The Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center Foundation distributed over $780,000 in grant funding in 2023 to the hospital and non-profit organizations throughout Wilkes County.
Funding highlights include two Health Impact grants of $150,000 each, distributed to the Town of North Wilkesboro to help rebuild the Smoot Park Pool and to the Wilkes Public Health Dental Clinic to purchase new equipment. A third Health Impact grant was awarded to Wilkes Recovery Revolution for just over $217,000 to integrate peer support specialists into the emergency department at Wilkes Medical Center.
Additional projects funded by the Wilkes Medical Center Foundation include purchasing new AEDs for public spaces, assisting with Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes’ Project Backpack for school-aged students, funding playground equipment at a local elementary school, purchasing equipment at RPB Adult Day Health Care Center, providing staff training at Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center of Wilkes and support for the Wilkes County Health Department.
The foundation also supports the needs of Wilkes Medical Center. In 2023, over $123,000 in funding was used to purchase new patient recliners, support nursing education programs and provide Love Life bags to cancer patients at the hospital.
“At Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center, our mission is to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing – for all,” said Chad Brown, president of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s south and west areas, which includes Wilkes Medical Center. “As the largest provider of uncompensated care in the region, we take seriously our responsibility to care for all, and we are proud to play a significant role in contributing to the health of our community.”
The mission of the Wilkes Medical Center Foundation is to provide financial resources to enhance the delivery of quality health care, thereby promoting improved health, individually and collectively, throughout Wilkes County and the surrounding region.
“The funding decisions that have been made over the last year address obesity, substance abuse and access to care from multiple approaches,” said Holly Minton, Wilkes Medical Center Foundation grant committee chair. “The grants committee hopes that the funding provided by the foundation will create lasting improvements in our community's health care infrastructure through both preventative and curative approaches.”
The foundation considers community investments that enhance the delivery of quality health care and promote improved health care throughout the region, with a special interest in providing financial support for community health and wellness programs that align with the Wilkes County Community Health Needs Assessment.
Grants are made annually to qualified non-profit organizations that serve clients within Wilkes County, the geographic areas that Wilkes Medical Center serves and/or areas of anticipated growth.
The foundation’s 2024 grant cycle will be open to accept applications for submission later this Spring. For more information, please visit www.wakehealth.edu/locations/hospitals/wilkes-medical-center/wilkes-medical-center-foundation.
Media contact: Michelle Caldwell, miccaldw@wakehealth.edu