Saint Joseph Berea Announces Opportunity for Nonprofit Organizations to Apply for Grants Improving Community Health

BEREA, Ky. (June 20, 2024) – Saint Joseph Berea has opened applications for local nonprofit organizations to apply for grants to support vital services that will improve the well-being and health equity in the Berea area. The application period is open now through Friday, August 16, 2024.

This opportunity is part of the CommonSpirit Health Community Health Improvement Grants program. Saint Joseph Berea is part of CommonSpirit Health, which was created in 2019 when Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health came together to create a national health system. 

The grant program is open to nonprofit organizations that address the following priorities – substance use disorders, mental health and mental disorders, and weight status, physical activity and nutrition – through projects planned for the next calendar year. The priorities were identified in Saint Joseph Berea’s most recent community health needs assessment, which is conducted every three years to help the hospital and community partners identify and address priority health and social needs faced by residents and the region.

“We are deeply committed to the well-being of our community. Providing grants to local nonprofits is a vital part of our mission to give back and make a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve,” said Christy Spitser, interim market president, CHI Saint Joseph Health. “We understand that addressing these critical priorities is essential for fostering a healthier, more vibrant community. By supporting organizations that tackle these issues head-on, we can help ensure that individuals and families have the resources they need to thrive.”

Grant recipients will be announced in December for projects conducted between March 2025 and February 2026.

“We strive to be intentional and strategic in our community outreach, partnerships and philanthropic giving,” said Michael Bilton, system senior director for Community Health and Community Benefit at CommonSpirit. “It is important for our hospitals to use their resources in ways that help improve high-priority, locally relevant health issues. These grants are one example of that.”

Bilton also stressed the value of working with community organizations, stating, “The grant program reflects a commitment to partnering with the communities we serve to improve community health. Hospitals and health care are part of the solution, but it takes a diversity of programs and services to strengthen our overall health.” 

Interested organizations can learn more about the grant program, including eligibility criteria, how to apply, and a local contact for questions, by visiting https://www.commonspirit.org/communitygrants.

About CHI Saint Joseph Health

CHI Saint Joseph Health, part of CommonSpirit Health, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 100 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, home health agencies and an ambulatory Care Center. The hospitals in CHI Saint Joseph Health are Flaget Memorial Hospital, Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling, and Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. CHI Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to providing a wide array of services toward a goal of building a healthier future for all. CHI Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

About Saint Joseph Berea

Saint Joseph Berea is a 25-bed critical access hospital located in Berea, Kentucky. Established in 1898 on the grounds of Berea College, the facility serves residents of Madison, Estill, Garrard, Jackson and Rockcastle counties. Saint Joseph Berea recognizes the importance of family, friends and familiar surroundings in the healing process and provides a breadth of services so that getting first-rate care doesn’t have to mean being far from home.

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