”

Here’s a rundown of how our 2020-21 grant recipients intend to use their funding:

• ARC of Madison County – $16,500 to provide gap coverage for health needs within the disabled population.

• CASA of Madison County – $47,500 to support the Safety Net program, which allows aging and homebound seniors to age in place safely.

• Community Free Clinic – $100,000 to continue providing medical care to uninsured residents of Madison County.

• Community Free Dental Clinic – $40,000 to continue providing free dental care to low-income, uninsured adults in Madison County.

• First Stop – $10,500 to provide first aid, dental and optical needs to unsheltered and underserved individuals in Madison County.

• Free 2 Teach – $5,000 to provide area school teachers with free paper towels, facial tissue, disinfectant spray, disinfectant wipes, soap and hand sanitizer for their classrooms.

• HEALS – $72,500 to provide medical, dental and optometry care to underserved children at Huntsville schools.

• New Hope Children’s Clinic – $75,500 to provide children in southeast Madison County with access to affordable, comprehensive health care.

• Rock Steady Boxing – $27,500 to support a non-contact boxing program that has proven clinically effective in delaying the progression of Parkinson’s disease.

• Thrive Alabama – $10,000 to support an outreach program that sends medical providers to homeless organizations around Huntsville.

• Village of Promise – $10,000 to support the Infant University program for at-risk children.

• WellStone Behavioral Health – $85,000 to expand behavioral health outpatient services to clients ages 3 to 18 at local schools.