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Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation

History

In 2003 The Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation was founded.  See the key moments from the Foundation's history.

Building a Foundation


July 2003
 – The Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation founded as the result of the sale of Pottstown Memorial Medical Center to Community Health Systems

June 2004 – First Needs Assessment completed

July 2004 – First grant approved to United Way of Western Montgomery County – $50,000 challenge grant

August 20, 2004 – The Foundation received approval from Judge Ott, Montgomery County Orphan’s Court

September 2004 – Established an active grantmaking approach and identified six tactics

Fall 2004 – First round of Grants: 47 Letters of intent received = $2,411,543; 22 Grants approved = $842,645

April 2005 – The Foundation received Certificate of Merit from the National Health, Wellness & Prevention Congress

 

Moving Forward

November 1, 2005 – Moved into new location at 152 East High Street

November 2005 – First Annual Report completed, “New Beginnings – A lifetime of commitment to healthy living”

December 2005 – The Foundation and The Anderson Group captured regional public relations award

June 27, 2006 – Revised the Foundation’s Mission and Vision

August 2006 – Opening of new 1.8-mile section of Schuylkill River Trail, funded by the Foundation

October 10, 2006 – Approval of first Orphan’s Court three-year report

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2007 – Developed school collaborative group through bi-annual meetings; Partnered with other funders to create Pottstown Early Action for Kindergarten Readiness (PEAK) partnership; Initiated and developed partnership with the Nonprofit Center at LaSalle in Pottstown to support non-profit training and capacity building.

 

Setting the Pace

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January 3, 2007
– Premier airing of Mission: Good Nutrition (MGN) TV show on Pottstown Cable TV 
April 2007 – First Annual Diamond Partnership with Pottstown Memorial Medical Center 
June 2008 – Schuylkill River Trail Signage project complete
September 2008 – Grand opening of Creative Health Services (CHS), co-located with CHDC. Funding provided by the Foundation.
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October 27, 2008 – Grand opening of the Community Health & Dental Care (CHDC), co-located with CHS. Funding provided by the Foundation.

November 2008 – Foundation received the “2008 National Trails Symposium for Health Award”

December 2008 – Community Health & Dental Care permanent patient count = 140 patients

2009 – Received Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance 2009 Community Health Agency Award

April 30, 2009 – 5th Anniversary Luncheon for grantees and community leaders.

June 2009 – Annual Physical Education Conference held at Boyertown Senior High School. Evolved into the two-day Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds Institute in 2013.

July 2009 – Released second Needs Assessment

July 2009 – Changed the Foundation’s investment firm to Vanguard

 

August 28, 2009 – Approval of 2nd Orphan’s Court three-year submissionSeptember 2009 – Presentation of Phase I — Pennsylvania State University (PSU) study: “Planning and Design Strategies for Healthy Living, Parks & Recreation in the Pottstown Area” to Foundation BoardNovember 2009 – The Foundation participated in a five-year study conducted by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR); PA Outdoor Recreation Plan released2010 – Completed Phase II of Penn State University recreation study: “Preparing for Implementation: Strategies and Guidelines”January 2010 – Introduced new social media website, “Mission Healthy Living"

March 2010 – Community Health & Dental Care permanent patient count = 3,573

June 9, 2010 – Community Health & Dental Care Inc. (CHDC) received Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) approval letter

July 2010 – Transferred administration of PMMC Pension Fund to Vanguard

Fall 2010 – Introduced “Well Informed,” a new quarterly online community benefit report


Expanding Our Reach

January 2011 – Held Tri-County Health Council (TCHC) interest meeting
March 2011 – Community Health & Dental Care permanent patient count = 6,320 patients
November 2011 – Introduced “Foundations of Life” staff blog
December 2011 – Healthy Weight, Healthy Families pilot program launched

March 2012 – Community Health & Dental Care permanent patient count = 9,251 patients

August 2012 – Initial meeting for Worksite Wellness program

October 2012 – Approval of 3rd and final Orphan’s Court three-year submission

January 2013 – Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation launched a three-year mini grant program on behalf of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), for capital improvements in the parks.

March 2013 – Community Health & Dental Care permanent patient count = 11,000

August 6-7, 2013 – First annual Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds Institute (continuation of Boyertown School District PE Conference)

 

A Decade of Progress

October 2013 – Celebrated 10th Anniversary of the Foundation
2013 Launched a mini grant program with Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) for capital improvements in local parks.
2014 – DCNR awarded Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee (PMRPC) a five-year grant to hire a Regional Recreation Coordinator. Six municipalities participated in this cooperative effort to improve recreation amenities in the region.March 2014 – Pottstown School District’s PEAK (Pottstown Early Action for Kindergarten Readiness) program received a $175,000 planning grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. PEAK impacts approximately 341 three- and four-year-old students.April 2014 – Initiated “Fit for Life” Program with the Pottstown MercuryJune 2014 – Pottstown Borough awarded $1 million grant for Walk/Bike Pottstown project

June 2014 – Community Health & Dental Care permanent patient count = 15,679 patients

June 2014 – The Foundation involved with the statewide childhood obesity study; report released by the Joint State Government Commission

2014 – First annual “On Your Park, Get Set, Go!” contest

2014 – Pottstown Borough awarded $1 million grant for Walk/Bike Pottstown project.

2017 – TCN challenge grant for the Amazing Raise.

2019 – Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare and nonprofits.

2019 – Urban Land Institute (ULI) Advisory Services Panel.

2020 – Funded study on transportation alternatives & trackless tram.

2020-21 – Pandemic Response

  • Grant to Foundation for Pottstown Education for Pottstown School District Laptops
  • Town Hall Meetings: Vaccine Access for Communities of Color & Spanish-Language Town Hall
  • COVID Relief & Recovery Fund
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