FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Healthcare Foundation of Wilson Awards $1.2 Million in Responsive Grants, Expands Community Programs and Funding Opportunities
WILSON, N.C. (June 9, 2026) – As the Healthcare Foundation of Wilson (HFW) marks another year of community investment, the Foundation is pleased to highlight the programs, partnerships, and funding opportunities shaping the health of Wilson County.
The Responsive Grant is one of the Foundation’s largest funding opportunities, providing up to $150,000 to support new initiatives and programs aligned with HFW’s four focus areas: access to healthcare, active living and healthy eating, alcohol and substance misuse, and behavioral and mental health.
The 2026–2027 awards total $1,253,800, distributed among nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies dedicated to enhancing the health and wellness of Wilson County. “Our nonprofit partners and government agencies have a deep understanding of what Wilson needs most, and these awards reflect the Foundation’s commitment to supporting their work and the shared goals that define our partnership,” said Paula Benson, President.
The responsive grant cycle starts in January of each calendar year. Awardees complete a letter of inquiry, an application, and an interview to be considered for funding. Awardees are celebrated with a private reception where they receive their grant, after which they begin implementing or continuing their program.
The organizations awarded are:
Artistry Unleashed Dance was awarded $28,000 to expand their Youth Wellness and Resilience Project, “Artistry in Motion,” from 51 to 71 students, opening doors for 20 additional families who would otherwise face financial barriers. Through the program, students build fitness, confidence, and resilience alongside practical injury prevention and healthy movement habits.
Casa Azul de Wilson was awarded $55,000 to support their new partnership with the YMCA, promoting emotional wellness, physical activity, and cultural belonging. The program will provide stipends for Spanish-speaking fitness instructors and a new class, Meditation Mondays, to support youth and staff mental health and resiliency.
Foundation YMCA of Wilson was granted $44,600 to support their Active Living Summer Camp, a safe, structured, full-day program for children ages 4–14 that fosters physical, social, and emotional development. Campers participate in daily physical education, swimming, arts, and enrichment activities through inclusive, age-appropriate programming that supports working families and strengthens the community.
Foundation YMCA of Wilson was granted $20,000 to support their three-day preschool program for three- and four-year-olds, focusing on early learning, school readiness, and healthy development. Through a structured, age-appropriate curriculum, the program builds academic, social-emotional, and motor skills, preparing young children for kindergarten while providing families with reliable early education.
Greenfield School was awarded $65,000 for their “Greenfield Wellness Project,” a preventative health initiative creating a dedicated wellness space to promote healthy eating, physical activity, and stress management for students and staff. The grant will fund gym equipment and programming that supports age-appropriate movement and lifelong healthy habits, with the goal of improving overall well-being, school engagement, and long-term community health.
Hope Station was granted $100,000 to support their Shelter Stability & Emotional Wellness Program, which provides non-clinical, trauma-informed emotional wellness support to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Funds will implement screenings, staff training, coping and stabilization activities, and supportive resources that improve emotional regulation and crisis prevention, increasing housing readiness and supporting successful transitions to permanent housing.
Imagination Station was awarded $150,000 to create three new interactive exhibits: Lydia’s Lab, Body-ology, and Welcome to Planet Earth, featuring hands-on learning stations that promote healthy habits and personal well-being.
Sallie B. Howard School was granted $46,800 to expand their School-Based Telehealth Clinic, which provides accessible healthcare services to students while reducing time lost to illness and missed appointments. Funding will support ongoing operations, while also expanding clinic capacity and behavioral health services to meet growing student needs.
The SPOT was granted $33,000 to support their Summer Camp by reducing the cost of attendance for 100 at-risk students in grades K–7 by up to 70%. Funds will provide affordable, full-day summer programming for up to eight weeks.
Whirlidogs was granted $20,400 to purchase and equip a mobile kitchen, expanding the organization’s ability to serve food at community events. The mobile unit will provide team members with hands-on work experience, training in food service and customer engagement, while creating more sustainable work and skill-building opportunities that extend the organization’s community outreach.
Wilson Arts was granted $65,500 to expand “Creative HeARTS,” an inclusive, arts-based mental wellness program for individuals with disabilities and their caregivers in Wilson County. Funds will train teaching artists in trauma-informed practices, purchase adaptive and sensory-friendly art and music materials, and implement evaluation tools to measure program impact. This program will reduce isolation and strengthen the emotional well-being of participants.
Wilson County Department of Social Services was granted $75,000 to expand their evidence-based family therapy program “Resilient Family Connections.” Year two funds will build staff capacity, provide advanced and booster “Alternatives for Families: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy” (AFCBT) trainings, while increasing equitable access to timely behavioral health services and promoting long-term sustainability for families in need.
Wilson County EMS was awarded $150,000 to strengthen trauma survivability through advanced training, simulation, and life-saving medical technology. Funds will enhance the EMS Whole Blood Program and support point-of-care ultrasound, advanced airway tools, and high-fidelity simulation mannequins that realistically mimic breathing, bleeding, vital signs, and medical emergencies for hands-on training. These tools will help EMS providers sharpen critical skills and reduce preventable trauma-related deaths.
Wilson County Partnership for Children was awarded $60,000 to expand their “Healthy Habits from the Start” Initiative, improving nutrition and physical activity practices in licensed childcare centers across Wilson County. The grant will fund staff training, coaching, and technical assistance to strengthen healthy daily routines and learning environments that reduce childhood obesity risk and promote long-term wellness through sustainable, evidence-based practices.
Wilson County Partnership for Children was granted $90,000 to support local childcare programs in meeting North Carolina’s quality standards through workforce training, professional development, and classroom resources. Funding will strengthen staff skills, improve learning environments, and advance practices that promote children’s physical, social-emotional, and developmental health.
Wilson County Schools was awarded $39,500 to equip all 24 schools with standardized emergency preparedness supplies, enhancing safety, health, and crisis-response readiness. Funds will provide each school with fully stocked first-aid kits, Stop the Bleed kits, and reunification kits to support rapid medical care and trauma-informed family reunification.
Wilson County Schools was awarded $18,000 to fund four fully equipped pickleball kits for three traditional high schools and one shared kit for Wilson Early College Academy and Wilson Academy of Applied Technology. The grant will integrate pickleball into physical education classes, promoting inclusive, engaging, and accessible physical activity that supports student physical health, social development, and lifelong wellness.
Wilson County Sheriff’s Office was awarded $52,000 to support Project R.I.D.E., an annual impaired driving education program for high school seniors in Wilson County. It will fund essential materials, equipment, and golf carts needed to sustain hands-on activities and program delivery by the Sheriff’s Office — eliminating the burden of renting, scheduling, and maintaining golf carts each year. The project aims to reduce impaired driving by increasing student awareness and responsibility before prom season.
Wilson County Substance Prevention Coalition was awarded $15,500 to sustain and expand their vaping prevention initiative through a youth-led educational campaign and targeted environmental strategy. Funds will support community engagement efforts that increase awareness of harm, strengthen protective factors, and empower youth as leaders in reducing the harms associated with e-cigarettes and vaping devices across Wilson County.
Wilson Education Partnership was awarded $105,000 to bring “Scrubs and Science” to 717 fifth-grade students, providing hands-on health education and career exploration resources. Funds will support instructional kits, classroom materials, and professional development for teachers and media coordinators to integrate health careers and wellness into the STEM curriculum, building early health literacy, inspiring future career interests, and promoting lifelong healthy habits.
Wilson Read and Grow was granted $20,500 to strengthen literacy and reading comprehension for elementary and middle school students reading below grade level through their after-school programming. Funds will support a literacy-focused curriculum that integrates hands-on learning experiences while gardening. This program promotes critical thinking, real-world application, improved academic performance, and attendance for participants.
HFW recognizes that impactful work happens year-round. In addition to its annual grant cycles, the Foundation offers a variety of funding opportunities designed to provide timely, flexible support as organizations advance their missions. CAREs Flexible Funding, introduced in 2025, offers up to $15,000 in unrestricted support for operational needs, and the Foundation’s newest opportunity, Better Together Funding, provides bi-monthly funding to organizations seeking to engage the Wilson community through outreach and events.
In the past two years, the Foundation has expanded its commitment to Wilson County beyond grant funding, introducing nonprofit capacity-building resources, youth scholarship opportunities, community pop-ups, appreciation events, and new programming designed to support both local organizations and the residents they serve.
Examples of these efforts include new capacity-building workshops and the Wilson Institute for Nonprofit Executives. Earlier this summer, the Foundation introduced Interns for Impact, a paid summer internship program pairing college students with local nonprofits. The Foundation has also grown its community presence through a mobile food market partnership with Ripe for Revival, healthcare scholarship opportunities, and several community pop-ups and appreciation events. Most recently, HFW participated in the Health Department’s Community Baby Shower, where the Foundation distributed diapers and baby wipes to new and expecting mothers.
“We are expanding our reach and deepening our impact in Wilson County,” said Krystal Cox, Vice President of Community Impact. “These programs and opportunities reflect our commitment to serving this community in ways that go beyond traditional grant funding.” The Healthcare Foundation of Wilson remains dedicated to improving the health and wellness of Wilson County through strategic investments, community partnerships, and programs that meet residents where they are. Nonprofit organizations and community members interested in learning more about upcoming funding opportunities, capacity building resources, and community events are encouraged to visit the Foundation’s website for a full list and more details.
About the Healthcare Foundation of Wilson
The Healthcare Foundation of Wilson is a public foundation that was established in February 2014 when Wilson Medical Center was purchased by Duke LifePoint Healthcare. The assets received, as well as prior hospital reserves, provide the funding for the responsive and strategic grants awarded and many of the physical improvements to the hospital. The Foundation’s mission is to invest in collaborative efforts that influence and measurably improve the health and wellness of the greater Wilson community. Since the first grants were issued in 2016, over $70 million dollars have been expended. The Foundation remains committed to creating a healthier Wilson community and looks forward to more collaborative partnerships in the future.
For more information about the Healthcare Foundation of Wilson and its programs, visit their website at www.healthcarefoundationofwilson.org.