Reading Hospital is offering "Be Well Berks" grant funding to local community-based non-profits. This initiative is designed to simultaneously fund community health projects and enhance collaboration among local nonprofit grant winners and Reading Hospital. The purpose of the "Be Well Berks" Grant Program is to address the priorities identified in Tower Health's 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment: Access to Care, Social Determinants of Health, Disease Prevention and Management, and Behavioral Health.
Grant applications are due by 3 p.m. on Monday, February 24, 2020. Grant requests should not exceed $15,000 and will be awarded one time only. The project period is July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
"This initiative is designed to provide funds to start a small project or assist with the expansion of an existing project for the benefit of our community," said Desha Dickson, Associate Vice President, Community Wellness at Reading Hospital. "Reading Hospital looks forward to collaborating with Berks County partners to enhance the health and wellness for our communities."
Applicants will be considered for funding if the program or project addresses barriers to health for vulnerable populations. Priority will be given to applicants that propose initiatives to identify and address social determinants of health.
Grant recipients will be expected to meet a number of requirements, including sharing data about projects and participants, financial reports, and performance reports comparing goals to actual results.
Be Well Berks Grant recipients from 2018 include Antietam Fit - Antietam School District, Whole Health Action Management/Mental Health First Aid - Berks Counseling Center, Medical Interpreting Program - Centro Hispano, Medical Legal Partnership - MidPenn Legal Services, Fighting Poverty. Feeding Hope. Project - New Journey Community Outreach, Inc.
For more information, contact communitywellness@towerhealth.org. The full application and more information is available at BeWellBerks.org.
Interviews are available upon request to discuss Be Well Berks 2020 Grant Application and share success of 2018 Be Well Berks Grant recipients.
About Reading Hospital
Reading Hospital is the flagship, Magnet Recognized, acute care hospital of Tower Health. Located in West Reading, Pa., Reading Hospital is a 714-bed hospital that is home to many top-tier specialty care centers, including Reading HealthPlex, McGlinn Cancer Institute, Miller Regional Heart Center, Emergency Department, Level I Trauma Center and Beginnings Maternity Center, which houses the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With more than 1,000 physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers across 49 locations, Reading Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across services lines. It is listed as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for four consecutive years and received a 5-Star Rating from CMS two years in a row. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.