Reading Hospital Creates 'Be Well Berks' Grant Program to Improve Community Health

Reading Hospital's Community Health Department, supported by the Community Benefit Committee of Reading Hospital's Board of Directors, is launching the "Be Well Berks" Grant Program - an initiative 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 the Community Health Needs Assessment: Obesity, Access to Care, Addiction and Mental Health. Applicants' proposals must address at least one of these priorities.

Grant applicants' Letters of Intent are due by 3 p.m. on Monday, December 18, 2017, and proposals are due by 3 p.m. on Wednesday, February 28, 2018. Funding will begin in July 2018.

"This initiative reflects Reading Hospital's ongoing commitment to community wellness," said Desha Dickson, Director of Community Health and Engagement, Reading Hospital. "The aim is to fund and bring together community-based, nonprofit organizations in Berks County, particularly in the City of Reading, to collaborate on healthcare and human services and to develop approaches that make our community a healthier place to live."

With $200,000 allocated for "Be Well Berks," applicants will be considered for funding if the program or project closes gaps in medical care or addresses barriers to health for populations whose high-risk, vulnerable members have challenges such as chronic disease, substance abuse or mental illness. Grants also will be considered for programs that address health needs in communities or segments of populations with a common set of challenges.

Grant recipients will be expected to meet a number of requirements, including serving on the "Be Well Berks" Committee, which will collaborate to track projects and advance initiatives.

For more information, contact communityhealth@towerhealth.org.

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.