Memorial Health Fund awards $324K to eight York County nonprofits

YORK COUNTY, Pa. — From helping students manage mental health challenges to supporting residents overcoming addiction, eight York County nonprofits are sharing more than $324,000 in new funding from the Memorial Health Fund.

The Memorial Health Fund, a supporting organization of the York County Community Foundation, has awarded the grants to eight local nonprofits working to improve community health and wellness.

The grants, announced this week, will support programs ranging from youth mental health initiatives to recovery services for unhoused residents struggling with substance use disorder, officials said. More than 15,000 people across York County are expected to benefit from the latest round of funding.

“We are pleased to award grants to eight local organizations that target the many needs of our community,” Michele Mummert, vice president of grants and community engagement at the foundation, said. “These nonprofits offer a wide range of unique services from mental health services for our youth to innovative recovery programs for our unhoused population.”

Among the recipients is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), which received $50,000 to revise its PAUSE curriculum, a peer-led prevention and intervention program for middle and high school students in York County. The program aims to help young people cope with increasing rates of mental health challenges and stigma.

The Susan P. Byrnes Health Education Center was awarded $50,000 to expand preventive health education programs across the county, helping residents develop skills to make healthier decisions.

York College of Pennsylvania received $50,000 to purchase a high-fidelity patient simulator for its nursing program, which will be used to train future healthcare professionals.

LifePath Christian Ministries was granted $49,120 to hire and train Certified Recovery Specialists who can provide low-barrier shelter services for individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorder.

Recovery House of Worship, a first-time grantee, received $41,130 to expand its capacity to serve people recovering from addiction and mental health conditions through its JUMP Initiative Wired for Wellness program. The funds will support upgrades to technology and communication systems critical to client safety and crisis response.

The Hanover Area Council on Churches received $40,000 for its Comprehensive Community Care programs, which provide food, shelter, clothing, and job training to residents facing hardship.

The Program “It’s About Change” received $23,759 for its Fresh Start Foundations initiative, which supports justice-involved individuals by offering workshops in healthcare access, employment, and housing.

YMCA of the Roses was awarded $20,000 to strengthen its New American Welcome Center, which assists immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in finding housing, jobs, and health care.

The Memorial Health Fund became a supporting organization of the York County Community Foundation in 2015, after previously being affiliated with Memorial Hospital. 

In 2024, the fund distributed more than $1 million in grants to local organizations focused on improving physical, mental, and social well-being in the community, the group said.