By Tracy Agnew/Suffolk News-Herald
tracy.agnew@suffolknewsherald.com

SUFFOLK—The Obici Healthcare Foundation announced on Tuesday the awarding of $1.8 million in grants to 20 nonprofit organizations serving residents in Suffolk, Western Tidewater and Gates County.

The organizations work in four strategic priority areas established by the foundation — improving access to basic health care, obesity prevention, chronic disease management and insuring more people.

“It’s in those areas where we feel we can have the greatest impact,” Dr. Douglas Naismith, chairman of the grants committee and member of the board of directors of the foundation, said at a breakfast Tuesday at the Hilton Garden Inn.

In its fifth year of operation, the foundation has given nearly $17 million to support 65 programs that shore up the health care system in the area. It was created in 2006 with assets from the estate of Planters Peanuts founder Amedeo Obici and funds from the merger of Louise Obici Memorial Hospital and Sentara Healthcare.

Over the years, the foundation has helped bring several programs to Suffolk and Western Tidewater that previously were not providing services here, including the UP Center, Access Partnership, Access Aids and ForKids.

“The Foundation congratulates these grantees,” said executive director Gina Pitrone. “Grants made by the Foundation continue Amedeo Obici’s legacy to provide access to medical care for all.”

Initially, 47 concept papers were submitted that requested $2 million in grants. After a review, 20 agencies were given the opportunity to write full applications.

Below is a list of some of the grantees, showing the organization, program, amount and priority area served.

Improving Access

to Basic Healthcare

■ For Kids — $33,553 for mental health assessment and treatment

■ Lions Club International District 24-D — $10,000 for PediaVision screening assessments

■ Patient Advocate Foundation — $83,655 for the Virginia Cares for the Uninsured Program

■ Peninsula Institute for Community Health (PICH) — $100,000 for “A Healthy Main Street Project: Managing Diabetes”

■ PICH — $150,000 for “A Healthy Main Street Project: Improving Dental Health”

■ Suffolk Fire and Rescue — $106,679 for pre-hospital detection and treatment of heart attack in the city of Suffolk

■ Suffolk Meals on Wheels — $104,272 to fund meal delivery to Senior Services recipients

■ Suffolk Salvation Army — $50,000 for the Physical Health and Education Building

■ Surry Area Free Clinic — $86,300 for Surry Area Free Clinic facility and programs expansion

■ Up Center — $168,228 for Trauma Informed Care

■ Western Tidewater Community Services Board — $60,941 for a day support Licensed Practical Nurse position

■ Western Tidewater Free Clinic — $250,000 for access to care

■ Western Tidewater Health District — $101,106 for Nurse-Family Partnership

Obesity Prevention

4Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters — $32,705 for the Healthy You Pediatric Weight Management Program

4Town of Smithfield — $45,550 for the Activate Smithfield wellness program

4Suffolk Family YMCA — $50,000 for the aquatic program

Chronic Disease Management

4Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) — $75,000 to expand EVMS care for Western Tidewater underserved patients

4EVMS — $184,488 for Improving Survival in Western Tidewater

Insure More People

4Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia — $100,013 for the Medication and Care Access Resource Program