Happy Holidays From The Harvest Foundation Family!

Spreading joy all year long

From the desk of Harvest Foundation President Kate Keller

As they say, this is the most wonderful time of the year, and for many of us, it couldn’t be truer. It’s a time of year to be with your family and friends and to enjoy great food and laughter and to make memories that build a lifetime. We all know that this isn’t true for everyone in our community.

 

Last week, we highlighted data from our MHC Health Equity Report. The Report provides health and community data at the census tract level, so we know more clearly how each neighborhood is thriving or struggling.  

If you missed the social media posts, here are a couple highlights.  

• We have two next-door neighborhoods that have a 12-year difference in their life expectancies.
• The median income of the longest-living neighborhood is double of the shortest-living neighborhood.
• We have two neighborhoods where over 50% of people are obese, 25% have diabetes, and 25% smoke.
• Both of those neighborhoods struggle with poverty, as one has over 90% of the households and 100% of children living in poverty and the other has 25% of households and 50% of children living in poverty.
• 40% of our rental housing community-wide is substandard and in one neighborhood it’s 66%. 
  
  

The reason to look at this data at the neighborhood level is so that our community understands where the real challenges are and can target policies and programs to better serve all residents of MHC.  

While this data may feel like it brings down the spirit of the season, what it actually does is bring light to many of our community’s invisible populations. With this light, we can plan to do better in 2024 and spread the joy of the season throughout the whole community all year long.  

Martinsville Bulletin: Cops and kids event largest ever

The Harvest Youth Board provided a $3,000 grant to support this year's program

by Bill Wyatt

December 12, 2023

 

The annual Santa, Cops & Kids event was held Saturday morning at Walmart in Martinsville with a record number of children participating.

For several years, the region’s law enforcement officers and deputies have come together each December to help children purchase gifts for Christmas. With the dissolution of the local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police, the officers of the Martinsville Police Department made sure the program didn’t falter.

Under the leadership of Lt. Ben Peters, officers secured grants from the Harvest Foundation Youth Board, Woodmen Life, and Walmart. Despite the increased number of applications, the officers were determined that no child would be left without support.

“Out of about $13,000 that was required to meet the need this year, we were about $4,000 short,” said Martinsville Police Chief Rob Fincher. “That’s when our officers started rallying the community, raising additional funds among family and friends, and finally the officers started sponsoring kids themselves. It was quite heartwarming to watch.”

Harvest Youth Board members Destiny Walker (from left), Camille Underwood and Jimmy Dong are pictured with Santa during this year's Cops and Kids event.

Cardinal News adds health care reporter

The Harvest Foundation was one of seven regional funders to support the position

by Cardinal Staff

December 6, 2023

 

Cardinal News has added its eighth staff writer, health care reporter Emily Schabacker.

Schabacker served as the only health care reporter in the state of Montana for more than two years, contributing to her hometown newspaper, The Billings Gazette. She garnered statewide recognition for her coverage, while also earning a reporting fellowship with the National Press Foundation. This fellowship addressed issues of aging and the long-term care crisis in America. 

Schabacker’s career in journalism commenced at a weekly newspaper at a rural mining community in Montana. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Montana.

Cardinal was able to add the health care beat thanks to funding from seven different sources: Virginia Funders Network members the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, Danville Regional Foundation, the PATH Foundation, The Harvest Foundation and Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia. Ballad Health and Carilion Clinic are also supporting this initiative.

Getting Ahead!

 

Enrollment is open for the upcoming Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin'-By-World workshop, sponsored by the United Way of Henry County & Martinsville. 

 

Classes begin on January 16, 2024!  

 

For additional information, contact Brandy Lawless at (276) 403-5868 or brandy@unitedwayofhcm.org. 

NPO Connect: Introduction to Grant Proposal Writing — Martinsville

 

This one-day workshop will cover the basics of grant proposal writing and give you the knowledge that can help you secure the funding you need. This course is intended for those who are new to grant proposal writing or those with some experience who would like a refresher. We will discuss how to research potential funders, design a grant program that fits your funders’ interests, and craft a persuasive and thorough grant proposal.

 

Topics covered include:

• Misconceptions about grant proposals
• Understanding what funders want
• Steps before beginning to write:
  • Knowing the organization and its funding needs
  • Identifying and researching funding organizations
  • Typical components of a grant proposal
  • Importance of supporting data and how to craft an effective need statement
• Avoiding the most common reasons for rejection
• Helpful resources
• Q&A

 

WHEN:  January 11, 2024

WHERE: New College Institute, Martinsville, Virginia. Room 207

 

COST: $25

 

CONTACT: carly@cfwesternva.org 

There's always something fun to do in

Martinsville-Henry County.  

Check out VisitMartinsville to find your next adventure in MHC.

Make an impact in your community. Share your HOPE. 

We welcome your voice and ideas at The Harvest Foundation.

 

Our general responsive grants cycle is open year-round with consideration from our Board of Directors once a quarter. Our PUP Small Grants Program is an open process with decisions made in less than six weeks. Project Hope grants support small, grassroots projects with immediate impact. 

 

Give our office a call to schedule an appointment with a program officer.

About The Harvest Foundation:
The Harvest Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 2002 by the sale of Memorial Hospital. In partnership with the diverse people and organizations that call MHC home, we serve as a long-term catalyst, advocate, and investor to make our community a welcoming place where all can thrive. Our vision is a community where everyone shares in the promise of an MHC that is healthy, prosperous, and vibrant. To date, the foundation has invested more than $158 million in grant dollars back into the community and has an annual grants budget of roughly $10-12 million. To find out more about Harvest, visit www.theharvestfoundation.org.

Discover Harvest — Add us to your address book to get the latest news from The Harvest Foundation delivered to your inbox. 

www.theharvestfoundation.org | (276) 632-3329

134 E. Church St.  | P.O. Box 5183

Martinsville, VA 24115

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134 E. Church St. P.O. Box 5183 | Martinsville, VA 24115 US

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