Community Grant Program awards $205,000 to expand mental health, recovery, and wellness resources

Residents across the region will have greater access to programs and services as more than 40 grants totaling $205,000 are awarded to local nonprofit organizations supporting mental health, substance use recovery, and wellness initiatives.

These awards represent the first cycle of Reid Health’s three-year Community Grant Program, developed in response to the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA).

The program is awarding funding across two competitive grant cycles focused on priority areas identified in the CHNA: mental health and substance use as well as wellness and lifestyle (nutrition and obesity).

A third priority area — chronic disease, including diabetes, heart disease, and stroke — is led by the Reid Community Health team through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, community education, and outreach initiatives.

Reid conducts a CHNA every three years to better understand local health concerns and guide its programs and services to improve community health outcomes. The 2025 CHNA was a six-phase process that took nearly a year to complete, with support from Conduent Healthy Communities Institute (HCI).

Community input played a central role in shaping the most recent assessment and helped identify three key priority health areas.

For the first time, Reid incorporated Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) into the CHNA and implementation strategy. By addressing barriers such as food, housing, medication, and care access, Reid aims to improve long-term health outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Jess Przybysz, Director of Community Health and Engagement at Reid, said the new grant priorities reflect community feedback and a stronger focus on reducing barriers to long-term health.

“Through grants awarded, these two grant cycles are supporting organizations addressing some of the most urgent health challenges identified by our residents,” Przybysz said.

“The selected programs and initiatives align with our CHNA priorities and improve access to the services and resources residents need that contribute to their health and well-being.”

Katie Stephen, Community Engagement Specialist for Reid Health, said the grants reflect Reid’s focus on meeting community health needs and well-being.

“The CHNA reaffirmed factors like access to food, transportation, and support systems play a critical role in health,” Stephen said.

“This strategy allows us to invest in programs that not only meet basic immediate needs but also help create healthier, more sustainable communities over time.”

Applicants were evaluated based on their ability to improve CHNA health indicators and reduce barriers identified through the assessment, including access, education, poverty, and transportation.

The wellness and lifestyle awards include:

• $4,000 to Abilities Indiana for food supplies to support the nutrition and life skills program
• $5,200 to Ainsley's Angels for the purchase of one adaptive racing chair
• $4,000 to Amigos the Richmond Latino Center Inc. for personnel and program supplies for the youth tennis program
• $5,000 to Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church for food and supplies supporting a meals and food distribution program
• $6,400 to Bridges for Life for funds to cover food and supplies
• $2,500 to Cardinal Greenway Inc. for funds to cover costs associated with the free bike rental program
• $5,000 to Circle You Help Center Inc. for food supplies for Communities In Schools collaboration and formula for infants
• $2,177 to the City of Eaton for funds to cover the cost of one chin-up and pull-up station for the Waterworks Park
• $2,446 to Communities In Schools of Wayne County for program supplies for Ready, Set, Grow, specifically sports fees and uniforms
• $2,400 to Cope Environmental Center for funds to cover scholarships and food supplies for its youth outdoor camp
• $5,000 to Dublin Community Club for funding to cover a portion of one HVAC unit
• $2,500 to Food Bank Inc. (Gateway Hunger Relief Center) for funds to cover food supplies
• $4,000 to Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana for funds to cover food supplies
• $4,000 to Growing Laurel Food Pantry for training, travel, and supplies for enhancing pantry initiatives
• $2,000 to Mount Zion Baptist Church for funds for one computer
• $6,500 to Nettle Creek Community Coalition for funds for a walk-in cooler and associated expenses
• $5,000 to Nettle Creek School Corporation for food supplies for its Weekend Backpack Program and Community Food Hut
• $4,000 to New Mercies Community Services Inc. to cover personnel for a cooking class and pantry initiatives
• $4,000 to Pathway to Damascus Inc. for program supplies and transportation support for wellness initiatives
• $6,000 to Petra Projects Inc. (Rock Solid Ministries) for food and supplies for a meal program
• $5,000 to Redemption Life (RedLife) Food Pantry for the food pantry, transportation assistance, training, and food supplies
• $4,000 to Refuge of Hope for transportation assistance, personnel, and food supplies
• $3,000 to The Independent Living Center of Eastern Indiana for personnel and funds to cover ramp costs
• $5,877 to Western Wayne School Corporation for program supplies for the Golden Eagle Kitchen
• $5,000 to Whole Family Community Initiative Inc. (House of Ruth) for contracted personnel for a nutrition and exercise program

The mental health and substance use awards include:

• $4,200 to A Better Life Brianna's Hope, Richmond chapter, for program supplies for meetings
• $7,000 to Birth to Five Inc. for personnel, transportation support, and program supplies for Healthy Families
• $7,000 to Bridges for Life for Recover Together program supplies
• $2,500 to Brighter Path Inc. to provide scholarships for its equine-assisted therapy program
• $5,000 to Children's & Justice Advocacy Center Inc. for personnel for its child and teen safety and The Stewards of Children programs
• $1,800 to Dwyer Community Center for program supplies for Mind, Body, and Soul
• $7,500 to Hope Center for personnel, equipment, and program support for the Prenatal Mental Health program
• $7,000 to the Housing Authority for the City of Richmond for supplies for their Mental Health Aid program
• $2,500 to Isaiah Michaels Foundation for program supplies for Hope Box outreach
• $6,000 to Randolph County YMCA for personnel and program supplies for its Creating Positive Relationships program
• $7,500 to Richmond Art Museum for personnel and program supplies for Amos Lemon Burkhart exhibit
• $7,500 to Salt in the Earth Inc. for personnel and program supplies
• $2,000 to Servants at Work to purchase materials for ramps
• $7,500 to Soldiers in the Army of the Lord Ministries Corp. for personnel and transportation support for access to health services
• $2,500 to Start with Art for program supplies for Monthly Mom Monday
• $5,000 to Stayin Alive Inc. for Drug Free Clubs of American (DFCA) membership fees
• $3,500 to Sunrise Inc. for personnel, program supplies, and equipment for equine-assisted activities
• $9,000 to The Shepherd's Way Christian Ministries (Cross Road Recovery Center) for personnel, transportation support for health access, meeting, and program supplies
• $5,000 to Townsend Community Center Inc. for personnel, transportation, and program supplies for The Anchor program

Three organizations also received additional funding aligned with CHNA implementation priorities. Additional implementation strategy grants were provided to:

Richmond Parks & Recreation

• Family Series: $3,000
• Get Health in Our Parks: $2,000
• Just Us Kids Outdoors (JUKO): $8,000
• Senior Recreation Center: $4,800
• SNAP Double Dollars Program and WIC: $42,000

Connersville Parks & Recreation

• Health and Safety: $16,900
• Living Well, Aging Well: $7,500
• Rec and Connection 18 and over: $5,200
• Youth Sports: $400

Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County

• CATCH Kids Club fitness programming: $20,000

Community benefit is the basis for the tax-exempt status of not-for-profit hospitals. It's defined as programs or activities that improve access to health services, enhance public health, advance health knowledge through research and education, and/or relieve the burden of government to improve health.

In 2010, the Affordable Care Act added new requirements for tax-exempt hospitals in the areas of CHNA, implementation strategy, billing and collections, and reporting. In 2014, the IRS issued final rules implementing these requirements. The goals of these provisions are to ensure tax-exempt hospitals are meeting the health needs of their communities and to ensure greater transparency and accountability.

A committee of Reid's governing board and community members reviews grant requests. The grants are awarded as part of the health system's efforts as a mission-driven, not-for-profit organization.

More information about the Reid Community Grant Program, Community Health Needs Assessment, and implementation strategy is available at ReidCommunities.org.