HENRICO, VA (December 12, 2024) – Kaiser Permanente, Mid-Atlantic States, announced today that it has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Virginia Community Healthcare Foundation (VCHF) to support the recruitment and retention of community health center professionals.
Kaiser Permanente is a leading nonprofit provider of health care and coverage, and this support for VCHF is part of the organization’s mission to improve the health of communities it serves, including those in Virginia.
“Investing in community health centers is not just about providing care; it’s about building the foundation for healthier, stronger communities, and that includes a sustainable pipeline for tomorrow’s health care workers,” said Cynthia Cifuentes, vice president, Brand, Communications and Community Engagement at Kaiser Permanente. “This grant reflects Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to empowering organizations like the Virginia Community Healthcare Foundation to build, attract and retain passionate, future healthcare professionals who are the lifeblood of equitable and accessible care.”
The grant will be used to fund the Virginia Community Healthcare Association (VCHA) Community Health Scholarship, aimed at providing early-career readiness support to help prepare future medical, dental and behavioral health professionals for rewarding careers in public health and community healthcare. Eligible scholarship applicants are graduate-level students who are pursuing an MD/DO/DDS degree, NP, PA, or Ph.D./Master’s in public health, psychology, and social work at a Virginia college or university.
“We are thrilled to receive this generous grant from Kaiser Permanente for our healthcare scholarship, as it enables us to ensure that Virginia’s community health centers have the resources needed to attract, recruit and retain employees, which is vital for maintaining a stable, high-quality level of care,” said Michael Morelius, VCHF’s Executive Director. “This funding will empower us to continue our mission to advance the ideals of quality and affordability in healthcare services and health equity.”
Investing in communities across the region is a key piece of Kaiser Permanente’s mission of improving the health of its members and the communities it serves. In 2023, Kaiser Permanente awarded $1.38 million in grants to 22 community organizations and nonprofits, supporting programs and resources that had a significant impact on social health and wellbeing in the Mid-Atlantic.
ABOUT THE VIRGINIA COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION (VCHF)
Founded in 2023, The Virginia Community Healthcare Foundation’s (VCHF) mission is to advance the ideals of quality and affordability in healthcare services and health equity, building upon and complementing the efforts of Virginia Community Healthcare Association (VCHA), supporting their vital work to enhance access to affordable, high-quality health care and to find solutions for expanding access to care in areas that need it most. VCHF believes every community health center across the Commonwealth should have the abundant resources needed to have the healthiest population in America. For more information, visit www.vcha.org.
ABOUT KAISER PERMANENTE
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 12.6 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.
