Health and Wellness Foundation of Pike County expands grant funding in celebration of 20th year of operation

PIKE COUNTY, Ill. — The Health and Wellness Foundation of Pike County (HWFPC) is accepting applications for its two competitive grants: the Healthy Community Grant and Health Catalyst Grant.

Commemorating 20 years of serving Pike County as a 501(c)(3) public charity whose sole mission is to advance programs and services that impactfully address Pike County’s most pressing health needs, the foundation has increased the maximum amount of each grant award by $5,000, making the maximum award for each Healthy Community Grant $12,500 and the maximum award for each Health Catalyst Grant $20,000.

In a press release, Patty McIntosh, HWFPC executive director, said, “When we began making our first grant awards in 2004, we could not have imagined the collective positive impact the foundation would make on Pike County some 20 years later, awarding just under $2 million in funding toward health-related projects. Nor could we have predicted the many changes and challenges now affecting communities, families and providers. Not only does the increase in our grant funding help commemorate our 20-year milestone but more significantly it puts additional financial resources toward meaningful projects that benefit the health and wellness of Pike County communities and families, which is at the heart of our mission.”

All not-for profit organizations or equivalents seeking to provide a service or program that benefits the health and wellness of Pike County are invited and encouraged to apply. Deadline for application submission is Aug. 31, with grant recipients awarded in October 2024.

Grant application guidelines and eligibility requirements may be obtained by emailing the foundation at ichcf@aol.com. New applicants are encouraged to set up an appointment to discuss their proposal and the application process.

The Healthy Community Grant is a competitive grant for a 12-month period for organizations providing programs or services that meaningfully impact Pike County’s most pressing health needs and disparities.

Among the areas that qualify for funding by the Health Community Grant include, but are not limited to the following priorities of concern:

• mental and behavioral health
• children and families
• substance abuse
• healthy eating and active living
• quality of life including access to food, shelter basic health care
• older adults
• prevention and wellness
• access to health services and care

Projects that are multi-year or are significant in scope should apply for the Health Catalyst Grant which funds significant projects. It may be a new or existing project spanning up to three years or a maximum of $60,000.

The Health Catalyst Grant was established to serve as a stimulus for tackling major health concerns impacting Pike County and ultimately facilitating development or expansion of health interventions. Nonprofits whose projects are transformative; sustainable and demonstrate the capacity to positively impact HWFPC’s priority health concerns, including mental health and substance abuse, children and families and food insecurity, among others are encouraged to apply.

To find out more about HWFPC or about how you can donate in support of its work, call HWFPC at 217-285-6080.