News & Events

Greater Phoenixville Healthcare Scholarships Awarded

Greater Phoenixville Healthcare Scholarships Awarded to Five Area Students

Phoenixville, PA -- The Greater Phoenixville Healthcare Scholarship Program has been providing college scholarships since 1995. Since then nearly one hundred scholarships have been awarded to high school graduates pursuing health-related careers.

All graduating seniors who are pursuing careers in a health-related field of study are eligible to apply. The program draws from the Phoenixville Hospital’s service area that includes Great Valley, Methacton, Owen J. Roberts, Perkiomen Valley, Phoenixville, Pottsgrove and Spring-Ford School Districts, as well as CAT Pickering, Pope John Paul VI, and the Western Center for Technical Studies. This year twelve students applied for the scholarships representing Great Valley, Methacton, Owen J. Roberts, Spring-Ford and the Western Center for Technical Studies. Five scholarships were awarded.

Jessica Belmont of Paoli will graduate from Great Valley High School and will be attending University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown majoring in Nursing. “Since my childhood, I’ve always wanted to be a part of the medical profession. I believe that working as a nurse will provide me with a fulfilling career and provide an excellent opportunity to meet my personal goals. I know that I have a challenging road ahead, but the end prize is worth everything to me.”

Kartik Bhamidipati of Malvern will graduate from Great Valley High School and will be attending the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Life Sciences Management. “I used to love the white lab coat that doctors donned. A trip back to my parents’ homeland convinced me that focusing my career on serving for the welfare of others is the right way to live. I searched for a profession that balanced my values and interests. I am finally confident about my future – that I will be seen donning a white coat threaded with ‘Dr. Bhamidipati’”

Emily Brooks of Collegeville will graduate from Perkiomen Valley High School and will be attending the University of Delaware majoring in Cognitive Science/Speech Pathology. “I hope to pursue a career in the treatment of childhood neurological disorders, in particular autism spectrum disorders. I believe that we can change the growing influence autism has on our world through increased research on the causes and treatments for the disorder, and through an increased understanding of the brain. I hope to confront this puzzle and to one day be a part of the autism solution.”

Katrina Brown of Pottstown will graduate from Owen J. Roberts High School and will be attending California Lutheran University majoring in Biomedical Science. “I have always been involved in some sort of community program in which I am able to help others. With the combined love I have for medicine and helping others, I can only see myself in one career … a doctor. I see a career in medicine as a challenging yet rewarding job in that I will be able to change the lives of people for the better while doing something that I am happy doing for the rest of my life.”

Courtney Rittenhouse of Pennsburg is graduating from the Western Center for Technical Studies and will be attending Eastern University majoring in Nursing. “I have been blessed with a loving heart and I have the ability and the stamina to make a difference to people, maybe even save lives. A health care career in nursing will be the perfect occupation for me because these certain rewards matter immensely to me. I cannot see myself being anything but a health care worker.”

These scholarships are funded by the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation, and the Phoenixville Hospital Medical Staff – five scholarships in all. All scholarships are $8,000 payable over four years.

Lynn Pike Hartman, Vice President for Programs with the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation facilitates the Scholarship Selection Committee activities. The Committee was comprised of representatives from the 2012 scholarship partners: Frank J. Cirone, Richard Kunsch, Sr. and Dr. Maria Schwab from the Foundation; Dr. Wasfy Fahmy and Dr. James Guille from the Medical Staff.

For application information for the 2013 Greater Phoenixville Healthcare Scholarship Program contact Lynn Pike Hartman at 610-917-9890 or through the Foundation’s website: www.pchf1.org. Information on the 2013 scholarship program will be sent to schools and media outlets in January 2013.

PCHF Grants Nearly $1,200,000 to the Greater Phoenixville Non-Profit Community

In pursuit of its mission to improve the health and quality of life of people within the greater Phoenixville area, the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation met on March 15, 2012 and awarded grants to local non-profit organizations that provide access to health and human services to the residents of the greater Phoenixville area. In the final grant distribution of the current fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011 the Foundation awarded $299,800 to charitable organizations serving the greater Phoenixville communities. In separate consideration the Foundation approved a Capital Support Grant to the Chester County Public Safety Training Facility in the amount of $300,000 payable over five years. The Foundation also approved a grant to the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations [PANO] in the amount of $14,250 for the development of an Executive Leadership Institute. Also approved was an operating support grant to the Phoenixville Healthcare Access Foundation in the amount of $525,000 for 2012-13. Since it began operations in 1999 nearly $25 million have been granted to non-profit organizations providing access to health and human services, public safety, recreation, economic development and non-profit capacity building.

Level One grants that provide direct access to health care totaled $65,000 and were awarded to: Adult Care of Chester County, the Chester County Health Department, Family Service of Chester County, and the Maternal & Child Health Consortium.

In addition to direct health care access grants, the Foundation board was privileged to be able to provide financial assistance to non-profit organizations whose work in the greater Phoenixville area addresses health and quality of life issues for the fragile, disabled and those at risk of falling further behind socially and economically. These Level Two grants total $184,800 and were awarded to the following organizations: American Red Cross Southeastern PA Chapter, Baptist Church of Phoenixville, BCS Yes/ Baptist Childrens Services, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southeastern PA, Bournelyf Special Camp, Chester County Food Bank, Domestic Violence Center of Chester County, Grimes AME Church, Mom’s House, OpenHearth, Inc., Phoenixville Police Athletic League, and the Phoenixville Community Education Foundation.

Level Three grants for civic, recreation, community and economic development, and non-profit technical assistance amounted to $50,300. These grants were awarded to the following organizations: American Cancer Society, Chester County Futures, Delaware Valley Grantmakers, Phoenixville Public Library, and Triskeles, Inc.

The mission of the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation is to improve the overall health and quality of life in the greater Phoenixville community. Louis J. Beccaria, Ph.D., the Foundation’s President and CEO, noted that “These grants support this mission in that they address the physical, behavioral, social, economic and civic health of the Foundation’s community.” For more detailed information on this round of grant awards please access the Foundation’s website at www.pchf1.org.

PCHF Spring 2012 Newsletter

Spring 2012 e-news.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [819.4 KB]

2011 Community Health Leadership Academy

NEW COMMUNITY LEADERS CELEBRATED

AS ACADEMY GRADUATES SIX

Phoenixville – It all started on September 8, 2011 when six individuals began their community leadership journey through the Community Health Leadership Academy. These committed community volunteers met one evening a week - for eleven weeks - for 2½ hours learning from experts, both locally and nationally based, on aspects of leadership. They have had to apply their new-found knowledge by developing a community service project that will benefit the greater Phoenixville community.

The students and their projects are:

Jolie Chylack is designing, and currently recruiting youth for, a "Kids Leadership Academy" that combines science, art and environmental community service. Ginger Murphy is building a "Trashed to Treasured" collaborative among concerned citizens, business owners and youth to help clean up the Phoenixville downtown business district. Melody Schaper is utilizing her dance training to begin a program for senior citizens called "Embodying Change" and is already changing lives at the Senior Center. Jennifer Mayo is looking to start her leadership training by providing a basic necessity to a nonprofit organization in Phoenixville and then to grow this concept into a bigger initiative. Marina Gresham is developing a "Wellness Planning Program for Job Seekers" by using a WRAP – a Wellness Recovery Action Plan – specifically geared to the special needs to the unemployed. Mary Kaufman is working directly with The Clinic and is developing an Emergency Response Plan specific to the Clinic's office on Church Street.

"The Community Health Leadership Academy is designed for adults who want to become more involved in their community", said Lynn Pike Hartman, Phoenixville Community Health Foundation Vice President for Programs and Academy Facilitator. During the graduation luncheon at the Columbia Bar and Grille on December 2nd , Hartman shared that there are four types of people: Cop-Outs – people who have no goals to commit to; Hold-outs – people who don't know if they can reach their goals and are afraid to make the commitment; Drop-outs – people who start toward a goal but quit when the going gets tough; and All-Outs – people who set goals, commit to them and are willing to pay the price to reach them. Hartman saluted the graduates as "All-Outs all the way!"

The Community Health Leadership Academy is sponsored by the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation and the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations, the mission of the Academy is to provide a vehicle to identify, train and empower greater Phoenixville area citizens for leadership roles that promote our community's health and advance its quality of life. Dr. Louis Beccaria of the Foundation and Joseph Geiger of PANO also addressed the graduates. Beccaria said. "This Academy is designed to grow future Champions of the Community, and with now eighty-nine graduates the program is having a positive impact on the greater Phoenixville community".

Beccaria, concluded the graduation ceremony stating, "This Community Health Leadership Academy has exceeded all expectations. Its impact on our greater Phoenixville community will only continue to grow. This class will add their own mark in very distinct ways."

Phoenixville Community Champions Honored

What does it take to become a Community Champion? It takes a long term commitment to volunteerism for the betterment of the greater Phoenixville area. The Phoenixville area has a great tradition of community giving. Four individuals, who exemplify such a giving spirit, were honored by the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation as "Champions of the Community".

The Champions of the Community Award Program was created by the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation twelve years ago to honor area citizens – unsung heroes – who freely give their time, talents and resources to make our greater Phoenixville communities better places to live, to work, to play and to raise a family. Since that time fifty-one people have been recognized as community Champions.

This year twenty-two nominations were received from within the greater Phoenixville area. An independent selection committee chaired by Lynn Pike Hartman, Foundation Vice President, gave consideration to each nominee and chose four as the 2011 Champions of the Community. As a part of their award, each Champion receives a $2,000 donation, made in their name, to the charities of their choosing. These Champions, as well as all the 2011 nominees, were honored at a luncheon on November 4th, held at the Phoenixville Country Club.

Nancy Batzel was nominated by Janet Hunter. Batzel has been active in the Phoenixville community for more than 25 years as a Girl Scout leader and Cookie Mom, as a Cub Scout leader, Schuylkill Elementary Home and School Association serving as Vice President, Phoenixville Kindergarten Center as a Homeroom Mom and library volunteer, and Faith Baptist Church. She is also a volunteer with Stepping Stone Education Center serving on the Board of Directors, the Fundraising Committee and helping in the classroom. Batzel requested her $2,000 award be given to the Stepping Stone Education Center.

Leo Custer was nominated by Mayor Leo Scoda. Custer has been volunteering for over 25 years as well as a fire Policeman through the Phoenixville #1 Hose, Hook & Ladder Fire Company. As a Fire Policeman, Custer assists with traffic control at the scenes of major fires and traffic accidents, any time of the day or night and in any kind of weather. He also helps with special events such as the Dogwood Parade and community events. Custer requested his $2,000 award be divided between the Phoenixville #1 Hose, Hook & Ladder and the Cancer Center at Phoenixville Hospital.

John (Jack) Ertell was nominated by Donald Coppedge and David Frees, Jr. Ertell has 45 years of service to the Phoenixville community with the Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area serving as President for five years and Board Chair, the Schuylkill River Heritage Center, and St. John's Lutheran Church. Ertell is also a member of the school district's Sports Hall of Fame Committee and is actively involved with the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Ertell requested his $2,000 award be divided between the Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area and St. John's Lutheran Church Scholarship Fund.

David Gill was nominated by Mayor Leo Scoda. Gill began volunteering as a young man. His activities include volunteer service with the Kiwanis Club, the Lions Club, Phoenixville Relay for Life and Phoenixville Communities That Care. He has coached young people for over 28 years and has served on the Borough Parks & Recreation Board for 6 years. Gill also helps to coordinate the volunteers that provide Santa with a house on Phoenixville and all the helpers that Santa needs. Gill has requested his $2,000 award be divided between Phoenixville Communities That Care summer camp program and the Santa's House Project.

Other nominees who were acknowledged at the award luncheon were Kristin Abell, Juanita Bearden, Erin Burke, Rev. Ines Castro-Guerrero, Shelly Endrey, Rodney Frey, Elena Gonzalez-Shaffer, Larry Gubanich, Kevin Kincade, Elizabeth Lennon, Joseph Little, Charles McQuiston, Jr., Sean O'Donnell, Janet Reading, Richard Rosmos, John Shoen, Bob Ulisny, and Joel Zimmermann.

Louis J. Beccaria, President and CEO of the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation said, "The Foundation also strives to be a champion of community health ... physical, mental, social, economic, and health. Each year we search for those 'unsung heroes' of our community – those who are often overlooked for their efforts to make the greater Phoenixville area a better place. We feel privileged to be able to honor them. They contribute significantly to the overall health and quality of life of our community."