Petersburg-based The Cameron Foundation announced Tuesday it has awarded $1.13 million in grants to 24 nonprofit organizations in Central Virginia during its first round of funding for 2020.

The two largest economic development grants went to Virginia’s Gateway Region and Virginia Local Initiatives Support Corp. (LISC). Virginia’s Gateway Region was awarded $136,063 for general operating support and Virginia LISC was awarded $95,000 to expand Petersburg economic opportunity.

The largest grant of $164,757 was made to Central Virginia Health Services, a community health center that provides services to low-income and uninsured patrons. The health center is located approximately 11 miles from the Southside Regional Medical Center, from where some individuals are referred. 

Central Virginia Health Services offers primary medical, dental, behavioral health, health education, care coordination and pharmacy services. The Cameron Foundation funding will support dental services.

“Our work with Central Virginia Health Services addresses many core needs for residents in our community,” Pam Martin Comstock, board chair for The Cameron Foundation, said in a statement. “And, by providing services on a sliding fee scale, the organization reduces barriers that keep people from obtaining this care.”

The Petersburg Health Department was also awarded $112,500 for its HealthSpace Teen Clinic, which offers reproductive health services for teens including prevention of early pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and poor reproductive health.

“As a health legacy foundation, we are mindful of the importance of supporting these services, especially with our nonprofit partners who focus their work on reducing health disparities,” Jeffrey W. Geisz, The Cameron Foundation grants committee chair, said in a statement.

The full list of June grant recipients includes:

• Alamo Recovery Center Inc. – $22,500
• Art on Wheels – $12,600
• Better Housing Coalition – $50,000
• Central Virginia Health Services Inc. – $164,757
• Chesterfield CASA Inc. – $16,200
• Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Alliance for Social Ministry – $20,250
• Colonial Heights Volunteer Fire and Emergency Medical Services – $17,216
• Communities In Schools of Petersburg – $70,250
• Feed More Inc. – $49,690
• FLITE Foundation – $31,590
• Greater Richmond Fit4Kids Inc. – $40,500
• Hopewell Food Pantry – $31,500
• Jessica Ann Moore Foundation – $11,680
• Lamb Center for Arts and Healing – $45,000
• NAMI Central Virginia – $26,615
• Petersburg Health Department – $112,500
• Petersburg Symphony Orchestra – $20,000
• Prince George County Fire & Emergency Medical Services – $30,566
• River Street Education Inc. – $7,310
• Smart Beginnings Southeast – $39,950
• Virginia LISC – $95,000
• Virginia’s Gateway Region Inc. – $136,063
• Waverly Rescue Squad Inc. – $21,470
• YMCA of Greater Richmond – $40,500

“This grant cycle includes a number of examples that reflect how the foundation is balancing its investments between direct health services and interventions in some of the social determinants of health,” The Cameron Foundation President J. Todd Graham said in a statement. “This time, Cameron’s allocation of resources to Virginia’s Gateway Region and LISC Virginia to support economic development work is essential due to the strong correlation between economic vitality and a region’s health.”

Founded in 2003, The Cameron Foundation operates two grant cycles per year. The second 2020 round will be decided in October. Since 2004, The Cameron Foundation has awarded more than $94 million to local organizations.

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