The WHA Foundation, Inc. was formed in 1968 to support educational, research and charitable programs of the Wisconsin Hospital Association and its members. Today, as a 501(c)(3) organization, the Foundation focuses its grant making priorities on initiatives that have a statewide impact on health care in Wisconsin. The Foundation's three specific funding priorities include:
- Health Care Workforce Development
- Health Care Quality and Safety Initiatives
- Collaborative Community Health Initiatives, through the annual Global Vision Community Partnership Award.
Announcing the 2024 WHA Foundation - Global Vision Community Partnership Award Winners
Congratulations to the two winners of the 2024 Global Vision Community Partnership Award.
Growing Healthy Communities
ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital
In 2017, Waukesha County’s Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), through a community health assessment, identified that residents needed better access to fresh & nutritional foods and also to increase their activity levels. The Growing Healthy Communities program improves access to affordable & healthy food by promoting accessibility to farmers markets, community gardens, & other healthy food outlets convenient to residents with food insecurity concerns. Through community gardens located in Oconomowoc & Waukesha, low impact activities for seniors & school-aged children are incorporated into the session lesson plans. As part of annual health & wellness check-ups and hospital discharge with a ProHealth Care clinician, food insecurity assessments are conducted. If a family identifies as food insecure, an emergency food package is prepared with staples that will support a family for 2-3 days. The amount of food provided is dependent upon the number of members in the household.
In summer, children can self-identify to a hospital employee to receive a free lunch to eat at the hospital or to take home. Success of this program is measured by the amount of fresh produce harvested & distributed to community partners & to families. Pre- & post- tests and surveys are conducted after nutrition education sessions are hosted in the garden. Since 2010, garden programs have harvested 21,720 lbs. of produce valued at $46,481.
Women’s Outpatient Center
Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital – St. Joseph Campus
For over fifteen years, the Women’s Outpatient Center (WOC) continues addressing the overlooked community health needs in Milwaukee, particularly among vulnerable populations of women and families. The primary health need addressed is maternal and child health, with a focus on providing comprehensive prenatal and postnatal care. This need was identified through direct interactions with the community, where many women experience their first medical relationship during pregnancy. The center serves approximately 700 patients annually, representing 35% of all obstetric volume at Ascension-St. Joseph. The need for enhanced support during pregnancy, safe childbirth, and postnatal care was evident from the socio-economic challenges faced by the community, including housing insecurity, food scarcity, and lack of access to essential healthcare services. The primary objectives of the program include enhancing maternal and child health, supporting socio-economic stability, educational empowerment, community resource connection and removing barriers to care. In 2024, the program served 436 car seat class participants and 392 safe sleep class participants. The Children’s Waiting Area hosted 251 children while their mothers attended over 160 appointments. More signs of success include a story of a high-risk pregnant mother who received necessary medical care and educational support while her children were supervised, leading to better health outcomes for her and her newborn. Another patient benefited from multiple services over seven years, resulting in the birth of healthy, full-term babies despite significant personal challenges.
The WHA Foundation would like to thank all the nominees for the award this year.
Established in 1993, the Global Vision Community Partnership Award’s goal is to provide recognition, financial support and public awareness of a community health initiative or project, created in partnership with a WHA member, that successfully addresses a documented community health need. Partnerships must reach across the community or population served and the program must be an active, ongoing enterprise at the time of the nomination.
2023 Year in Review Report
We are proud to introduce the 2023 WHA Foundation Year in Review report. This report is a review of the positive impact Foundation program funding has had throughout the state. Click here to review the 2023 WHA Foundation - Year in Review Report
Friends of the Foundation
Thank you to the 2024 Friends of the Foundation: WHA Information Center.
To learn how you can become a Friend of the Foundation, please contact WHA Foundation Executive Director, Leigh Ann Larson, at llarson@wha.org