Julie Stenger GRANTS AWARDED — Recipients of the CommonSpirit Health Community Health Improvement Grants were recognized Friday by officials from Trinity Health System. Honoring the Urban Mission, left photo, were Matt Grimshaw, Trinity’s president and CEO; Cynthia Lytle, community engagement director of the Urban Mission; Awtihana Smith, director of donor engagement of the Urban Mission; Ashley Steele, executive director of the Urban Mission; and Dave Werkin, Trinity’s vice president of finance.

STEUBENVILLE — Trinity Health System recognized recipients of its first CommonSpirit Health Community Health Improvement Grants Friday at Scaffidi’s Restaurant and Tavern.

Three community organizations will share $105,000, officials explained. The Ohio Valley Health Center received $42,500 for its Free to be Healthy 3.0 initiative, the Ohio Valley Youth Network received $20,000 for its after-school program and Urban Mission Ministries received $42,500 for its Healthy Food for All program.

There were 19 applications for the grants, according to Laurie Labishak, Trinity’s director of marketing and communications, and Liz Schriner, Trinity’s mission director, co-chairs of the program.

“Trinity Health System’s vision is for a healthier future for all,” said Schriner.

“Caring for the whole person and building a healthier future for all goes beyond the hospital walls,” she added. “It requires us to work together to innovatively address social determinants that contribute to poor health such as housing, education and food insecurity.”

GRANT RECIPIENT — On hand for the presentation to the Ohio Valley Youth Network were, from left, Matt Grimshaw, Trinity's president and CEO; Michelle Clum, programming coordinator for the Ohio Valley Youth Network; and Dave Werkin, Trinity's vice president of finance. -- Julie Stenger

The program was announced in July by CommonSpirit Health, Trinity’s parent company.

“We are excited to partner with these amazing organizations who work every day to serve those who are less fortunate in our community,” said Matt Grimshaw, Trinity’s president and CEO. “Each of them meet different needs and we are grateful for the work they do and excited to see how our partnership together impacts our community.”

“We’re really happy to be chosen as a recipient of this funding,” said Ann Quillen, executive director of the health center. “The Ohio Valley Health Center has worked closely with Urban Mission Ministries for years, and has worked closely with Trinity and we believe we are a good fit to provide the medical aspect of care.”

The health center’s grant will be used to help improve blood sugar, blood pressure and lipid panels for those who are under insured or uninsured and who have pre-diabetes, diabetes and hypertension. Care will be managed by primary care nurse practitioners in a free clinic setting every three months for one year.

“We know that in the medical field with health, food makes a huge impact, and we are seeing that more and more often with our patients,” Quillen said. “So we are very proud to have been chosen to be a recipient and look forward to see what we can do next, together.”

RECEIVES MONEY — Representatives from the Ohio Valley Health Center who were on hand for Friday's presentation were, from left, Matt Grimshaw, Trinity's president and CEO; Diann Schmitt, volunteer nurse practitioner at the health center; Ann Quillen, executive director of the health center; Denise Lucas, volunteer nurse practitioner of the health center; Janet Bischof, volunteer nurse practitioner of the health center; and Dave Werkin, Trinity's vice president of finance. -- Julie Stenger

The Urban Mission’s Healthy Food for All Program will address health equity for the low-income population of the Ohio Valley by providing food-insecure households with access to healthy food, nutrition education, health screenings and supportive services.

“On behalf of the Urban Mission, we are so appreciative to Trinity and CommonSpirit,” said Ashley Steele, executive director of the Urban Mission. “We know there is a tremendous connection between food and healthy outcomes in people’s lives and Trinity believes that as well. We count it a privilege to be able to partner with them, as well as the Ohio Valley Health Center and Sycamore Youth Center and others in this community who care deeply about making sure that there is healthy, fresh food for members of our community. So we are excited to get started.”

The Ohio Valley Youth Network provides after-school programs, which consist of more than 60 classes. The age-appropriate, health-promoting activities include cooking classes to reinforce proper diet and nutrition. Improved physical and mental wellness, healthy lifestyle choices and reducing at-risk behaviors are among the program’s goals.

Michelle Clum, programming coordinator for the youth network, said the money will go toward building playground equipment and a covered patio at the Sycamore Youth Center.

“We are so grateful to Trinity Health and CommonSpirit for investing in our local community,” Clum said.

“As we always have been part of community health needs and doing assessments for nonprofit organizations, the government requires us to do an assessment when trying to give back to the community,” said Dave Werkin, Trinity’s vice president of finance. “Our parent organization took it a step further and thought it would be great if there was some way we could provide grants to some of the supporting organizations for those needs.”