Founded in 2005, the Lee Initiatives Health and Wellness Endowment (LIHWE) was established as the “Legacy of Lee Hospital” to improve the health and well-being of the residents of the area served by the former Lee Hospital in western Pennsylvania.
With assets of over 19 million dollars and an assessment of the derivative earnings, the Lee Initiatives Board of Directors will annually determine the amount of grant money they expect to make available for grants. The Board also believes that through grants, this money will make a significant contribution to programs that will provide goods and services that improve the health and the quality of life for as many residents as possible.
What We Believe
We believe that endowment resources can help our community take the leaps necessary to address critical health issues. By collaborating with others, we can help our neighbors lead healthier, more active lives. If we can improve access to high quality health care and empower individuals and their families to take control of their health, we can improve the health and quality of life of our residents.
What We Do
The Lee Initiatives Health & Wellness Endowment collaborates with people, organizations, and resources to improve the health and wellness of all people in the service area of the former Lee Hospital. We seek input from individuals, business leaders, government leaders and organizations both for-profit and not-for-profit, to define and find solutions for critical health and quality of life issues. We believe that creative solutions are possible for all problems and those solutions are limited only by the creativity of the grant writer. Our focus is on improving the health and wellness in our community.
Grants
CEO Jodi Clark with two of our grant recipients at our Health & Wellness Endowment on May 2nd, 2024, at the Boulevard Grill in Johnstown, PA
It is our privilege to help nonprofit organizations in the former Lee Hospital service area promote health and improve access to healthcare initiatives and intervention. We are committed to being responsible stewards of the community assets for which we have accepted responsibility. As we evaluate each project/grant application, the review process focuses on projects that have the greatest possible impact on improving the health and well-being of individuals in our area. We are interested in grant applications that assist in making high quality health care more accessible, encouraging people from every background to strive for good health, and financially assisting organizations as they provide needed services.
Lee Initiatives has established a grant review committee, and the Lee Initiatives Board of Trustees will make final decisions on grant awards.
The grant application cycle will start at the beginning of each year and culminate with the grant awards being announced in the Spring of each year. Specific dates will be made available for grant submissions and will be listed elsewhere on our website.
Grant Parameters
The Lee Initiatives Health & Wellness Endowment is an organization with a set of goals that we believe meet our mission to improve the health and well-being of residents in the area served by the former Lee Hospital in western Pennsylvania.
Grants can range anywhere from $1,000 to $50,000. The LIHWE strives to be responsible for the needs of the community and will consider any grant applications submitted by existing organizations with proven track records. The endowment is also interested in initiating programs to meet the needs of the community, as well as funding programs that have outcomes consistent with our goals. Collaboration is encouraged amongst organizations whose combined efforts more effectively help make a positive difference.
Grantmaking Priorities
Projects are expected to create meaningful change by addressing issues that can impede or preclude good health in our service area. Projects should improve the health of the residents of the region, as well as make the community a better place to live. We will accept one application per organization.