Sentara Medical Center Donates $375K To Local Non-Profits

WOODBRIDGE, VA — Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center in Woodbridge announced $375,000 in donations to local non-profits this week. In total, ten different organizations received a donation from Sentara.

In a news release, Sentara said the grants are part of the company's "Sentara Cares" program, which works to strengthen communities by focusing on health and wellness. The company also noted that the Sentara Cares program hopes to advance health equity by ensuring all members of a community have access to the resources they need.

In 2021, Sentara provided more than $5 million in uncompensated care and an additional $1.9 million in community giving. However, officials said the donations announced this week were different, as Sentara team members were able to weigh in on where some of the funds went.

"We are excited to have the opportunity to implement a Sentara employee-led fund which allows team members to voice how funds are distributed among charitable organizations to further meet the needs of the communities we serve,” said Kathie Johnson the president of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center.

This process allowed some organizations, chosen by Sentara employees, to receive an unrestricted grant without needing to go through the traditional application process.

Here is the full list of grant recipients and the amounts they received:

• ACTS – Action in the Community Through Service: $65,000
• Boys & Girls Club of Prince William – Hylton Club: $55,000
• Capital Area Food Bank – Lorton, VA: $15,000
• CASA – Immigrant Access to Health & Social Services: $75,000
• GMU Foundation – Exercise is Medicine Program: $20,000
• Prince William Area Agency on Aging: $35,000
• Prince William Public Library Foundation: $10,000
• SPARK – The Education Foundation for PWC Schools:$15,000
• Street Light Community Outreach: $15,000
• Youth for Tomorrow New Life Center, Inc.: $71,000

Sherry Norquist is the director of community engagement and impact for Sentara. "We approach every community and every partner with our ears and our hearts open. We’re not here to provide prescriptive solutions," Norquist said. "We’re here to support and amplify the work of our partners in every way we can to improve more lives and inspire more hope for the future."

Photo by Philippe Nobile.

More information about the Sentara Cares program is available online.