Health First Foundation Inc

HEALTH FIRST FOUNDATION, INC. HELPS IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY BY RAISING FUNDS TO SUPPORT AND ADVANCE THE MISSION OF HEALTH FIRST, INC. AND ITS FAMILY OF CHARITABLE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

HEALTH FIRST FOUNDATION, INC. (HFFI) IS THE FUNDRAISING ARM OF HEALTH FIRST, WHOSE MISSION IS TO HELP IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY BY RAISING FUNDS TO SUPPORT AND ADVANCE THE MISSION OF HEALTH FIRST AND ITS FAMILY OF CHARITABLE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. 100% OF THE FUNDS RAISED GO TO DIRECT SUPPORT IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION, CAPITAL EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY, PATIENT CARE, PROGRAM SERVICES, SPECIAL PROJECTS, EDUCATION AND CLINICAL EXCELLENCE, INDIGENT CARE AND PATIENT EDUCATION.DURING FY21, MORE THAN 4,991 INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTED THE MISSION AND VISION OF HFFI. THROUGH THEIR GENEROSITY AND THE DEDICATED STEWARDSHIP OF THE RESOURCES ENTRUSTED TO US, HFFI WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE OVER $1,297,223 IN PROGRAM SUPPORT IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: CAPITAL EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY, PATIENT CARE, PROGRAM SERVICES, SPECIAL PROJECTS, EDUCATION AND CLINICAL EXCELLENCE, INDIGENT CARE AND PATIENT EDUCATION. OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE IN FY21 WAS SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR HEALTH FIRST'S COVID-19 RESPONSE. OUR FRONTLINE CAREGIVER NURSES, MEDICAL ASSISTANTS, NURSING ASSISTANTS, DIETARY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES WORKERS ARE STEADFAST AND COMMITTED TO CARING FOR THOSE IN THEIR TIME OF NEED. OUR ASSOCIATES REMAINED BY THEIR PATIENTS' SIDES, OFTEN FORGOING A MEAL. SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY HELPED US PROVIDE OVER 54,900 MEALS FOR THESE DEDICATED FRONTLINE CAREGIVERS.PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT OF HFFI ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING FOR HEALTH FIRST AGING SERVICES, WHICH SERVED OVER 3,161 INDIVIDUALS AND CAREGIVERS IN 2021. THIS INCLUDED BRIEF NEUROLOGICAL TESTING (BNE) AT THE HEALTH FIRST MEMORY DISORDERS CLINIC, WHICH IS AN ARRAY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS AND A CT SCAN THAT, TAKEN TOGETHER, GIVE AN IDEA OF HOW A PATIENT'S BRAIN IS FUNCTIONING OR FAILING. THERAPIES MAY THEN BE TAILORED TO HELP.AT THE HEALTH FIRST MEMORY DISORDER CLINIC, THERE ARE MORE PATIENTS IN NEED OF BNES THAN GRANT MONEY TO FACILITATE THEM. WITH THE SUPPORT OF DONATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE CLINIC WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE 26% MORE BNES IN 2021. ADDITIONALLY, GIFTS TO HFFI FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE CAREGIVING FOR SENIORS CONFERENCE, WHICH IS AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE THAT PROVIDES SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR THOSE CARING FOR THEIR ELDERLY LOVED ONES FREE OF CHARGE TO THEM. ENDOWED FUNDS HELD BY HEALTH FIRST TOTALED $1,528,198 AT END OF FY21. THREE OF THESE ENDOWED FUNDS, MIKE MEANS LARRY GARRISON ENDOWMENT FOR NURSING EXCELLENCE, THE IGO ENDOWMENT FUND AND HENRY NURSING ENDOWMENT, ALONG WITH GIFTS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND ASSOCIATES PROVIDED A TOTAL OF $85,000 IN NURSING SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS TO 34 ASSOCIATES PURSING A BACHELOR'S OR MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING.DONATIONS ALSO FUNDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO TRAIN ASSOCIATES FOR THE IN-DEMAND ROLES OF MEDICAL ASSISTING AND MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNICIANS, PROVIDED UPDATED EQUIPMENT FOR THE SKILLS LAB AT HEALTH FIRST'S HOLMES REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, INC., SUPPLIED PATIENT INFORMATION BINDERS FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED CANCER PATIENTS, BREAST CANCER TREATMENT HANDBOOKS FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED BREAST CANCER PATIENTS AND CHEMO BAGS TO SUPPORT THE EXPERIENCE OF PATIENTS RECEIVING CHEMOTHERAPY. GIFTS TO HFFI ALSO PROVIDED: - IPADS AND WI-FI AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR BEHAVIORAL WELLNESS PATIENTS - HALO SLEEP SACKS FOR NEWBORNS - ONGOING SUPPORT FOR HOSPICE OF HEALTH FIRST'S BRIGHT STAR PROGRAMS AND CAMPS - SUPPLIES FOR FOREVER A HERO AND LOVE STITCHES PROGRAMS THROUGH HOSPICE OF HEALTH FIRSTTHIS SUPPORT HELPED STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND THE LIFESAVING SERVICES OFFERED BY HFFI INCLUDING RESPONSE TO COVID-19. GIFTS WERE USED TO IMPROVE HOSPITAL FACILITIES, PURCHASE LIFE-SAVING MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGIES, PROVIDE PATIENT WELLNESS INFORMATION, FUND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CLINICAL EDUCATION, OFFER CAREGIVER RESOURCES AND SUPPORT, PROVIDE GRIEF COUNSELING FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE, AS WELL AS ENSURE ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE FOR INDIGENT PATIENTS.