Impact Health Assists in Distribution of Grant Money from Dogwood Health Trust to Health Service Organizations Following Hurricane Helene

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (October 17, 2024) – Impact Health is pleased to announce it is one of five organizations in Western North Carolina (WNC) awarded grant funding by Dogwood Health Trust to distribute to its regional network of health service organizations (HSOs) following the widespread devastation of Hurricane Helene.

“It’s a great privilege to partner with Dogwood Health Trust to support 61 organizations, whose team members are on the front line of disaster response. They are feeding, housing, transporting, and otherwise keeping thousands of members of our community safe,” said Laurie Stradley, Impact Health Executive Director.

“Dogwood’s swift action in providing this funding is a game changer for so many in WNC who are in need of help in the wake of Hurricane Helene.”

Recognizing the need as both vast and immediate, Impact Health began distributing the funds last week in the form of $10,000 grants to its 60+ HSOs in the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) program for emergency service delivery. These grants have helped stabilize each agency as necessary by covering the costs for extra staffing, emergency building repairs, food, and other supplies in order to provide much-needed services to their community.

Additionally, more funding will be available for HSOs in the Impact Health Network to help support them in providing services to residents experiencing hardship, specifically in fulfilling the goals of the HOP program of providing services across four areas of need: food, housing, transportation, and interpersonal safety and toxic stress.

Applications for these additional grants of up to $50,000 will be accepted on a rolling basis and will be reviewed every Monday until all funds are distributed. HSOs will be notified of a funding decision the day after their application is reviewed, with funds distributed within a week. Priority will be given to WNC agencies helping those hardest hit by the hurricane and its aftermath.
As North Carolina’s Emergency Response teams complete their assessments, grant guidelines may be adjusted to align with the region’s needs. Although initial requests will be kept to $50,000 or below, further grants may be considered based on need.

For questions regarding grant applications and distribution, please email Amanda Bauman, Impact Health Director of Programs, at a.bauman@impacthealth.org or call 828.564.6427.

About Impact Health
Impact Health is an Asheville-based nonprofit leading a network of more than 60 human service organizations (HSOs) participating in North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP). HOP is a groundbreaking initiative to improve health that uses Medicaid funding to support social drivers of health across four areas of need: food, housing, transportation and interpersonal safety and toxic stress.

For more information about Impact Health, the organizations participating in HOP, and pilot eligibility, visit impacthealth.org.

For media inquiries, please contact Jennifer Caldwell at j.caldwell@impacthealth.org.

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