Norfolk-based Sentara Healthcare announced Thursday a $10 million investment to be split among grants to local universities as well as public health and health equity improvement initiatives.
The Sentara Healthier Communities Fund will be disbursed during a two-year period among Sentara’s partner universities, including Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University; as well as Eastern Virginia Medical School and organizations in Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg and Suffolk.
“We can only do so much to improve the health and well-being of our community inside the walls of our facilities,” Sentara Healthcare President and CEO Howard P. Kern said in a statement. “In order to drive lasting change, we must work together to extend our impact beyond our walls to the environment in which people live, work and learn.”
ODU and NSU will each receive $2 million to support the development of a School of Public Health, $3 million will go to support collaborations among ODU, EVMS and NSU for public health and health equity initiatives and the remaining $3 million will go to improvement grants for community organizations in Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg and Suffolk to address underserved communities.
