RHI Legacy Foundation is a grant-making organization focused on improving health and wellness for people who live in Rutherford County. The Foundation has recently selected recipients for 2016 & 2017 grant awards. The 2016 grant focus areas were food and nutrition, chronic disease and active lifestyles. Funds for grants and new health projects originated from the affiliation of Rutherford Regional Health System and Duke Lifepoint Healthcare and from designated gifts that were made to the former Rutherford Hospital Foundation.
Jill Miracle, the Foundation’s community impact director explained, “During our first year, we awarded just over one million dollars in our community. Our focus areas were very broad. The 2015 grant cycle allowed us to learn about health and wellness projects that agencies and municipalities were offering in the community. After our Board completed the first cycle, we carefully reviewed our priorities and determined the 2016 focus areas where our investment could make the greatest impact.”
RHI Legacy Foundation continues to evolve in response to the health and wellness needs for Rutherford County. Part of the learning from the first cycle prompted the group to develop Cancer Services for Rutherford County as a new program. Cancer Services concentrates on screening and prevention services for the county, maintains the funding for free mammograms for uninsured women and coordinates financial assistance for patients who experience financial difficulty because of their treatment and disease. The Foundation has also developed other strategic partnerships with key agencies in the community that focus on chronic disease by providing food and nutrition services and groups that increase access to active lifestyles.
For information about the Foundation’s grant or programs areas, call the office at 828-202-4630.