Health Care Grants

St. Vincent Healthcare Fund was announced in June 1998 and was started with $1.6 million which had been raised by the St. Vincent Development Foundation prior to the sale of the St. Vincent Hospital to OrNda Healthcorp in 1996. Funds raised by the Foundation were given to the diocese to support health care programs and services in the community. Grants are awarded in accordance with the original wishes of the donors and in accordance with the original mission of the Foundation, to assist nonprofit health care organizations to promote scientific, literary, educational, public health, public safety or civic purposes; to support nonprofit organizations which provide for health care needs and to provide for the needs of Worcester County residents through the purchase of health care services or supplies.

This year’s grants were as follows.

Pernet Family Health Service - Linking Mothers and Babies to Long-Term Supports - $3,000; St. Mary Health Care - Music Therapy - $1,000; Problem Pregnancy of Worcester, Inc. - Ultrasound Program - $2,000; Guild of Our Lady of Providence - Medical Services for the Uninsured - $5,000; CHANGE - Continuity of Care for Chronic Illnesses - $2,000; Dismas House - Restorative Healthcare Initiative - $2,000; CareNet Pregnancy Resource Center - Operation Ultrasound - $1,000; Alzheimer’s Association, Mass Chapter - Connecting Caregivers: Alzheimer’s Education & Outreach - $1,000; Veterans, Inc. - Preliminary Healthcare for Veterans - $2,000; Our Lady of the Angels School - Health Office - $2,000; Mary, Queen of the Rosary - Outreach - $1,250.
St. Mary Parish - Bereavement Support Program - $1,000; Harrington Memorial Hospital - Reserved Emergency Assistance Loan Program (R.E.A.L.) - $1,000; Mary, Queen of the Rosary Food Pantry - Family Wellness - $1,000; Montachusett Opportunity Council, Inc. - CARE AIDS Services Project - $1,000; Catholic Charities - Sweet Dreams - $1,000; Auburn Council on Aging - Rides for Health - $1,200; Heywood Hospital - Cultural Diversity, Outreach and Diversity - $1,000; The Worcester Guild of Catholic Medical Association - Seed Money for Start-up Costs - $500; St. Vincent Hospital Center for Women and Infants - Breast Pump Program - $1,500; St. Mary Elementary, Jr. and Sr. High - School Nurse Program - $2,000; Ministry to Retired Priests - $2,000.
Worcester Division of Elder Affairs - Podiatry Clinic - $1,500; Overlook Hospice Services - Spiritual Doula Program - $1,000; Notre Dame - Music Therapy - $1,000; VNA Care Network and Hospice - Elder Health Clinics - $1,500; St. Mary School - CPR Training & Health Clinic Supplies - $500; St. Vincent Hospital Center for Women and Infants - Infant Car Seat Program - $1,000; Catholic Charities Family Life Center - Outreach to Homebound Seniors and Disabled - $1,000; Catholic Charities Blackstone Valley - Special Health Diet Assistance - $1,000; Nazareth Home for Boys - Kids Fitness Plus Program - $1,000.
St. Stephen Elementary - Health Initiative: Nutrition & Health Living - $1,000; Office of Healing & Prevention - Safe Environment Program - $1,000; Ride With Pride, Inc. - Therapeutic Riding for Special Needs Children - $1,000; Children’s Friend, Inc. - Carriage House Grief Support Center - $1,500; Multi-Service Center - The ROSE Project for Elders - $1,000; Alternatives Unlimited, Inc. - Adaptive Equipment Solutions - $1,500; YWCA of Central Massachusetts - ENCORE Program - $1,000; St. Paul Cathedral - Elder Outreach Program - $2,000.