Richmond Health Equity Fund announces 9 new funding projects, celebrates success stories
Anthony Clary lost 100 pounds after discovering what he calls the joy of distance running.
“I’m from the Southside — Blackwell,” he said. “I never knew the river existed. I’d never been down there. We were actually told to stay away from the river, because you might drown or you might get hurt.”
Now he spreads his joy through an organization, We Off the Couch, that has grown to more than 1,500 runners who participate in organized events.
We Off the Couch was one of nine local groups selected to receive a grant from the Richmond Health Equity Fund, a program born during the pandemic when Mayor Danny Avula worked as Director of the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts.
“With so much federal funding coming in, we needed to find effective ways to deploy that money in ways that would actually address some of the disparate health outcomes we were seeing uncovered by the COVID pandemic,” Avula said at Tuesday’s ceremony.
After Tuesday’s announced grants, which totaled $519,276, the Health Equity Fund has now contributed more than $3.8 million. The initial federal grant of $5 million was a one-time gift, but Avula said the fund is now working to find local funders that will continue the work, a group that includes The Community Foundation, The Bob and Anna Lou Schaberg Foundation, Atlantic Union Bank, The Dominion Charitable Foundation and the Robins Foundation.
A new funding cycle is beginning, and organizations have until March 30 to apply for the next round of money.
Tuesday’s event was held at ChildSavers, one of the groups receiving funding, and an organization celebrating its 100th birthday this year.
Avula shared a personal story about the impact he’s seen ChildSavers have.
“About a year and a half ago, my daughter’s biological sibling was murdered, and she has a number of much younger biological siblings,” the mayor said. “The day after this happened, we called ChildSavers, and somebody came to our house on the weekend and sat with these five young children and helped them process, helped them talk about what had just happened.
“And it was a really beautiful balm in a really horrible time, and I want you to know that, and the work that this organization does is absolutely incredible,” he said to the group’s CEO, L. Robert Bolling.
Community health and quality of life were prioritized in the grants.
Clary said that while his group is structured around running, 80% of its work is focused on mental health and well-being.
He plans to use his grant to work with Richmond Public Schools and provide shoes and other services to encourage young runners.
He said he still lives in Blackwell, “on purpose,” and wants to be a difference maker in the community.
“I think the greatest thing we do is create connections, and create real community, and get people connected outside of the run,” he said, noting that a couple met and got married through the group.
Other funds were given to:
- Hitting Cancer Below the Belt provides no-cost colorectal cancer screenings to low-income and uninsured residents
- Sacred Heart Center ensures navigation support and access to health education and services for Spanish-speaking families
- Mutual Aid Disaster Relief Richmond purchases high-quality and high-value foods for the Meadowbridge Community Market in Northside
- RVA Community Fridges offers events and classes in a shared commercial kitchen space in Northside
- Family Lifeline will expand its in-home visitation services by adding bilingual workers
- Women Can Inspire Foundation works to increase access to mental health services through subsidized counseling sessions and mental health workshops
- Atlantic Outreach Group invests in meals and training for residents facing the dual challenges of unstable housing and substance use disorders
