In another milestone commitment to community health, ChristianaCare has announced a $1.6 million investment in 25 local nonprofits, unveiling the recipients of its Community Investment Fund during a special celebration at The Ministry of Caring in Wilmington, Delaware.

Since 2019, ChristianaCare’s Community Investment Fund has provided more than $5.6 million to 64 organizations, addressing social, behavioral and environmental health factors.

“ChristianaCare is empowering and supporting our nonprofit partners so they can help meet the many needs of the people they serve, and work with us to improve patient health and create healthy communities and a healthy Delaware,” said Bettina Tweardy Riveros, chief health equity officer at ChristianaCare.

This year’s recipients received funding to support health improvement initiatives in neighboring communities and address critical issues and community needs.

“Each of these recipients is making a significant and positive impact by addressing critical health challenges throughout our communities, including food insecurity, housing insecurity and environmental health,” Riveros said.

“At ChristianaCare, we are honored to be joining forces with these 25 organizations to provide them with more resources so that they do more for those in need. It is another way we care for our community.”

The funded initiatives will be implemented throughout the upcoming year and were selected based on the quality of applicants’ proposals and implementation plans, and on the alignment of their proposals with the critical issues prioritized by the community in ChristianaCare’s Community Health Needs Assessment and Community Health Implementation Plan.

Recipient Spotlight: Healthy Food for Healthy Kids

“The impact of ChristianaCare’s 2024 Community Investment Awards funds on Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids will be felt not only in 2025 but for years to come. This funding will expand our program to an additional school, serving over 600 more students, and support data and research for future growth,” said Lydia Sarson, executive director of Healthy Food for Healthy Kids.

Recipient Spotlight: Project New Start

“Approximately 85% of the justice-involved individuals served by Project New Start are housing- and food-insecure. With ChristianaCare’s 2024 Community Investment Fund Award to Project New Start, which began Nov. 1, 2024, we have already been able to assist 23 individuals with clothing and household goods, 20 individuals with transportation assistance, 17 individuals with food support; and seven individuals with housing as of Dec. 31, 2024,” said Priscilla Turgon, founder and executive director of Project New Start, Inc.

“The impact of these funds cannot be overstated as this investment by ChristianaCare provides Project New Start the means to offer the critical basic needs an individual requires to live with dignity without the trauma of worrying about where they will sleep, how they will eat and how they can sustain employment. We are so grateful to ChristianaCare for their ongoing support.”

Recipient Spotlight: YMCA of Delaware-Central YMCA Supportive Housing Program

“The Central YMCA Supportive Housing Program, in partnership with ChristianaCare, serves low-income men at risk of homelessness who often face trauma, addiction, disabilities or lack of family support,” said Jimia Redden, executive director of Housing.

“Through stable housing, nutritious meals, welcome packages, rental assistance and supportive activities, the program fosters community wellbeing, improves health outcomes, prevents homelessness and empowers residents to achieve self-sufficiency.”

This year’s Community Investment Fund recipients are:

• AIDS Delaware: AIDS Delaware’s mission is to eliminate the spread and stigma of HIV/AIDS, improve the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS and promote community health through comprehensive and culturally sensitive services, education programs and advocacy.
• Black Mothers in Power: Black Mothers in Power seeks to eradicate racial health disparities for Black birthing people and Black babies throughout Delaware.
• Boys & Girls Club of Delaware: Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware inspires and enables young people, especially those most in need, to reach their full potential as productive, responsible, caring citizens.
• Children & Families First: Children & Families First is one of Delaware’s oldest and most trusted non-profit leaders in providing the supports and services children and their families need to thrive.
• Claymont Community Center – Brandywine Resource Council: Claymont Community Center is a base for a variety of community organizations supporting educational, social, recreational, cultural, personal development, financial and wellness needs.
• Delaware Center for Horticulture: The Delaware Center for Horticulture cultivates greener communities by inspiring appreciation and improvement of the environment through horticulture, education and conservation.
• Delaware Futures, Inc: Delaware Futures empowers at-promise high school and middle school youth across the state of Delaware by providing year-round, trauma-informed curricula tailored to students at each grade level.
• Delaware Nature Society: Delaware Nature Society connects people and nature to create a healthy environment for all through education, conservation and advocacy.
• Do Care Doula: Do Care Doula provides grant-funded doula training and development, subsidized doula support and a variety of community outreach programs.
• Healthy Food for Healthy Kids: Healthy Food for Healthy Kids supports educators in Delaware, bringing life-lasting benefits of gardening and good nutrition to kids.
• Jefferson Street Center: The mission of JSC is to advance community-driven priorities in Northwest Wilmington that promote the conditions necessary for all residents to thrive.
• Latin American Community Center: LACC seeks to empower members to become contributing members of society through advocacy and offers programs and services to anyone ages of one to 101.
• Milford Housing Development Corporation: Milford Housing Development Corporation is a value-driven, nonprofit, affordable housing developer, providing services throughout Delaware. Its mission is to provide decent, safe, affordable housing solutions to people of modest means.
• Ministry of Caring: Since Brother Ronald began the ministry in 1977 with the first shelter for homeless women on the Delmarva Peninsula, the Ministry has worked ceaselessly to ease the needs and struggles of our neighbors.
• ONCOR Coalition: ONCOR’s vision is to build and promote spaces that connect people to the city and each other. It promotes positive relationships through community-based educational programs and recreational opportunities.
• Our Daily Bread Dining Room of MOT: ODB is the only soup kitchen in the Middletown, Odessa and Townsend region. ODB is a volunteer run organization with over 300 volunteers. Volunteers help purchase and pick up food and ingredients, prepare and serve meals and clean and maintain the facility.
• Project New Start: Project New Start provides a comprehensive cognitive behavioral change/workforce development initiative for individuals transitioning out of state and federal institutions.
• Ray of Hope Mission Center: Ray of Hope’s mission is to recognize and address the needs of those who are struggling within our community and assist them in their efforts to provide for themselves and their families, both physically and spiritually.
• St. Patrick’s Center: Serving people in Wilmington’s East Side neighborhood since 1971, St. Patrick’s Center is a nonprofit organization that operates a Senior Center, and provides meals, groceries, clothing, paratransit and social service support to the public.
• The Resurrection Center: The purpose of the Resurrection Center is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and create a spirit-filled environment that hungers for the Gospel and to serve as liberating agents in the midst of the world.
• Voices of Hope: Voices of Hope’s mission is to empower lives and foster recovery. The nonprofit is dedicated to supporting individuals and families facing substance use disorder. Through compassion, education and community engagement, Voices of Hope strives to break the chains of addiction, promoting a healthier, brighter future for all.
• West End Neighborhood House: At West End Neighborhood House, staff, clients, volunteers and donors work together to resolve complex social challenges throughout Delaware. Through outcomes-driven programming, the West End Neighborhood House provide support that meets community needs in finances, housing, education, employment and family services.
• Westside Family Healthcare: Westside Family Healthcare is a community-minded, non-partisan health center located in Delaware. Westside opened its doors in 1988 and has maintained status as a Federally Qualified Health Center since 1994.
• Wilmington HOPE Commission Inc.: The Hope Commission is a reentry program that helps formerly incarcerated men return to their community. It offers support services that address factors known to lead to repeat offenses.
• YMCA of Delaware: The Central YMCA Supportive Housing Program offers housing for men aged 18 and older. Residents benefit from dorm-style accommodations, discounted access to the fitness center and connections to a range of health and human service providers in partnership with the YMCA.