Greater Worcester Community Foundation today announced the recipients of its 2016 Fallon/OrNda Community Health Fund, an endowment created by the Fallon Clinic upon its sale of Saint Vincent Hospital twenty years ago. The total granting of $183,500 was dispersed to 13 organizations for projects that will help Worcester area residents improve their health. Several of the programs will bring health services directly to people who need them, others will remove barriers that prevent people from receiving services such as lack of transportation, cultural competency of providers, language differences, or other factors.

The 2016 funded projects are:
  • Community Health Connections, pediatric screening equipment
  • Family Health Center of Worcester, healthcare for homeless families
  • Girls Incorporated of Worcester, prevention programs
  • Hope Coalition, mental health counselors
  • Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, dental hygiene ambassadors program
  • Pathways for Change, medical companions for victims of sexual assault
  • Pernet Family Health Service, home visits
  • Reliant Medical Group Foundation, free transportation to medical appointments
  • Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts, health care system navigation
  • Spectrum Health Systems, recovery support for people re-entering from prison
  • Veterans, Inc., navigating health care & insurance
  • Worcester Youth Center, outreach program