In 1994, Winter Park Health Foundation began its mission of investing in facilities and programs to benefit the health and wellness of residents living in Winter Park, Eatonville, and Maitland. With more than $131 million in grant funding, the Foundation is celebrating its 30th year by distributing $300,000 to five local nonprofits with the Well Together Grant Awards Challenge.
The initiative is an open call for proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations with the ability to focus on one or all of the Foundation’s three target communities. Proposals need to address solutions to youth mental health, diabetes and pre-diabetes, and/or heart health.
According to a 2023 report from the American Diabetes Association, approximately 11.6% of Florida’s adult population has diabetes with an estimated 107,700 adults are diagnosed each year. A 2023 report by Mental Health America states that 13.2% of Florida youth experienced at least one major depressive episode in the prior year and 67% of them did not receive treatment.
The Challenge was created in partnership with the Victory Cup Initiative: a Winter Park-based entity dedicated to improving storytelling techniques throughout the nonprofit community, and to promoting collaboration and partnership between nonprofits and the business community.
An evaluation committee will identify five finalist organizations that will each receive a $50,000 grant for their proposal. The finalists will also receive Victory Cup storytelling training that they will use to pitch their ideas in a competition for the Foundation’s remaining $50,000 commitment. The pitches will be heard during an October 11 event at the Center for Health & Wellbeing.
“The Winter Park Health Foundation has been thrilled with the level of interest shown by our local non-profit organizations in the Well Together Grant Awards Challenge,” said Winter Park Health Foundation President & CEO Patty Maddox. “We’ve heard from long-time partners and new-to-us organizations alike with great enthusiasm for addressing three critical health issues in our three communities of impact.”
The deadline to submit applications is May 15, and all applicants must be 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations currently serving or poised to serve Eatonville, Maitland, and/or Winter Park. The five finalists will be selected in mid-July and be required to attend Victory Cup Initiative storytelling training, which will be scheduled between late July and September.
For more information, access to the application, and a pre-application webinar, log onto wphf.org/welltogetherchallenge.
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