Cameron Foundation awards $1.13M in local grants

Largest funds aid health care, economic development in Petersburg area

Published June 30, 2020 by Sydney Lake

Petersburg-based The Cameron Foundation announced Tuesday it has awarded $1.13 million in grants to 24 nonprofit organizations in Central Virginia during its first round of funding for 2020.

The two largest economic development grants went to Virginia’s Gateway Region and Virginia Local Initiatives Support Corp. (LISC). Virginia’s Gateway Region was awarded $136,063 for general operating support and Virginia LISC was awarded $95,000 to expand Petersburg economic opportunity.

The largest grant of $164,757 was made to Central Virginia Health Services, a community health center that provides services to low-income and uninsured patrons. The health center is located approximately 11 miles from the Southside Regional Medical Center, from where some individuals are referred.

Central Virginia Health Services offers primary medical, dental, behavioral health, health education, care coordination and pharmacy services. The Cameron Foundation funding will support dental services.

“Our work with Central Virginia Health Services addresses many core needs for residents in our community,” Pam Martin Comstock, board chair for The Cameron Foundation, said in a statement. “And, by providing services on a sliding fee scale, the organization reduces barriers that keep people from obtaining this care.”

The Petersburg Health Department was also awarded $112,500 for its HealthSpace Teen Clinic, which offers reproductive health services for teens including prevention of early pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and poor reproductive health.

“As a health legacy foundation, we are mindful of the importance of supporting these services, especially with our nonprofit partners who focus their work on reducing health disparities,” Jeffrey W. Geisz, The Cameron Foundation grants committee chair, said in a statement.

The full list of June grant recipients includes:

Alamo Recovery Center Inc. – $22,500
Art on Wheels – $12,600
Better Housing Coalition – $50,000
Central Virginia Health Services Inc. – $164,757
Chesterfield CASA Inc. – $16,200
Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Alliance for Social Ministry – $20,250
Colonial Heights Volunteer Fire and Emergency Medical Services – $17,216
Communities In Schools of Petersburg – $70,250
Feed More Inc. – $49,690
FLITE Foundation – $31,590
Greater Richmond Fit4Kids Inc. – $40,500
Hopewell Food Pantry – $31,500
Jessica Ann Moore Foundation – $11,680
Lamb Center for Arts and Healing – $45,000
NAMI Central Virginia – $26,615
Petersburg Health Department – $112,500
Petersburg Symphony Orchestra – $20,000
Prince George County Fire & Emergency Medical Services – $30,566
River Street Education Inc. – $7,310
Smart Beginnings Southeast – $39,950
Virginia LISC – $95,000
Virginia’s Gateway Region Inc. – $136,063
Waverly Rescue Squad Inc. – $21,470
YMCA of Greater Richmond – $40,500

“This grant cycle includes a number of examples that reflect how the foundation is balancing its investments between direct health services and interventions in some of the social determinants of health,” The Cameron Foundation President J. Todd Graham said in a statement. “This time, Cameron’s allocation of resources to Virginia’s Gateway Region and LISC Virginia to support economic development work is essential due to the strong correlation between economic vitality and a region’s health.”

Founded in 2003, The Cameron Foundation operates two grant cycles per year. The second 2020 round will be decided in October. Since 2004, The Cameron Foundation has awarded more than $94 million to local organizations.