Healthcare Georgia Foundation has announced grants of $770,000 to 11 statewide Community Health Partnerships for Phase I of The Two Georgias Initiative, the Foundation’s multi-year, place-based grantmaking program designed to expand access to quality healthcare and achieve greater health equity among rural Georgians. Each rural partnership will develop Community Health Improvement Plans during the next 12 months for implementation in 2018 with increased funding.

“No one should be denied access to quality healthcare because of their zip code or place of residence,” said Foundation President Gary D. Nelson, PhD. “We believe this Initiative provides our rural residents with the opportunity to benefit from the leadership of these 11 rural collaboratives as they craft innovative solutions to eliminate health disparities and promote economic development in their communities.”

The Foundation hopes its significant financial investment will accelerate the impact of the collaboratives’ collective efforts. Each of the Community Health Partnerships stands to benefit from more than half a million dollars in funding and technical resources through the Initiative to support their work over the next several years, Nelson added.

Healthcare Georgia Foundation has funded the following 11 lead organizations which represent

 The Two Georgias Initiative’s Community Health Partnerships:

•  Appling County Health Department (Appling County)
•  Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer Coalition (Chattooga County)
•  Community Helping Place (Lumpkin County)
•  Cook County Family Connection (Cook County)
•  Elbert Memorial Hospital Foundation (Elbert County)
•  Horizons Community Solutions (Early County)
•  Memorial Hospital and Manor Foundation (Decatur County)
•  North Central Health District (Hancock County)
•  Tanner Medical Center (Haralson County)
•  Spring Creek Health Cooperative (Miller County)

Southwest Georgia

United (Clay County)

The Foundation introduced The Two Georgias Initiative at five regional community forums in Waycross, Thomasville, Perry, Thomson, and Rome in October 2016. Award recipients will also receive technical support valued at an estimated $2 million for their Two Georgias Initiative Community Health Partnerships.

About Healthcare Georgia Foundation

Healthcare Georgia Foundation is a statewide, private independent foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to advance the health of all Georgians and to expand access to affordable, quality healthcare for underserved individuals and communities. Through its strategic grantmaking, Healthcare Georgia Foundation supports organizations that drive positive change, promotes programs that improve health and healthcare among underserved individuals and communities, and connects people, partners and resources across Georgia. For more information, please visit the Foundation online at www.healthcaregeorgia.org.