Michigan Health Endowment "Healthy Ottawa" Re-granting Initiative Fund

Michigan Health Endowment "Healthy Ottawa" Re-granting Initiative Fund (MHEHOF)

Program Type: Three-year re-granting initiative (2016-2019)

Total Funding: $490,000 awarded

• $330,000 from Michigan Health Endowment Fund (MHEF)
• $80,000 from Grand Haven Area Community Foundation (GHACF)
• $80,000 from Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland area (CFHZ)

Geographic Scope: Ottawa County, Michigan (regional coverage)

Focus Areas:
Grants prioritized programs addressing three critical community health needs:

1. Mental health
2. Access to healthcare
3. Promoting healthy behaviors (nutrition and exercise)

Target Populations:

• Youth
• Seniors
• Other high-need populations

Awards Distributed (2017):

• Wayne Elhart Memorial Fund ("be nice." education program): $40,000
• Holland Community Hospital (School Nursing Program): $55,000
• TCM Counseling (counseling and psychiatric services expansion): $70,000
• Love INC of the Tri-Cities (Free Health Clinic expansion): $75,000
• Ottawa County Food Policy Council (Project Fresh, Meet Up and Eat Up, CSA access, Prescription for Health): $100,000
• Ottawa County Department of Public Health (Pathways to Better Health): $150,000

Selection Criteria:
Applicants were prioritized based on:

• Programming that is new or expanded to serve larger geographic area
• Focus on youth, seniors, or other high-need populations
• Inclusive collaborative partnerships across multiple organizations
• Demonstrated organizational and financial capacity with successful track record

Review Process:
Included representatives from both community foundations' Grants Distribution Committees and Youth Advisory Committees.