WHA Foundation

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. 

2025 Global Vision Community Partnership Award Winners Announced

Beyond Blessed Pantry
SSM Health Baraboo
Founded in January 2016, Beyond Blessed Pantry is a nonprofit organization committed to alleviating food insecurity in Baraboo, Lake Delton, Wisconsin Dells, and other surrounding communities. The need for food assistance was identified through direct observation in local hospitals and outreach efforts, which revealed that many individuals and families lacked consistent access to nutritious food. As the Pantry has grown, so has the demand. What began as a small initiative has evolved into a vital community resource, now serving over 800 families weekly across five counties. The overarching goal is to ensure that anyone in need has access to food, regardless of residency or income level. The pantry does not impose residency restrictions and allows participants to receive food at every pantry event. This open access model ensures that no one is turned away due to geographic boundaries or organizational limitations. Because the pantry does not receive government funding, it operates with greater flexibility and fewer restrictions. All food and supplies are obtained through donations and purchases made with donated funds, allowing the organization to remain responsive to the evolving needs of the community. This entirely a volunteer driven endeavor, with more than 60 volunteers contributing approximately 280 hours of service each week. Volunteers are trained to uphold the organization's values of dignity, respect, and compassion, and they play a central role in the pantry’s operations and success.

Ascension Mobile Sexual Assault Treatment Center and Anti-Human Trafficking Program (SATC)
Ascension Wisconsin
SATC was created as a direct response to critical community health gaps identified in southeastern Wisconsin. Through needs assessments, hospital emergency department data, and feedback from law enforcement and advocacy partners, it became clear that survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking, and related abuse lacked consistent access to timely, trauma-informed forensic medical care. Many were forced to travel long distances or go without essential services. These unmet needs disproportionately affected vulnerable populations including immigrants, victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. In response, Ascension created a mobile, 24/7 care model that ensures survivors receive immediate and culturally sensitive medical and social support services in a safe hospital setting. Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNEs) meet the patient where they are, rather than transferring care to another site. Due to our overwhelming success, community response, and demonstrated need in the Fox Valley region, the Ascension Mobile SATC program is now expanding its proven model into the Fox Cities. This expansion brings 24/7 forensic medical care and trauma-informed survivor support to Ascension hospitals in Appleton (Outagamie County), Chilton (Calumet County), and Oshkosh (Winnebago County), establishing SATC services in every primary Ascension emergency department across the state of Wisconsin.

The WHA Foundation would like to thank all the nominees for the award this year.

Established in 1993, the goal of the Global Vision Community Partnership Award 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.

2024 Year in Review Report

We are proud to introduce the 2024 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 view the report.

Friends of the Foundation

Thank you to the 2025 Friend 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.