2023 Healthcare Foundation of Wilson Grant Recipients

Wilson County Substance Prevention Coalition – Hope Alliance was awarded $37,500 to continue to assist with transportation, detox and treatment costs for the clients of Hope Alliance while helping create, support, and maintain a relationship not based on punitive action between the Wilson Police Department and those who suffer from substance use disorders. Hope Alliance was created in 2017 to reduce the stigma related to substance use disorders and to reduce barriers to detox and treatment for substance use disorders.

Hope Station was granted $30,000 to continue the Maintaining a Healthy Pantry program. Funds will be used to purchase fresh produce from local farmers to maintain Hope Station’s commitment to offering healthy food options to help reduce and/or prevent obesity. The funds will also be used to purchase healthy shelf-stable food to replace what is not collected in food drives.

Love A Sea Turtle (LAST) has been awarded $3,500 to partner with youth from the SPOT through the FAN  (Fitness and Nutrition) Camp program. The focus will be to affect outcomes with healthy eating habits and outdoor activities to combat obesity. They will partner with Dr. Melani Duffrin, FoodMASTER creator, who will engage youth in nutrition, cooking lessons and demonstrations along with outdoor fitness activities including kayaking and biking.

The Arc of Wilson County was granted $25,000 to continue the Healthy Living focus implemented last year for Camp Sunshine participants with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Campers and their families will be encouraged to exercise daily and make better food choices to help build healthy habits and improve overall wellness.

Wilson County Department of Social Services was granted $13,000 to continue offering Making Proud Choices, an evidence-based pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention curriculum for youth ages 12 to 18. This program provides adolescents with the knowledge, confidence and skills necessary to reduce their risks of STIs, HIV and pregnancy.

Wilson County Department of Social Services was awarded $50,000 to continue Eat Smart Move More in collaboration with Wilson County Health Department and Foundation YMCA.  The focus will continue to be on healthy behaviors including weight loss, education on nutrition, and physical activity. They will continue to partner with local after-school programs to provide education to children and families.

Wilson County Health Department was awarded $10,000 to implement Catching Healthy Habits to address childhood obesity. They will implement the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) program, which is an evidence-based curriculum that promotes physical activity, healthy eating, screen-time reduction and social-emotional learning.

Wilson County Schools was awarded $50,000 to implement the PGA Tour First Tee Golf Program in all five middle schools. First Tee is a nationally recognized golf program that builds kids’ confidence and character while also providing physical activity for overall health. The program provides the training, equipment, and lesson plans that integrate life skills and values with the game of golf and motor skills. 

Wilson County Schools was granted $16,667 to purchase and install a Reimbursable Meal Vending Machine at Fike High School as an innovative approach providing access to meals and snacks that meet the USDA’s Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act for nutrition standards. All meals will be prepared by the nutrition staff and stocked in the machines for healthy breakfast and lunch meals. Students can grab healthy meals as needed instead of opting for snacks or fast foods to get them through the day.

Wilson County Schools has been awarded $7,500 to support the continued coordination of Motivating Adolescents with Technology to CHOOSE Health (MATCH). This has been one of the most successful school-based childhood obesity intervention programs. MATCH uses a body-systems approach to empower students to make healthy choices for eating and physical activity through lessons and activities taught in Healthful Living, Science, Math, Language Arts and Social Studies.

The Wilson County Senior Activity Center was granted $25,000 to assist with the acquisition of additional exercise equipment to expand their fitness room for Wilson County citizens ages 55 and older. Professional quality fitness equipment and free weights will be added to encourage increased movement to improve overall health for seniors of all ages.

Wilson Police Athletics and Activities League was awarded $25,000 to continue the Total Child Mentorship Program for youth ages 9-21. Wilson Police Department and volunteers will meet bi-weekly with youth for activities that address topics including drugs, alcohol, vaping, gangs, making healthy food choices, physical fitness, and the importance of education.

Wilson Youth United – The SPOT was awarded $75,000 to implement the program, LEVEL UP. This program is designed to assist youth in building their confidence by improving coordination and basic cognitive skills such as hand-eye coordination, exercise goals, balance and strength. The program focuses on developing confident active youth who will inspire to be active for a lifetime and decrease their trajectory of being obese or overweight as adults.