Jalen Campbell
On Tuesday, Feb. 10, UCF Lake Nona Hospital Community Health Fund gave $50,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations that prioritize community health at UCF Lake Nona Hospital.
The hospital, part of HCA Florida Healthcare, identifies the recipients through its Community Health Needs Assessment every three years. The recipients of this year’s grants were Healthy Start, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Libby’s Legacy and Shepherd’s Hope. Each organization received a check of $10,000.
The Healthy Start Coalition of Osceola County is recognized for focusing on early health and preventing birth complications. It works with young mothers, expecting mothers, and those who are getting prenatal and postnatal care. The funding will help the organization with staffing at different hospitals who will assess post natal risk and provide immediate referrals to home visiting and support services.
“The more families we can get into our home visiting, especially those of higher risk, the bigger impact will have on our outcomes in Osceola County,” said Kerri Stevens, Executive Director of Healthy Start.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida fights hunger by providing access to nutritious foods through monthly grocery deliveries and evidence-based nutrition education. The grant will help the organization improve maternal health and promote wellness throughout central Florida families.
Nemour’s Children’s Hospital prioritizes reducing injuries during swimming through individualized plans and weekly lessons for children with autism and developmental disabilities. The funding will expand ABA based swimming construction for children.
Libby’s Legacy Breast Cancer Foundation provides mental health support and resources for those in need. The funding will support expanding access to breast cancer screenings, diagnostic services and patient navigation for women in Orange and Osceola Counties. The program prioritizes personalized education and financial support for critical diagnostic procedures.
Shepherd’s Hope delivers quality healthcare to the uninsured and underserved people in the community. The funding will support its Heart To Heart program, which is a community cardiac wellness initiative that provides uninsured patients with cardiac wellness tips to decrease heart diseases and strokes.
Dr. Rufus Barfield, chairman of the board of directors for Healthy Start, said it is important for these organizations to receive this type of recognition because it can strengthen the community.
“When you have a major academic institution such as UCF and the College of Medicine involved, and then you bring in other nonprofits and other grassroots organizations; that’s a powerful collaboration,” said Barfield.
Wendy Brandon, chief executive officer of UCF Lake Nona Hospital, believes that the awareness this type of event can bring to these nonprofit organizations may help those in the community contribute to their efforts by volunteering or donating funds.
“They’re some of the unsung heroes that keep our community going,” said Brandon. “We’re raising awareness about the work they’re doing, so that maybe others will want to contribute and find ways to either volunteer or give money to these organizations so that they can broaden the great work that they’re already doing.
Dr. Tracy MacIntosh, Associate Dean for Access, Belonging and Community Engagement at the UCF College of Medicine, also presented community health awards to the Heart Smart Living for Older Adults led by the College of Nursing and Heart Health at the Laundromat by College of Health Professions and Sciences, College of Medicine and the College of Nursing.
These programs are led by the UCF Academic Health Sciences Center, a collaborative effort to bring the College of Health, Professions and Sciences, the College of Medicine and the College of Nursing together.
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